New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-15
LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE.

i
Campbell, "the combat thereby the
great municipal debate" deepens.' One Of the
most encouraging indications Of the correctness
of The Tribune's view that the discussion would
do good appears in the profound earnestness
with which two Of our esteemed contemporaries
to wit The New-York SUM- and The New
York Evening POst'-have engaged In it. These
two Journals address constituencies Of widely
different mental temperament and political ten
denotes. II they do not reach all classes. they
at least touch the extremes; and it appears quite
probable, from the activity manifested by both
at this early stage Of the controversy, that the
line of argument pursued by each will be fin
shed and the resources Of language drawn upon
by both will be exhausted long before the time
arrives for the nomination Of candidates and
formal opening of the campaign. This will be
of great benefit to the average voter. who will
find when the time comes that the field has been
cleared Of great many extraneous and unim-
portant things. leaving him an unobstructed view
of the situation, with nothing to bewilder his
Imagination or confuse the operations OF his
mind.
Nor do we consider 1t Of Ill omen that these
two able and influential opponents Of public
opinion are somewhat at odds. and consequently
the municipal campaign should or should not be
conducted upon National Issues" Our even
ing contemporary is Of the opinion. in which the
press Of the city generally concur, that National
issues" do not properly enter into the municipal
contest. This The Sun prOnOunces a com
mon trick" and childish effort" why is it."
1t asks "that our metropolitan papers have fall
Zen to so low an intellectual level? Are they
edited by bumptious boys and hysterical girls?
Does anybody really read their vapid essaysT
These are home questions and it might be well
perhaps for the metropolitan papers'-of which
the editor Of 1.-The Sun" says 1--WE look in vain
"for the substance of thought or sagacity in
"them finding only intellectual Stops and in
"fantile pap"-to get together and II they
can be answered without shame and self-abase
ment Not that the inquiries are especially peril
nent TO the question under discussion. but the
intensity and earnestness with which they are
propounded evince such neighbOrly interest and
profound curiosity that 1t seems as II something
ought to be done to allay this ravenous appetite
for information. The language Of our contem-
porary is Indicative of deep feeling on the sub
ject Of National issues for the municipal cam
paign, but as we have said, we do not reckon
It Of Ill omen. For we remember that 1t used
the misguided Republicans who advocated the
nomination Of Mckinley. Time-with one or
two other things-has very soothing influence
on our contemporary.
Meantime, so far as we are able TO make out,
1.-THE Sun" and The Evening Post" are at
with reference to the ACCESSIBILITY of early nom
nations on the part of the Citizens Union. Re
i plying to criticism Of that body on account Of
what was supposed TO be It's intention to go
ahead and make nominations. 'The Sun" said
THE philosophers who are running that ma
"chine started out TO nominate candidates with
tout reference to any other political machine,
"and said so frankly. AS they are responsible
ITO nobody except themselves alone, II Is nobody
! "else's business what they do. Go ahead, boys
put up your ticket and have your fun without
regard to the outcry Of politicians" With this
view THE Evening Post" appears TO be In per
feet agreement. There is something altogether
inexplcable' ii says. about the anxiety Of
practical politicians OF all prries lest the Citi-
"Zens Union shall make their nominations TOO
"soon'" "Why are they all shouting in public
and private TO the Citizens Union" il continues
"'YOu babes, Idiots squads and imbeciles. can't
"'you see that II you nominate your ticket too
"'soon you will ruin your mOyementy Why
mot let them nominate 1t soon; the sooner the
better. and get themselves out Of the wayY
So though they differ for the present. and let
us hope temporarily, on the question of making
the campaign on National issues" they ARE in
accord as to the desirabiIity of sooner" nom
nations by the Citizens Union. This is of the
utmost encouragement II furnishes basis for