The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-28

A Considcration or Pretornnturai Goodness as
n Political Investment.

NNhAA
munity IL evokes no interest.
am told, however. that among some OF the
people in tho moro donsely inhabited parts Of
the town his candidacy Is regarded seriously.
They are promised by his canvassers all sorts OF
fantastic things in the event OF his election. He
ts held up before them as tho ono man who is
going to bring to realization the fondest dreams
of socialism,; municipal ownership Of fran
chises,' with three-cent car fare. or car rides
free. gratis, and for nothing; dollar gas. nifty.
cent gas, OF gas as FREQ as water; everything
and anything that the popular dreams can con-
ceivo as BETTING Utopia. His strongest card in
these quarters is tho million dollars he gave for
the library of Columbia College. Except for that
Investment, the Low canvass would have mado
no Roadway. lilo Is put before the people rs u
singular being who can be trusted TO further
and crafty their desires in a spirit of self-sacri-
hcing devotion to tho popular welfare not re-
strained by any selfish and worldly ambition; as
n man who gives away his money like water,
utterly careless of wealth and the consequence
incidental to its possession.
This is the picture OF Mr.. Low which has been
painted by his boomers, and unquestionably it
has kindled the Imagination Of some Of tho people
to whom l have referred. 1t represents an ideal
being infiamed with enthusiasm for the popular
elevation. Hence the Citizens Union report on its
up Of signatures TO his petition was
truthful In saying that Socialists. single-taxcrs.
ana representatives of all the phases of political
eccentricity united in working up the Low
boom. The petitions came back grimy from
hands of toll and bloody with the stains of the
slaughter houses.
There is something very amusing about all
this because the initiation OF the Low move
ment and its propelling force came wholly
from the most 1nical element in our New
York society; tho source which Is weakest
In virility and most squeamish in its social
tastes; a crowd of snobs and dudes and cox
combs. TO which tho masculine and vigor-
Gus people are naturally most antipathetic.
There is another side. however. which is
wholly grave. What will be the revulsion of
this popular feeling when Low and the cotorie
OF tops trailing after him are found out as they
really arci In the social circles where they are
current and can be properly estimated. I do not
know any man Of di~scernmcnt who takes them
seriously. The Low boom provokcs only incrcd.
ulous smiles. The attempt to run a canvass
on the theory Of the impossible goodness
ana limitless power for righteousness of a
commonplace character OF average abili.
ties strikes those who know the ~origina-
tors OF the scheme as comical purely.
But tho singlc-taxers. the Socialists. the horny
handed sons Of toll. the slaushter-house signers
- ~ NSA NhINi NtlNu ~
that million-dollar gift, and they take the mat
ter in dead earnest. They have had Low
painted for them as a prophet, with an aureole
about his head, as the Moses OF a social millen-
mum when there will be no more trusts and
monopolies.' no more money power" no more
resistance to labor unionism. but with the world
one great labor union. with a common standard
OF pay for everybody. and complete happiness all
around. When they find that the real Low is a
Snug. well-fed person, without imagination, OF
a commonplace mould and an essentially bour.
Reois and provincial character, both he and they
will deserve pity. II he were elected Mayor Of
New York his worst enemy. If he has an enemy,
which to me is inconceivable, would have
his bitterest vindictivcness gratifled in the
popular disappointment and evaporation
which would result from the actual trial OF him.
1t would be a doleful ending of the public career
OF Mr.. Seth Low, and his downfall would be the
more complete because OF the false and impos-
sible conception of his character and abilities
his crowd Of fnlcally fanatical heelers have
generated in the public mind.
This description of tho special Low boomers
must not be regarded AS applying TO all those
now pretending TO view with awe his transccn-
dent moral elevation. Tho moro sensible of
them size him up exactly rs l do. including all
the bright and sturdy fellows OF natural i'm
pulses and genuine manliness who have been
entrapped into the Goo Goo movement. 1t is
a pity that so much youthful cleverness and
zeal was perverted and wasted in a movement
destitute OF any substratum Of common sense:
but it must be remembered that it was
started In a time OF trihing politics, whose in
sincerity was easily discerned by the acute
ness and directness OF youth. What else
was there for them TO do, and what else
could they do until an opportunity was
49, a--x 49,. q,
field really deserving OF their jealous %cultiva-
ton ! Those OF them who arc of genuine mettle
will come out all right in the end. They have
been going through a period of education which
has opened their eyes to the fraud. hypocrisy,
and humbug which pass current among the un-
sophisticated for lofty public aims and noble
political devotion.
This saving element among the Goo Coos has
never taken any stock" in Low. He is q type
Of man to which youthful manlincss Is naturally
averse. 1t does not fall down in worship of
goodness" paraded as a stock In political
trade. 1t does not believe in human spotless-
ness, even in the teacher of a Bible class in
Rainsford's church. but rather distrusts a man
to whom 1t is attributed as his unique and YER
liable possession. This, you must remember. is
n period of sKepticism. and to this generation.
moreover, any suggestion of posing is intolera-
BILE. 1t abominates the goody-Rood. New York
Ia desperately sick of the advertisement of Low
as a paragon Of virtue.
Accordingly, you are right In suggesting that
while Low may imagine that he Is PLAYING"
this adolcscent crowd, they are really playing "
Low. They would like to get him in a hole by
compelling him to declare himself squarely and
like a man. They are meeting his game with q
bluff. and they enjoy his embarrassment.
1t Is plain that those irreverential young
fellows and tho newspapers working with
them are determined to have fun with the SUI
perlatively good Mr.. Seth Low. and with tho
coxcombs who are gratifying their vanity of
publicity by holding the skirts of the robe Of his
spotlessness above the dust and the miro of vul-
gar and wicked politics. Nowhere is the anxiety
TO be relieved of the Low incubus more impa-
tient than it 10 among tho very crowd where
professions of admiration Of his goodness are
the loudest.
The sooner he gets his Citizens Union nomi-
nation the sooner his candidacy can be dis
missed from serious consideration. and the most
IL - a u a a.,