New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-28

Very faithfully yours. H c. POTTER
CHARLES STEWART SMITHS REMARKS
In his opening remarks Mr.. Smith said among
other things:
A remarkable incident has occurred in our cit,
during the last two weeks. which, / venture Il
suggest, may prove to have been OF epoch max
ing Importance The great leader of the grea
hall which controls the destinies of this city
Just before his departure from our midst
seemed TO see q great light; the scale fell from
his eyes. to speak and for the first time i
appeared to his enlightened vision that al
things were not entirely lovely on the East Side
and SO, metaphorically speaking. he ordered
fresh coat Of whitewash to be put on the base
ment Of Tammany Hall.
What duty is incumbent upon US as men and
citizens of the second city in the civilized world:
Shall protect and defend the honor and good
name OF this city. which is fast becoming hiss
ing ana byWcrd at home and abroad? We
must stamp out the Vipers who are corruptine
our children and youth and the strangers who
are here daily seeking a home We must trace
TO its source the power which permits its agents
and subordinates to collect this price Of shame
and infamy.
All the considerations Of religion and honor.
pride and sef-respect, the love of home and
family. demand this at hands Besides, on
a lower plane, crime is expensive; the value
OF every piece of real estate. al. the gains ana
profits Of business. our commercial financial ana
Ia Pbr0spST aepend az me s i0e
ment- Our taxes and expenses are largely IN
creased by dishonesty. incompetence and vice
New-York City is the most expensive place
IN the world in which do business. and bust
ness VIII. in the long run, seek more favorable
atmosphere unless we rise in our might and
purge the city of the scoundrels who make a
nockery Of justice
EX-MAYOR HEWITT'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Smith closed by asking ex-Mayor Hewitt
10 address the meeting. AS Mr.. Hewitt rose TO
respond he was loudly cheered. Throughout his
address Mr. Hewitt spoke in quiet and calm
tones, although it was apparent that he felt in
tensely upon the subject with which he was
dealing. In part he said:
Mr.. Smith IL his remarks has referred to the
one incident which seems 10 have focused pub
lie attention upon the moral condition Of the
city. He did refer TO another incident IN
which the Episcopal Bishop Of this diocese felt
called upon 10 address the Mayor OF the city in
terms which suppose. have never been paral-
leled n the history Of government in this city.
The Bishop does not speak without great oelib-
Grafton He does not act without very careful
consideration. There seemed TO be at once IN
the community a response from all quarters TO
the clarion call OF the Bishop.
The incident which led TO the formation Of
committee commonly called the Purity Commit
the city on the part OF Tammany Hall was
either called out by what the Bishop had said or
by the intination that he was going 10 take
action IN consequence Of the Diocesan Conven-
ton. At any rate, when the head OF Tammany
Hall spoke out, and the committee was APP
pointed il was the first confession so far as I
know, which came from the governing power Of
this city that there was anything wrong. Every
body else was aware Of It But two years ago
reform vas sent 10 nell by q lSa0lnS Orlcial OF
the city government, and there reform seems to
have remained for two years. undergoing the
punishment which Tarnmany Hall thought it de-
served. II reform reappears from the purga-
torial-to use a very mild phrase-from the
purgatorial condition to which ii was con-
signed il was because the head Of Tammany
Hall thought it was time to let up little on re-
form and bring it where 1t might have
little relief from the tortures under which it was
suffering
CROKER'S CALL a CONFESSION.
Now. this call on the part of the head Of
Tamnany Hail was q confession that things
were not right: that they had progressed to
point where the moral sense Of the community
was outraged; and when the moral sense OF
community is prepared to speak and to act, no
political organization. however powerful, how
ever intrenched in office and in revenue,
stand against the moral sense OF a great
n-unity- Mr. Cookers predecessor. Mr.. Tweed,
did not realize the force of popular opinion, and
are you going TO do about it?" a great lesson
was taught to Tammany Hall. and il has never
been forgotten Therefore the action of Mr..
croker may be regarded, las recognition Of the
fact that the limit of the abuse of public power
has been reached in this city.
But because he makes this confession it does
not follow that there is any sincerity in the
movement which he has inaugurated The COM
nittee which he nominated is composed of very
reput table gentlemen; some Of them l know per
Eonally and l have a great respect not only for
their ability. but for their high character. They
are entitled to our sympathy to certain ex-
tsht' Out hluch more 70 our commiseration; for
II they perform their duty as hope they will
they viii strike fatal blow at Tammany Hall
and the abuses for which il IS responsible If
they do not do their duty, then that character
which is their most precious possession will be
utterly DESTROYED in the eyes Of all decent men
IN TINS city. L Tammany Hall has arrived at
reaIlzlng sense Of the necessity for reform, let
US hope that the committee will put it in such
shape that it may be promptly realized
IF CROKER WAS SINCERE
But if there had been any sincerity on the
part Of Mr. Croker. the committee never would
nave been formed. The only reason why have
been willing TO respond to the call of the chair
man was because thought could throw some
light upon what be done in a civ Ike +his
by Mayor who is determined to do his DUTY
The responsibility for the existing state or
analrs, SO deplorable and SO disgraceful, is due
primarily as your chairman has told you 10 the
police. They are responsible not merely for tha
preservation Of order. but for the preservation
or oecency- They are paid to preserve the pub1tc
respect for itself. Instead of being the nreear,-
GRE Of order and Of decency they have beconoe
me protectors OF vice. Hence. when you under
take 10 Tx the RESPONSE biity for this stare NJ
anaIrs it is primarily to be traced to the noIice
me police are under the charge of a superfn
me commissioners The Commissioners are re-
sponsihle TO the Mayor. So that in rba 1aSt
analysis II Things go wrong, if public order is
destroyed # the sense of decencv is oltrae.S
the responsibility rests with the NavoT
Now. when became Mayor I realized n. +ao.
Saae the responsibility was upon me. The con-
oluon or Things at that time in the ci+,C Is
New-York was very bad; in some resnects 80 ~. %
as II Is now. Probably the extent of vice 80 nee
~ ~ SLSat q IL IS now, Tor the CITY is hieeAr
and the bars have been down for a long t 96et
[ 49, my e-ecuon realizing the responsibility
,nIIertta+ s11lIs &c rest upon me. proposed to
investigate the moral condition OF the citv for
HyseIL old not go TO the Police Snnerin
tehoent Or TO any captain and ask him m sbn+
me what was wrong. but l simply UsIi,aS
.nroush the streets and observed with nv own
eyes, ano counted the disreputable places 40
iaf as could md them, that were oran 80. 80
ingly open 10 the public view I found a 80
t E olves were open in the city, won't M.
oettaAe 70 oehne the word dive" You All 49,,
%hat II means but every form OF yino NH as