New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-05
RTSINESS AND POLITICS.

The revelations Of the Tammany ideal of gov
eminent which Mr.. Moss has been giving to the
world do not tell us much that we did not in
general way know before. But they excite the
wonder Of Europeans. who have long specialized
on the reasons which made our city govern
ments so corrupt and now that the brazen adj
mission is made by Mr. Croker that he regards
the control of the city purely as a business spec
ulation for himself. they are beginning TO ask
what must he the nature of the people to endure
such mercenary government. The conclusions
are hardly complimentary to our pride. but we
cannot much complain if We are judged by the
rule which we prepare for ourselves. We are
told that Mr. Crokers money making system Of
government is only the application TO politics of
our accepted business morality. and we are not
in position 70 deny it, so long as we accept Mr..
Croker and let his system set lightly upon US.
THE Yorkshire Post" commenting on Mr.. Gro
ker's frank avowal, takes this view Of us as a
city OF sordid money makers and says:
II is easy. therefore. TO understand with what
Indulgence the community in its individual
character may come 10 regard a man who, like
Croker, applies himself TO the task OF reducing
representative government to a money making
business and with what readiness the residuum
Of the electorate flock round the standard OF
DOSS Win 50 many TtNd1uS IN MS git. III
other words. one-half OF the community has
better for it's time than that OF reforming
local politics in the public interest. and the other
half is very well content TO fatten upon the cor
ruption which the neglect OF the more respecta-
bic classes has permitted TO fasten upon the
commonwealth
That is not a pleasant character TO have. We
should he glad to feel 1t was a harsh judgment
But, really, when we look around can we be
sure 1t Is unjust? What in fact does Mr. Croker
found his evil domination on but the tolerance
by respected people of corruption out Of regard
for their own business interests? II is not the
low. gambling. llQuor-dealing element that
makes Tammany possible. 1t is not those who
themselves Join in corrupt deals, or even the
ignorant masses controlled by patronage and
prejudice. Strong as is the organization In It's
perfection OF machinery and in the cohesive
power of public plumber il would not be strong
enough 10 rule the city except for the shopkeep-
ing turn Of mind that parayzes the men who
know perfectly well and deplore in conversation
the rascallty which they protect
They are not merely too busy at other things
as the English critic suggests. and 50 neglect
politics Too frequently they take keen inter
est in politics, but they take purely mercenary
utterly immoral view Of the subject. The people
who prefer a corrupt government to an honest
one are not only the dive keepers and contrac
tors and spoIlsmen. They are frequently the
a,ost heightened citizens engaged in Legitimate
.usiness and leading in all good works. Recall
the number OF business men who In Mayor
strong's administration objected that strict en-
forcement OF law injured their trade. IL The
town was lively" and could be made interest
ing" for the country buyer when he came here
wholesale trade would be stimulated. There
fore 1t was seriously remarked by reputable
merchants that IL was bad for commerce 10 have
too moral a city. In the campaign OF 1897 one
OF the leading officers Of great corporation
who was ostensibly opposed 10 Tammany re
marked in conversation that he hoped Van Wycl
would win. for his company had some extensive
building operations in prospect, and 1t would b'
better to pay a few hundred dollars In blackmai
than TO have prescriptions officials holding
them down TO hard regulations In the matter o
permits.
Something OF the same spirit hampers Mr.
AAeehan's revolt. He does not cut much Of ;