New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
MR.. LOWS APT REMINDER.

The alliance of honest citizens against Tam
many's misgovernment is fortunate in the speak
ing abilities of its candidate for Mayor. Many
wears ago Mr. Low won an enviable reputation
through his power TO present pertinent and
telling facts in direct. lucid and convincing
manner. II is evident that his power in that
respect has not waned. His brief address to
the committee of the Citizens Union on Friday
evening was ample proof of that. 1t was
marked with the seriousness and earnestness Of
purpose which have always been characteristic
of the man. and with the bold and aggressive
spirit of a leader who expects to win. His terse
exposures of the absentee system under which
New-York is misgoverned would cause an agony
of humiliation TO any one less pachydermatous
than the second George III' to whom they
were applied. As brief expression of the
spirit and purpose of the anti-Tammany alliance
the speech leaves nothing to be desired and con
tans nothing to be regretted.
To the general public the part of Mr. Lows
address which should be of most practical value
is the reminder contained in its closing para
graph. The battle is to be waged against the
most thoroughly organized political body in the
country, possessing all the machinery of inhu
ence and practically unbounded resources. That
is an enemy with which il will not do to take
single unnecessary chance. The battle is to be
by such attention on the part not merely of Mr.
Low himself and the sOcaIled managers of the
campaign, but Of all citizens who really desire
10 see the city redeemed from the foul clutches
of Tammany. 1t is easy TO inveigh against the
absentee landlordism of the Squire of Vantage
and TO ask concerning his fortune, Where did
he get itf' Ii is easy TO revolt in mind and
speech against the unspeakabe ruffian Devery
and all the other denominations which Tammany
has imposed upon this suffering city But 1t
takes more than words TO effect a revolution.
What is necessary as Mr.. Lows apt reminder
suggests. is some degree of personal effort on
the part of citizens. There is never any lack of
personal effort among the followers Of Tam
many. Interest, their own pockets, their very
bread and butter, impel them to activity. But
are there no comparabiy powerful motives on
the other side? Surely the desire to see the city
honestly and efficiently governed TO see the
horrible partnership between government and
crime destroyed TO have the children of the city
provided with schools and the homes of the city
protected from the invasion of nameless vice, to
have the police made the guardians of law and
order instead OF the allies of vice and crime
the desire for these and similar reforms should
be as influential upon the good citizen as the
desire for unclean patronage Is upon the fol-
lower of Tammany. The people of this city are
now 70 have chance TO prove the sincerity
and the earnestness of their protestations We
believe they are sincere and tremendously in
earnest. They will vindicate that belief by act
Ing upon Mr.. Lows reminder, by personally
attending to every conceivable detail of the
campaign. and by making q prompt and full
registration the precursor of a sweeping victory
at the polls.