New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-03
TIGER AND BEAR.
A QUESTION OF TASTE.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; The speech Of the Mayor on Satur-
day In reply to the courteous greetings OF Mayor
Strong surprised many who entertained the
hope and expectation that, Notwithstanding his
associa lions. he would at least at the beginning
of his official term manifest regard for the
proprieties of such an occasion. and in the brief
interchange Of the usual courtesies exhibit the
manners and breeding OF gentleman not unac-
quainted with the dignified formaties Of public
life. Mayor Strong had already given public
expression to a belief in which the public would
gladly share that the administration would
he popular and successful The few words In
which he welcomed his successor were well
chosen, genial and kindly. There was certainly
nothing In them at which the most sensitive or
fastidious could take offence. On the contrary
their tone and temper were such as might dls-
arm the most strenuous partisanshlp ana coni-
pei from the bitterest opponent some show OF
recognition in a reciprocal spirit OF politeness'
If not OF goodwill
Mayor Van Wyck showed neither. Without
word Of acknowledgment Of the CONGRATULATIONS
offered him by the retiring official, or even SO
much as noticing him. he briefly, bluntly ana
brutality said: Il received this office from the
people. I accept IT from them. and to them
will answer" That all The annals or
public life In this or any other country, vent
ure to say. furnish parallel for the grun dis
courtesy. the utter lack Of common civility and
the indescribaby bad manners Of this demon
stration. 1t unprovoked, uncalled for. III
was whispered during the campaign that Mr..
Van Wycks temper was not Of the mildest. and
that reason why Croker imposed silence
upon him while the campaign in progress
cb~ o,I
tlcan was aware Of this nfrmity of his pro-
t6g6. and would not permit him to risk public
exhibition of 1t on the stump or in the press.
Bit even his most intimate friends. those best
acquainted with his fraties must have been
taken somewhat aback by such display of III
temper and bad manners when not only there
was no provOcation or EXCISE for it. but the oc
casion itsei which ought to have put
the suriiest temper under some restraint. and
compelled al least the appearance OF poiteness
in the most unmannerly boor
1t may be asked Upon what meat doth this
our Cesar feed that he is grown so great
Received his Office from the people? VIII answer
to them? who are the people from whom he
ceived 1t and to whom he will answer? Why,
everybody knows. Richard Croker is the people.
He will answer to Richard Croker. And because
he is answerable only to Richard Croker he does
not recognize the common obligation to be polite
or even civil to any or al! Of the great body Of
citizens who are deIuding themselves with ths
notion that they ara the people. And he car
ries this view Of his relation to Croker so far
that he considers even cOngra tulations upon his
accession to Office from any one but Croker or
Croker's following an uncaled-fOr intrusion and
lmpertinencc, to he rebuked by a toss OK the
head and scornfu intimation that other people
than Croker had better mind their own business
and let him and Croker alone. Between the
lines of this brief hut suggestive inaugural IL
is not difficult to read the We'll. what are you
going to do about it?' Of William NJ Tweed
only Tweeds manner less abrupt and
naughty Under Tweed the Tigers habits and
propensties were the same as now; but Tweed,
with all his rascaity. joval and good
natured His manipulation was as smooth and
vclvety as the Tigers paw. But now. With the
morals Of the Tiger they give us the manners of
the Bear,
And there are four years Of 1t ahead thanks
10 Thomas c. Plat. "rhe credit and the honor
Of it, says his personal organ. in one OF its
periodical outbursta of fulsome adulatiou, DE
long to Thomas Collier Platt." They do; they do
And this people will nos soon forget 1t, however
much he may wish them to.
Jan. - 1895. kNlCkERBOCkER