New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-08


h,v. SINK 81 low that the most labOrous ex-
c,v,tious might fail TO discover them that an
cnslavcd borough has taken the place OF iF'%
citv. and that its inhabitants have lost pretty
much everything except those civic virtues
which could be depended upon to restore the
former status il the chance were offered. bu'
doom rs Mr. Atterbury's distress Is. he Is CON
solcd 10 some extent by the reflection that he
was always opposed to consolidation, and that
tho friends who at one time did not hesitate to
sov TINT he was crazy are now convinced that
he is one Of the few men who retained full
possesson Of their faculties while Brooklyn
was losing hers.
The circumstance to which Mr.. Attcrbury
thus alludes with pardonabc pride had escaped
our notice. but 1t now occurs to US that his
natural desire to see his predictions of disaster
20 Brooklyn consequent upon consolidation ver-
led may account for his intense aversion TO
Mr. Seth Lows candidacy last year. He may
have felt that the one thing necessary to rs
sablish his reputation as prophet was the
triumph of Tammany Hall. However that may
Nc we venture 10 congratulate Mr.. Attcrbury
,,pon his consistent record. If the faith once
delivered TO the anti-consolldation saints Of
Brooklyn had been rs sternly kept by all OF
hem as IT was kept by Mr.. Attcrbury, there
would be no need Of repeal bill at the present
time provided Of course that they were as
accurate and ingenious as they were voluDle
and aggressive For they had League over
there. and the members of ii were wont to say
hat il embraced the entire population. with
ont distinction of race color or previous condi-
ton of scrvitudc With professions OF unnlter-
able regard for the principle of majority rule
ii. clam, for
as You got on winking terms with one of them
no would tell YOU that a referendum would be
Il cinch. that brooklyn would vote unanimously
against consolidation, and that he had the doc
uments with him 10 prove IT,
Such was the condition Of things. or the
snpcricial aspect thereof. down to certain
moment Of recorded time And then. presto.
Won couldn't find an anti-conSoda'ions in
BROOKLYN To save your life. We ourselves sent
ont several expeditions to explore the whole
region from Fulton Ferry to darkest Flafbush.
bit they were absolutely without results. Mr..
At,crhIlry saws that he was there all the while.
but somehow we missed him. anG accord
Ing TO the best Of our recollection. did every
body else The League had vanished. The
rcsdrum Of a burstrd bubble is IImaaya
IN comparison TO ;hc visible relics of that q
except Attorbury, and. rs we have already
remarkcti we n"vcr succeeded in catching Il
.jimpsr Of him. The phenomenon has been OK
plalncd on the theory that the League having
received certain assurances respecting the pro
visions OF the charter. and especially those nav
inc reference 10 the matter of taxation. and
various fccitOus arrangements having prem
made with regard to other details. the opposi-
ton inStantanc0usly perceived that it had no
furtho. reason or excuse for eXistcncc-in a
word that brooklyn for Broollynitcs was
Ear .e+S joyful and inspiring slogan than New
Yorl, for Brooklynitrs.
We do not affirm that Snch * the fact for we
never had the heart to MAKE exhaustive re-
searches into that mystery: bat we consider
If rrtirrlv safe 10 say that the present attempt
f. nd new fire Il deserted altar viii
he at.rI dcd with seriors difficulties. We are
willing :" ta'c Mr.. Attorhlry's word for II
fat be has been hand or ut least Just
aroun1 to ,orner. from first 10 last: but even
ho Ill ind that his usefulness as a vcstal
v.rcin has bean hOpeiessly impaired