New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-08
THE USEFULNESS OF DELAY.

II will be remembered that few weeks ago,
when some of the more ardent and impatient
pa;riots of the Citizens Union manifested dis
postion to push that organization into positive
action in the nomination of candidates as early
as the latter part of May or at least the first
We in June. The Tribune took occasion 10
Dolnt on; that such action would hardly be wise
ana 10 give its reasons for thinking SO. Suisse
ouenflv the chairman Of the Citizens Union
favored us with a letter, which was made
subiec, of comment AZ the time. in which regret
was EXPRESSED that The Tribune had thought
II necessary TO make public difference OF opln-
ion with the executive body Of an organization
with whose purposes 1t was believed TO be III
entire sympathy. We are glad to think that
notwithstanding the slight friction which the
occurrence suggested. the calm presentation OF
the question ii offered Itself to the consid-
eroton of the ordinary mind was not without
effect The gentlemen who were urging speedy
action and whose arguments in that behalf were
certainly plausible. if not conclusive. did stop
md take time for deberaton, which was all
that The Tribune asked them to do. We are
not about to repeat the arguments urged al tnat
time for the avoidance of haste and the exercise
of caution care and the utmost deiberation
before taking action which might be mischiev-
Gus. and perhaps disastrous. and which was not
demanded by any pressing emergency We are
satisfied now that the delay The Tribune asked
for has been accorded, and we believe that all
advocates of the cause TO which the Citizens
Union is devoted will agree that the delay has
been beneficial and had salutary effect
But something more has been accomplished
by this delay than the mere postpOnement of
hasty action that might have been prejudical
H. {,,tn. ,ha ,i,1c nf
citizens that were becoming n little ovcrworked
and excited on the subject have quietcd down.
At the same time the attention of citizens who
do not take an active part in politics has been
called TO the importance Of the situation. and
the interest has become more general in the
success Of the movement for honest, non-par-
tisan municipal government on business prin-
ciples That is to say, the active spirits in the
Citizens Union, the leaders of the Republican
organization and the influential men in all the
organizations opposed to Tammany control and
rogue rule have come to realize that the great
body Of citizens who are. SO far as municipal
government Is concerned If not unafiiliated and
unattached at least independent Of affiliations
and attachments, are deeply interested in the
new problem presented in the coming canvass
and will have 10 be reckoned with. Enough has
been shown already and more is in process of
DEVELOPMENT, to prove that in the municipal
election next November party ties will count for
little and the party which succeeds will not be
that whose numerical strength can be counted
from its vote at the last election or from any
other but the party which comes closest to the
purposes announced and the principles avowed
by the Citizens Union.
All the same, the Citizens Union cannot go on
as II il were the only organization that had
good government at heart and the only one that
could be trusted TO make nominations and define
policy What the Citizens Union wants Is not
prominence, influence or power. II wants but
one thing In a word and that Is good govern
ment For that it needs votes. II must get
them from parties now In existence. And 1t
Is obvious to the simplest intelligence that It
must get most Of them from the Republican
marty Not because they are Republicans. but
demonstrating out ali other considerations
the Republican party, from the very force Of
local conditions aside from what many OF us
believe 10 be the honest and upright instincts
OF the party as body, has been always the op-
lorent Of the Tammany Democracy, under
whose rule mlsgovernment and maladministra-
ion nave grown and thrived. We-and when
NE Tribune says "we' 1t speaks for those who