New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-07


secondary TO matters a. toe state or the
Nation The Citizens Union and its candidates
n this confess, and they alone, stand for that
doctrine and in dcirg So they arc emphasizing
one OF the most Fundamental. ot the conditions
upon which good city government, depends.
THE POSITION or TAMMANy.
curiously enough in this ccMpaign. Tam
many Hail. IN its platform has confined Itself
as strictly 70 local issues as the Citizens Union
But everybody understands that Tammany has
done this only because i; has not dared to come
out either for the Chicago platform Of its party
or against II. The sincerity Of Tammanys plat
form utterances is easily tested. l. is fairy eio
Quent on the subject Of home rule ask you'
therefore 10 consider the illustration or nohe
rule which the Tammany organization IS anorG-
ing at THIS juncture It's whole ticket mas o.en
ramed by a man nornlnally out or poht!os'
who has spent most OF his time in England cur
ing the last three years, racing horses. UH1I',
gust l., or therea bouts. The New or WIN
red prize OF 500 to me n'a nandidats for
correctly guess the Tammany canut tLa ,oe
Mayor Not a single person SuVseeu '' .,
Of Judge Van Wyck. do not knon Mneo aHIa
this Is greater tribute 10 ''e ' ~. 49, ~
operations Of Mr.. Crokers nlinN' Or 10 t'e IN.
discovered popularity Of his candidate but
this at least, is certain. that more "l'enSiEe
violation both Of the Ietter @du % s,'' ~
CITY ~ New York. Candidate apart. however.
! cannot believe that many people who nave
high ideals of city government will look to
Tsmmany for their realization. under its pres
cnt management That organization is too .nti-
nately associated with our municipal dishonor
In the past TO be deliberately intrusted by the
reople Of the city with the solution of the
great problem involved in the installation OF
the new government Of the city Of New-York
There may be men who are inclined 10 vote
the Tammany ticket either from long habit or
for other reasons. with that hope IN their
hearts. but il is certainly hoping against hope
10 expect good city government at the hands or
Tammany under the conditions that prevail IN
pniZatiON
ONE POINT AGREED UPON.
There is one point, however as 10 which Tam
many the Republican organization, and the ad-
herents of Henry George all agree1. With
one voice they proclaim the doctripe that the adj
ministraton Of the city ought 20 ne responsible
TO some party. they put 1t, and not directly
10 the people themselves. II q party were 10
represen; the final judgment or vast body or
people there might he something 10 say lot this
proposition: though even then. for such business
as the city demands of its officials. think "
would be open 10 question. But what are you
going 10 say when party becomes an organiza-
ton and the organization becomes n machine
shat responds absolutely to the VIII Of ore man?
That has been the fundamental difficulty with
Tammany Hall for many year IT never was
more open to this criticism than ~ this moment.
And. am sorry to believe. THIS is also the iunda-
mental difficulty with the Republican party or
the city OF New-York to-day. In both cases you
have one-m man power Illustrated in its most Alb
solute form: and. as l think. in its most dan
yerous form, because IL is absolutely irresponsi-
BILE. Against that idea l stand for erect and
continuous responsibility on the part OF the city
officials TO the people themselves. Know OF
nothing more important 10 the safe conduct OF
great affairs than that the man who Is IN
position where he must take the nominal re-
sponsbity. should also he obliged 10 take the
actual responsibility.
THE ONLY SAFEGUARD
A keen sense of personal responsibility TO the
people Is the only safeguard for the city official
who is called upon 20 discharge great public du
ties l am not discussing the relation Of
National parties toward National affairs. l
understand very we'll the different elements that
are involved in the consideration of that prob
lem. l am simply stating my belief that so far
as good city government - concerned, II is far
more likely to be had from officials whose sense
OF responsibility to the public is keen and over
than from those who feel that some
organization must accept the blame for their
Of Judgment and even FOR their mis-
deeds.
Besides, there are enbarrassments in this
theory of responsibility 10 the party under ex-
listing conditions. Perhaps You recall the scene
in the Old Testament where Elijah taunts the
prophets Of Baal. because Baal does not respond
TO their prayers. The prophet calls upon them
TO shout aloud because. peradventure. their
lord sleepeth. or ne goes a-hunting. or what
nsts~ Imagine. now, a Mayor Of the city OF New
York responsible to Tammany Hall. Then sup
pose that some question should arise in regard
TO which he felt obliged 10 ascertain the tudg-
nent of the party who Is to be responsible for
him. Under the conditions Of the last three
years YOU will readily perceive that this would
necessitate cable TO England. and the answer
might be returned that the responsible party
was at the Derby and New-York must walt.
DIFFICULTIES OF ANOTHER KIND.
Or, II we are to have Mayor responsible to
the Republican party Of to-day. Unless indeed
he be man enough TO shatter this theory into
atoms and be his own master. we encounter
Ia
party, in that case. Is very busy man. 1t
must be admitted that he attends TO the bust
ness Of being responsible for his party much
more assiduousy than the actual leader Of
Tammany Hall has done for the last three
years. Nevertheless. the Republican leader has
already a great deal his hands He has
official relations with the Government Of the
United States. and he has unofficial relations
with the government OF the state. If 10 all
OF these Is added responsibility for the conduct
OF the city of New-York under the new condi-
lions about TO prevail IS there not some fear
that this theory OF party responsibility will re-
sulr in somebody being Overtaxed? No, no.
gentlemen. When party organizations have be-
come political machines that respond absolutely
TO the will Of single man the very fabric of
free government is in peril We might almost
appeal against such condition OF things TO
the general Government at Washington 10 make
good in our behalf the constitutional guarantee
of a republican form Of government in all the
States. Happily better appeal still is avail
able and that is TO the people Of the city. l
make that appeal now 10 the people or New
York In their own behalf and In behalf Of free
government, to elect this year officials VINO will
be responsible directly to them, and not indi-
rectly to some person whom they cannot get at
THE GOVERNMENT OF CITIES.
Every intelligent American knows that our
institutions have had their smallest measure of
success in relation TO the government Of cities
Nowhere else have there been so many and such
serious scandals: nowhere else have there been
such frequent failures to secure the good results
for which all government exists. Ihis IS mat
our public men. 1t Is stated with constant ana
mortifying reiteratlon by every puhlicist native
and foreign Conventions without number nave
bssr held for the discussion of the problem or
civ government in the United states. Despite
e,.e-y criticism that has been made, ! firmly be-
10 q irnnIOVP. and not 10