New-York tribune., 1901-11-11


:. charged Far better a reasonable. enforce
-, law strictly lived up TO, than a bigoted
s-os.shle one overridden by the Of money.
i -, ,nsse premises will not be accepted al once
n IF vour readers But they should be
'r.+ IN your readers attention as promptly
az <orcibIy as possible and as often as is
..ssarv 20 open the doubters' eyes: otherwise
-sin points Of this splendid victory sure
10 be lost
So, least among the elements that contributed
,,u,s success was the influence Of the people
-,is town who have been blackmailed, IN sea-
ond nut Of season. and Of the instruments OF
s.. hlackunail, the members OF the police force
o. .o,hne the discussion, for the present at least
:, the excise question, does any one Of real ex-
-s.,ce and sane views. who knows actual
5,-ions and believes in trying to make the
~o-4d better bv degrees instead of thrusting
eli eedesd Utopia an unwilling populace-
-. .,cb g one doubt FOR instant that the
-,..-s-v If salo5nkeepers in New-Tork are just
: honest sust as patriotic, just as sincere,
.,s average man engaged in other business?
n does such one doubt that the average po-
Tos officer is e man who objects TO being used
s the TOOL OF blacknailers, and only allows
ti-,self n be SO used because his very living
ss,e,as upou IL? Even the worm will turn il
.,o -orrhlv trodden upon, and both the saloon
teeoer and the policeman have been roughly
.-o5se, upon by Croker. Van Wyck. Devery &
~ and both have turned Both are glad they
have -r-ned and both are anxious 70 stand in
,.v light before the conmunity-in the light
~ -en OF probitv and respecta bility.
r~he roIirera- has long been trained in the
,,oo, ~ hIa ackrr1au as practitioner; the saloon
tss,s- has long been the victim. From the one
-,u.- he taken the power TO levy tribute; from
+be o-her the incentive to pay il BlackHail has
tae, -hA secret Of Tann7any's power, because
the law has been such that there was an in
csnt,ve 10 pay 5lacknail-both on the part Of
the merchant who wants 10 cullber the side
walk with boxes and OF the merchant who
wants TO supply his customers with what he is
peruaitted TO sell 10 them on weekdays but for
hidden 10 dispense on Sundays. Biacknan has
,t length been the cause Of Tammanys down
fall Remove the power Of blackr7af in the
future and you remove the possibility of Tam
nsny's return 10 power.
How can this be accomplished? Every one
r.cognizes the power Of what is known as the
saloon element Because that element has be-
neve6 that the excise laws were in some respects
unreasonable and contrary TO public sentiment,
Il has been arrayed on the side Of what il con-
stered 70 be the party OF liberality, the party
best representing public sentiment Public
sentiment is bound to control IL the end. AS
!
nc longer & country village; It IS a cos
nopolitau city. and must be governed as
such. The sooner accept the fact and adapt
ourselves TO t. tie better of We shall be. The
saloon element Is in revolt against extorrion. II,
or the better part Of II. would prefer TO be on
the side Of law and order. Why not welcome II
and cement II 10 the side OF law and order by
doing what is right and just and reasonable,
what is in conformity with public sentiment?
II We 90 that Tarmeny's power is gone forever,
and with il partisan power II city affairs And
what is right and just and reasonable? A revision
Of the excise laws in accordance with public SEN
iinent permitting the opening Of saloons during
certain hours On Sunday. The moment you take
such action you have split the saloon power on
lines OF cleavage other than those Of self-preser-
walton; you have taken away the power OF
blackmaii from the police, and with honest
administration OF the Police Department you
can enforce any law that is in accordance with
public sentiment and retain an honest admins
fratiou in Office. An honest administration may
be able 10 enforce for time a law not II accord
with public sentiment, but IL will be turned out
Ct office despite its honesty. just soon
public sentiment gets chance 10 speak at the
polls
These may seem radical doctrines. but they
are true. They are the very essence Of popular
government. II Mayer Low administration IS
10 be real success the distant well as the
immediate future must be taken into account.
When Mayor Lows term expires he must be
succeeded by man Of similar aims or his two
years Of work viii go for naught. He cannot be
succeeded If his administration is forced to
run contrary TO public opinion this question Of
excise r , matter how widespread the reforms in
other directions. To achieve this excise reform
or change, # you prefer the expression-the
assistance Of the good citizens OF the whole
State must be invoked. and prejudice and local
views and theories must be cast aside The
people OF the State above the Harlem River
have the balance of power-more than that, the
actual power They can DO much TO make or
mar the fortunes Of the Low administration,
snd they must be educated to the fact that the
conditions in New-York are not the conditions
Ct smaller towns; that the needs Of New-fork
are Tot the needs Of smaller towns, and that the
public sentiment Of New-York IS not the public
sentiment Of smaller towns. Without their aid
xe may all be back in Tamuany's clutches two
years hence. With their aid may be able TO
keep the monster at bay indefinitely. The power
20 blsckmail is the greatest danger. Remove
the possibility and you have dealt corruption
body blow. VIII the country districts help US!
SON OF THE PURITANS-
New-Yorl. Nov. TO- 1901
IN DEFENCE OF AN HONORED NAME