New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-08
SOME WISE SUGGESTIONS.

There was much significance In the proceed
lngs Of the meeting held on Thursday evening
by voters of the MYTH Assembly District who
have enrolled themselves in the Citizens
Union or expect to do so. The meeting itself,
coming at so early stage in the movement,
was a welcome proof Of its substantial charac-
ter, while the excellent sense and temper Of
the gathering were conspicuous. 1t was evil
dent from the first that those present were OPP
posed to hasty action prescribed by men who
have deserved we'll of the community by I'M
dertaking the work Of organizing the Union,
but who have not been authorized to commit
large body Of citizens 10 any plan that they
may be disposed to adopt. The apparent inten-
ton Of those who as the natural consequence
of their own praiscworthy zeal are now at the
head of a movement which has just begun 10
take form. to direct its course, even to the ex-
tent of making its nomin: tons. had excited anx-
iety and disapprobation among its supporters in
the NNNth District Their first inclination was
to express their dissent from that programmefn
very positive terms, but they wisely refraned
flom passing a resolution which might have
been construed as reflection upon the sincerity
of those with whom they disagreed. and adopt
ed the following recommendation to the Expc,i-
tive Committees
Resolved. That the enrolled members Of the
Citizens Union Of the XVIII District. in meet
Ing assembled. this 9th day of May 1897.
specially suggest 10 the Executive Committee
Of the Union that II is expedient from the begin
ming to emphasize the representative character
of the proposed organization by such action OF
the committee which has thus far so successfully
initiated the movement az will effectively pro-
vide for the election of the permanent officers
and committees by whom the Union is 10 be led
and directed by the whole body of the enrolled
1lcVc chi in a q n an "a
pending the creation Of permanent management
and form of organization. it is further respectful
~ recommended that no final action re lating TO
nomin atoms a plan Of campaign be taken: and
that W atever plan be finally adopted should. in
the broa lest manner, provide for a full, free and
intelligent participation by the whole member
ship in all proposed actions of the Union, in the
election Of its officers and in the accomplishment
Of it's high purposes.
These suggestions, expressing perfect confi-
dence in the motives of those to whom they are
offered and hearty appreciation of their Ia
bO's hitherto are an admirable statement OF
the policy which the Citizens Union ought to
pursue 1t is of the utmost importance that no
step should be taken especially in the incip-
iency of an undertaking which is still the OBJ
iect of sympathetic curiosity rather than Of as
sured devotion, which could suggest dictation
by clique, however intelligent and public
spirited. II would be unfortunate. and proba-
bly, fatal, if what has recently been known and
condemned as 1.-THE jammng through process
should appear to have been adopted by the or
ganizers of the Citizens Union. They have
been foremost in denOuncing the despotsm of
4 machine which issued DEGREES to suit itself
in contemptuous disregard Of the representative
principle upon which popular government Is
founded Least of all can they afford to lay
themselves open 10 reproach and distrust by
employing for the furtherance Of their own
purposes methods which they have called odious
when applied to the purposes OF others. That
would be an Inconsistency which coul' not be
justified by the plea that the purposes were
good in their case and bad in the case Of some
one else. Such begging Of the question would
mortify and ALLEVIATE their friends and give a
weapon 10 their enemies.