The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-19
a EsT1oN OF FOLLY.
The Absurd Proposition TO Divide New Work
Into Tive states Grnveiy Di.ru-sed.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. A n citizen
OF the loyal and peaceful State OF New Jersey
feel justified In writing about the proposcd di.
vision OF the State OF New York, because. ~ ac-
complished, the SANE territory now having two
United States Senators would nave four. 10 the
political disadvantage Of the growing state OF
New Jersey.
The tentative proposition to divide the state
OF New York. making u new State of tho OK
tremo southern counties and calling the same
the State OF Manhattan, willie it cannot DO
taken seriously, yet represents in itself n vault
ing and. n thouRhtless political ambition. and 10
q subject for deep reflection.
II New York city succeeded in seeding from
the State of New York, II probably would be fol.
lowed by like movements on tho part of other
largo cities-say Philadelphia from pcnnsyl-
vanin, Chicago from Illinois, Boston from Mas
sachusotts, and Now Orleans from Louisiana.
1t would upset and destroy the political balance
OF the Union; it would produce now complicn.
tions in the United States Senate; it would nc.
complish no good, and 1t would NIL the country
from Maine TO Texas, from Florida to Washing.
ton. with strife and agitation.
| skill and economy If 4 wero outside ~ ib m1 yT.
straint of the Legislature at Albany
During a long term I'm Of years aoes not the state
| the State. and certainly II is of direct advan.
tage to the city OF New York. How many wild
hhu o.hcibCs ihtIouuSSu ny Now lOrh
c.ty members have been stopped by the Legisla-
ture at Albanyi
A city is a part Of tho State, tho same rs a
county. 1t is proper that homo rule should be
the dominant idoa in a city's charter. There
lie, however. some affairs OF government which
more properly belong TO the State than to the
city. The control of the militia and the codes OF
civil and criminal laws are casos in point.
What citizen of the Union IL not proud OF tho
Empire STATED Read tho inspiring history of
Now York. Who can think OF the elegant fnan-
cier, Alexander Hamilton; OF the matchless
scholar. De Witt Clinton, and of the successful
statesman, William H.. Seward, and not feel
the sincerity and tho gran ieur OF their lofty
patriotism Divide the Empire State! Docs
the suggestion come from one who wishes
peace and prosperity Is the promoter II
patriot and an American Has he road the de.
bates anu the difficulties which confronted the
Constitutional Convention of 1871
Does he wish a situation similar to that before
the adjournment of that convention which
caused the ever hopeful Franklin to exClaim,
pointing to Washington's chair, on the back OF
its gilded rays: As / have been sitting here
all these weeks / have often wondered whether
yondcr sun is rising or setting" But he added,
" Iknow that 1t is the rising sum-
That sun has not yet reached the zenith oil
heavens high arch. Lot the geographical di
visions of the States alone. 1t is u dangerous
business to attempt to alter them. 1t Is o sub
Ject fruitful of discord.
Does the promoter of this political strike wish
to obscure that sun, darken the air. and raise
the black clouds of u whirling and q destructiv,
political cyclonei CHARLES s. SMINoK.
NORTH PLAINFIELD, Nov. IL.