The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-01
BRooKLYN'S JOYOUS WAKE
A FEW "OLD BRooKLTyITEs" THE
ONLY REAL MO URNERS.

" ONANN U INV
dalton Iiatehot and says Neu York viii ne
BrookiyniErd-win Carleton Reads n Focm
Five EH-Mnyora on Hand at the City Hall.
At the official obsequios last night over tho
deccnsc OF Brooklyn as an independent munich
rHlily and its merging into the Greater New
York there was n general feeling OF jubilancy.
The only mournors at the wake" were some of
tho members Of tho Society Of Old Brooklynites
and a few irreconcilable anti-consoiidation-
lists. The ceremonies took place in the City
Hall, which was brilliantly illuminated and
profuscly d ,corated in honor Of the occasion.
Tho floral display, supplied from tho Park con-
servatories. was worthy Of tho civic ~nuptials.
Tho rotunda. the halls. the staircnses, tho Com.
mon Council chamber, tho walls lined with the
pictures of Brooklyn's former Mayors. and all
the principal rooms OF tho old building were
transformed into bowers. There was a souvenir
programme for the visitors in tho shape OF n
Autographed pamphlet with the picture Of the
City Hall. tho seal and flag OF the city, and the
names of the members of the various commit
tees who arranged tho entertainment.
The ceremonies began with a public reception
in the Mayors office. extending over an hour
and q half. Mayor wurster and as many of his
predecessors as could find II convenient TO at
tend, and all the leading retiring officials as
sisted at this function.
The former Mayors present were Frederick
A. Schroeder, Daniel ID. whitney. Seth Low.
David A. Body and Charles A. Schlcren. The
two other living ox.Muyors. John w. Hunter
and Alfred c. Chaplin, were unable 10 PARTED.
pate.
Among the others present were A. A. Low.
William e.. Low. Gen. A. c. Barnes, Henry
w. Maxwell. Alexander L. Orr, Silas b.
butcher, Charles n. Chadwick, Eugene F.
O'Connor. Horace +. Dresser. John II. Burtis,
Isaac F. Cary. Jackson Wallace. William II.
Maxwell, John McKeon, Richard Young, J.
Warren Greene, Robert Wilkin. TIP Rev. DR..
$. NJ. Mcconnell, Granville w. Harmon, Clar-
ence E.. Barrow, Senator Brush, and r. Ross
Appleton.
While the reception was in progress Mrs.
Mary Il. Craigic. as the representative of the
Public Library Association. presented Mayor
Wurstcr with a basket Of flowers and delivered
an address, complimenting him on the warm
interest he had always shown in the enterprise.
At the close Of the reception the visitors as.
sembled in the Common Council chamber. The
big chairs in which the Aldermen were wont to
rcpose had been removed and camp stools sub
s,isu tse m ane sst as ihs s Mss q roPr 1,S RstpE'
lWSn nrsior ISq% > n aP ksodns an sishayy side HS S Yer
and then introduced St. Clair oMST eKefiw Fey." the
orator Of the OCCASION. Mr.. McKrlwey's theme
The first election under the new charter
showed all the boroughs voting a like prefer
opposed the result reached agree that it showed
no VIOLENCE to the will of any borough by the
others. Half a million voters in five great divi.
sions. voting alike by n plurality in every divi-
sion, exhibited a unity OF sentiment. That unity
demonstrates government by consent. Such u
Of the people for basis and for warrant. That
is the kind of government whereon our institu-
IT is government of tho people and by the peo-
pie. Whether it shall DO government for the
people must depend upon rs administrators;
success, and nothing which never loses but
principle. Principle. however. has a free choice
ties at will. When clearly apprehendcd. no
right principle has ever been rejected by the
been mado in those chosen to carry it out. They
may have erred in methods. They may have
forgotten Their Civilizations: They may, have
But the principle not indicated by them has
vindicated itself against them.
mako n world the New Working of Brooklyn is
what we should expect, and it is that for which
"All who favored consolidation are solcmnly
enlisted to vindicate its results so far as they
can y%indicate them. by what they can do for
Brooklyn as she energies from the waters OF her
new baptism. And all who opposed consolida.
ton are even more solemnly, enlisted under
autonomy they would have preserved and whose
governmental identity they would have re-.
tanned. all that they can do for the old home un.
der the new conditions. Friends. our conten-
| ton on this subject was sharp and long, and.
have some things to regret We have so o1e
things to forgive. Both Of us have some things
to dePlore; None Of us has animoslties to per.
expense. We would not be indicated at your
expense: What you sought TO accomplish you
as you saw 1t or foresaw it. What we sought
TO avert we sought to avert for the welfare OF
purpose. You denied ours. Neither was f Just.
Each was uttered in passion. Each was n form
of fury in fight; Each was a sorry recourse of
know 1t, we who could not realize its wrongful
ness when we employed it. The welfare Of
The welfare of Brooklyn remains doubly the
object and trebly the duty Of US both. The meas:
our concord. by the strength Of our past dis.
R ES %o sho foG the Te l ET1R9r nrn.p Saf Pr Of : enF RSg aIJp%ss
not doubt us. Consolidationist and anti.con.
solidationist must b." no longer terms OF division,
Happily, and our borough is peculiarly fortu.
nate in the fact. both Brooklyn and Brooklyn.
always have been words of honor IN our Ian
Ruage wherever II IL spoken. tho land within,
the seas across, and the world around. No other
borough Is TO have that advantage. To them
come new conditions with new names. BY us,
the old name is retained. Sentiment counts
thing to reconcile many Brooklynites TO the
transition.
"This is not dcath-it is but transition. AS
II is not death ] have blrdened you with no
eulogics OF departed greatness. with no biogra.
phies OF the departed mighty, with no history Of
past events. A change of garments Is not dis
solution. A change, which is not even a change
of name, Is but an Incident to a continuous and
this time our city has. on the whole. been faith
full. 1t has erred, it has stumbled. On occasion
1t has almost fallen. But from its errors and
from its suferings and from its humiiiations it
has drawn purpose Of amendment. and it has as
often carried that purpose into effect. To the
duties OF tho new timo may we be personally
and collectively equal. EQUAL to them we wifi
be II we bear In mind that life IL tho crucible of
character. and character. whether for man or for
borough or for city, is the crown Of life; and
that character Is alone well made by the con-
formity OF tho laws of life ana of the laws of
States to the laws of Him from Whom life is,
and to Whom II must give account"
viii Carleton then recited II poem written for
the occasion and entitled tine Passing OF
brooklyn" The first and last stanzas were as
follows:
Now while the bells OF the stecples turn golden,
Now as tho year has waxed sacred and oiden.
AMI the new century clearer anil clearer |
Fla .heS its headlights another mile nearer.
- EGh