New-York tribune., 1900-11-09

The reputable part of this community will be
glad TO know that the Merchants Association
intends to continue more general lines ths
excellent work which 1t has been doing for II
year or more In opposition to the schemes of
the Ramapo Company Through its president,
Mr. William F. King, ii has just made public
list of tie measures which it expects to present
to the attention Of the Legislature the coming
winter. Most of them relate TO the municipal
water supply. and all Of them may be found
worthy of adoption, unless. as is suggested, they
are anticipated to a greater or less extent by
the Charter Revision Commission.
Perhaps even more important than the asso-
ciations proposals in respect 10 these particular
matters is its pledge Of support to the movement
already taking form for the municipal redemp-
ton Of New-York In the words of Mr. King
It purposes to create an agitation among the
commercial interests of this city to the end
that New York may he governed on a purely
commercial basis not by political bosses who
dictate the policy Of the municipal govern
"ment and the acts of those who are elected to
public office" For this indispensable work Of
arousing and instructing popular opinion the
association has shown that 1t is we'll equipped
Its unselfsh Iabors in special field have COM
mended it to the confidence OF the community.
and If il now devotes its moral resources to this
larger task the result cannot fail 70 be credit
able and salutary. AS said yesterday, the
one essential thing at present is to spread
among the upright and intelligent people Of this
city realizing sense Of the wrongs they suffer
and a determination 10 end them. 1t Is far too
early TO define plan Of operations or select the
immediate agents of reform. but it is precisely
the time TO begin the process Of arraying all
honest influences against Tammany Hall and
the spirit which Tammany Hall chiefly but not
exclusively embodes. The impulse already
exists and is clearly felt not only by those who
would destroy that organization. hut also by
those within 1t who think they see an oppor-
tunity to change its leadership and capture for
themselves its power and plunder
II the people of New York who know good
government from bad and prefer the former are
Iesolved-not merely inclined-to accomplish
municipal revolution, they can certainly have
their way. There is no possibility of doubt
about 1t. The vicious and the hopelessly igno-
rant are not majority of the people of this
city. But we would not be understood TO i'm
ply that the task is TO be an easy one It re-
uuires as fundamental condition Of success
n complete subordination OF all selfish motives,
and, as human nature is constituted, that Ia no
trivial achievement. There are those whom a
conviction of their own superior sGgacity and
dlsinterestedness predisposes to folly There
are others whose ostensibe devotion to the
public welfare does not always disguise partly
unconscious longing for the various rewards Of
political prominence. And, as members Of the
Merchants Association must be aware there
are many reputable citizens who find 1t con
venient and profitable TO accept the terms on
which unlawful favors are procurable from a
corrupt municipal administration.
But such obstacles as these not insuper-
able On the contrary. we hope and expect to
see the personally honest and politically well
meaning majority Of this vast electorate in
spred indeed inhamed, with an ardor for
municipal publication which will consume
selfish, vain and jealous interests and clear the
way for an irresistible assault upon the COM
mon foe.