Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-24
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.


SPECIAL CORREsPONDENCE.
This city pays something like 81.
900, 1000 a year for its police force.
So ineffective is this great army, So
unsatisfactory the harvest from that
tremendous seed, that amateur police
men, in the shape of societies for the
prevention of cruelty to children, the
prevention of cruelty to animals, the
children's aid and the Red Cross, are
bewilderingly numerous aud outrage
ously oppressive upon the in
dividual purse. There is no earthly
reason why the legitimate police force
shouldn't prevent cruelty to chill
dren and cruelty to animals; why they
shouldn't extend paternal aid to the
children; in other words, why the po-
lice shouldn't do police work. We
are cursed in this city with gang of
amateur autocra's, who, under the
guise of charity and good will, go to
the legislature, where, unopposed, be-
cause unknown, they easily secure
poWcIS, ltHiluhitieS uuu dutuoIltcS,
which are positively amazing, and of
which the ordinary citizen knows
nothing, until, protesting against
some outrage, some traverse of his
liberty, he is confronted by the legis-
lative enactment. This is common
sense, and appeals to every man.
Hill for governor in 1898 and presi-
dent in 1900 is the latest political de-
velopment that has startled politicians
in this section. The word has been
passed around among the Platt fol-
lowers that at u recent conference of
Democratic managers Croker pro-
posed the name of Hill rs gnber-
material nominee. The reasons he
gave were that Hill was the
most eligible candidate from New
York for the presidential office, and
his election to the governors chair
would almost insure his nomination
two years hence. He would also unite
the factions, and while their Il fer
ences are not considered dangerous to
Democratic success, solid front
would sweep the state and carry the
legislature. As an inducement to
Hill he promised the support of Tam
many in 1900. The Republicans pro-
fess to be not even surprised at the
announcement, and say that Hill will
he easier to beat than almost any
other candidate.
1t was rather humorous to begin the
addresses at the Tolstoi dinner here
Thursday evening with an address by
General Woodforl our minister to
Spain, in which was emphasized this
sentiment: 81 may not say wherever
our flag has gone, there or flag must
stay. But this will say, frankly and
directly, wherever our flag has gone
the broad world ove", there the civiIiya-
tion, the humanity, the liberty which
our flag embodies and represents,
must stay and abide forever For
talk of patriotism and the flag Tol,toi
abhors almost as he abhors war, for
which he thinks the wicked sentiment
OF patriotism responsible. Human
ity, not nation, is his ideal. and it is
magnificent one, though beyond the
present age. The other principal
speakers were /. Zungwill and ".Ioe"
Jefferson. General Woodforl's speech
lod Mr.. Zangwill to touch ON Tolstoi's
doctrine of nOn-resistance, which he
treated with the wit to which it lends
itself so readily.
In his political creed Senator Platt
of New York is strictly close com
munion. He does not want to drink
of the same cup or eat at the same
table with Republicans of independent
leanings. He acknowledges but one
faith, aud he is its Mahomet. Conse-
quently he is just now troubled
in mind because the Citi ems
union has been urging independents
to put the name of Colonel Theo-
dore Roosevelt at the, head of
their tickets. He has not said much
about it himself. Colonel Roosevelt |
was not his first choice any mo: than
Governor Black was in 1896, but the
trend Of party sentiment has seemed
to be toward the colonel of the Rough
Riders, and he has thought his all
vantage lay in steering the popular
movement instead of trying to OPP
pose it.
Col. Roosevelt has prepared re-
view of the campaign in Cuba, which
has been read to his officers and re-
ceived their approval. 1t will be pub
lished as soon as the colonel and his
men have become private citizens
again. The review is comprehensive
and includes an expose of the mis-
management of the cOmmissary and
quartermaster's departments and other
branches of the service. No part of
the text is yet obtainable. but it is
said that Col. Roosevelt handled his !,
subject without gloves. The review
will be, in the language of one of his
subordinates, "a red-hot roast for
those who are responsible for the mis-
management of the campaign"
Only $4,000 more school children
than there is schoolroom for in this
years report in New York. The
crowded conditions of modern cities
make the proper cleanly teaching of
children difficult matter, but there
is little excuse for the excessive post
ponement Of necessary preparation for
the autumn term. New York is not
alone in this error by any means, but
in the largest cities the shOrtcomino |
is more assertively evident than it is
nearer home.
If New York had woman's suffrage
the chances are that the ticket would
be Theodore Roosevelt and Helen