The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
4 Nen MAGNA ChARTA.

fb;s u,esssxe deserves more than passing
notice. It marks a distinct epoch In the
history of the Metropolis, and We be-
liere that it will be so regarded by the
future historian Of that city. AMONG
other things Mr.. Low said:
At this moment, / wish, especially, 10
say a word through you TO the people u
the city. It is widely believed that ouI
ias recent years a system has graouaiis
been developed, in connection with tue
administration OF the city, that calls Tor
the iliegitimate payment Of money az
every turn To the historic phrase
..blackmail," which originated when ROB-
Der barons openly demanded money as
the price Of letting people alone haEe
been added, as words OF similar eNii
omen, the new and expensive terms
s.shake-down'' and "rake-off. Against
such an iniquitous system In al aus
forms. this administration is at open wa',
and / bespeak the cooperation OF the
people of the city to bring it to an end.
Enlarsing upon the reference to black
mail, We quote the following from the
International Encyclopedias:
..Blackmail scarcely voluntary i'm
pest submitted to, in the earlier hall oil
the Eighteenth Century by the people
of the highlands, and parts of the low
lands bordering on the highlands, as a
kind of compromise with robbers. Inc
districts in question, being then IN an
extremely baTbarous state, enjoyed but
an imperfect protection from the law.
Owing, moreover, in psrL to polltcai
and social circumstances, theft and rob-
,rSc
lands as they are now: to carry OH the
cattle of neighbor was perhaps oni!
wreaking out an old family quarrei or
clan dispute, or making reprlsa4s 1or
some severity Of persons in power. Ger
tain it is that men of good standing gave
a certain degree of protection to notorious
catt]e-lifters. In these circumstances, q
class Of men rose UP who professeo 10
take upon themselves the duty OF pro
tecting the property of individuals, on
the payment by them of percentage on
their rents, generally per cent IheT
were not low men who did SO; nearly all
OF them had good highland pedigrees, and
passed externally as honorable persons
though there was only too great reason
to suspect that they encouraged ana
profted by robberies, in order to MAKE
the blacknail necessity"
1t is against this revival of barbarous
eli sto1n that has sprung up in New YORK
that Mr. Low and his forces have array
ed themselves. There is still another
historic reference in Mr.. Lows message
which is worthy of note. He said:
If during the next two years any citi.
zen, or any employe of the city, pays
money illegitimaIely, either to avoid IN
Jury or inconvenience, or TO secure nus
rights, he will do it because he wants 10,
and not because he must. No one, from
the largest corporation to the poorest
bcot-blacll, need pay one dlme Tor pro
lection from ham, or to secure Just
treatment at the hands of the city gov
erCrent No laborer or other enpioye
need part with one cent of his salary TO
any one either in or out of the city
government The whole force of the ad-
ministration will be eXerted, continuous
~, aggressvely, and in every possible
way to prevent and to punish this sort
of iniquity. Any one asked to make ~
improper payment for any purpose has
only to report the fact to the Mayor TO
be sure of protection and redress. Per
r
city who meet with unreasonable delay
In any department are asked to report
to the Mayor without hesitation.
In the days of KingNJohn there was a
sharp contest between the Crown and u
ccnfederacy Of the barons, or tenants-in-
chief of the King, who took UP arms Tor
tho redress Of their grievances. The King
had oppressed them until their burdens
became intolerable and they finally made
Il so hot for him that he was compelled
70 meet them In conference at Runny-
yne6e, and the result Of the conference
was the Magma Charta- Among other
things it was provided that sno freeman
shall be seized or imprisoned, or dispos-
sessed. or outlawed, or in any way
hsouSht to ruin: We will not so against
any man nor send against him, save by
legal judgment OF lis peers or by the law
OF the land And, more to the point, It
was provided that ito no man will we
SELL or deny, or delay, right or justice.
In short, the Magma Charta provided for
the protection Of life, liberty and prop
erty from arbitrary spoilauon.
Mr.. Low has planted himself upon the
principles of The Magma Charta, which
have ever been recognized in our govern
rnent and upon which our institutions
were established. But he well says that
he can do nothing of himself de says
that his administration will fall Of its
good purpose If he has not the aid OF
the people. and the city employees. but
that with the cooperation Of citizens AMI
city employees the whole foul system OF
biacknail and rake-off and shake-down
can and will be abolished. The people
arr the city. The people control the gov
eminent if they will, But when business
men are so busy with their own affairs
that they viii give no attention to pub
lie affairs and submit to this sort OF
blackmaii because they find it cheaper
20 submit than TO rebel. be sure the rob
Der barons will hold full sway. and will