The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
.rnr nErrrR rr


- OSMNNN9 hNaA - 1AN@~N I'll ~ W.
selr-satisnea People.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. without
question. there Is a doplorablo amount Of mar
rowness about the political ideas Of that dis.
tinguished body OF wealthy, and consequently
respectable, citizens and their followers, who
have acquired tho habit of opposing everything
that does not emanate from their own Immediate
circle. This particular body I refer to is tho
same that hires Cooper Union on every trivial
protext, and then with audacious self-concoit
seeks TO impress upon its auditors that they arc
listening to "the respectable element" "the
better element" It is tho same body of men
whose names form the nucleus of numerous
petitions and committees which at times threaten
us and our public officials. These names are as
cheap as they are stale, and everybody knows that
they stand, not for any well defined principles Of
government, but for personality in the admin
istration Of "any old thing" These people,
having no king to bow the knee to, do the next
best thing. and call themselves !" non.partisans F"
and worship an idol. Some OF them, also, are
themselves idols seeking worshippcrs.
These mon have among thcm several gentle
men OF excellent business qualifications. but
who arc utterly unfit, because of tho narrow
private lives they lead, to grasp the broad issues
that interest the masses. They look upon the
masses as classes. and, such remedies as they
- Nats ~ thAo III
politics, certainly, there are no classes, for every
mans vote is equal to another mans vote.
How narrow these gentlemen are can be seen
in their uso Of the words reform" good gov
ernment," and better element" insinuating
with considerable conceit and u deplorable alb
sence OF good taste, that none but themselves
are privileged to use them.
Politician" they define as meaning some
other fellow who is In politics for what he can
,.Nnl -.N % Ia. - N At 80,
ambition in politics is os desirable for the well
faro of our nation rs 1t is in business circles for
the welfare of business. Boss" is one who by
some dark and decp-laid scheme succeeds in con-
vincing a large number of people that he is a
man Of strong principles, who is not to be
swayed hither and thither by every breath OF ir.
responsible public opinion: n man of purity Of
trusted and is trusted in all things--he is a
"Boss. Non -partisaa" Ia a most effective word
that would sound well reverberating through the
corridors OF a lunatic asylum. Lunntics and
idiots are : non. partisans A." through misfortune.
Men with brains can be 30 only by choice. A man
o. no conviction. or who IS not open to conyic-
petent 10 grasp, after having had a fair oppor-
tunity to examine II, is deficient beyond the sup
posed endowmeHt OF mankind in the way Q icor,-
used as much as 1t has been because some people
have discovered that a "non.partisan Is a
cause he does not know himself.
AL these pet words, taken together, are only
| Ii uhib Wnith lHS CltlZtns VnlS year nom
partisans. next year something else, dangle un-
der the noses of credulous voters who have no
time to examine. and consequently do not dis
| cover the line and hook concealed. Nc matter
how catchy they may be. or how fashionable the
new.fangled system OF reform agitation may be-
come for the moment. every man with strong
political principles at heart should think twice
before he permits himself to be mnde the tool of
men whose political ideas, when they have any
at all, are known to be in a constant tangle.
The leaders OF the Citizens Union " are prin-
cipally !aboring under a burden OF disappoint-
ment. They have seen others succeed where
they have failed. Envy has eaten SO deeply into
their souls that ii dominates their reason. and
they have come to believe in the sincerity OF
their own demand for good government. They
do not do justice to such intelligence as they
is land 1t Is on the %surface), they have but one
purpose, and that ia to defeat the Republican
party. either by forcing it to nominate a Mayor
OF their choice, or by drawing away voters to a
dummy ticket or candidate.
! The name Of Seth Low is presented to US for
Mayor, ANA ii. is presented In u manner which
somewhat exccls in dignity that in which Frank.
Coney Island. Yet he is a good man: SO
good that one Of Americas greatest states.
men. James q. Blaine, could not command
his active support. He worked hard 20
help the Republicans of Brooklyn elect him
Mayor. What he has done since, envious poll.
ticians are suppressinE. Should his name APP
pear before n Republican convention, let 1t be re-
suggested by what We know of him. and not by
what we hear OF him. He will then be rewarded
as he deserves, and Republicans will nominate
and elect as Mayor Of New York-another man.
ANTI-TAMMANY.