New-York tribune., 1902-02-13
4 QUESTION OF GOOD HAMMERS.


George Washington in his younger days wrote
out some rules for good behavior which laid
great stress on the virtue of agreement in social
relations. There are some persons who think
it tame to meet people without entering into
controversy with them, and consider 1t sign
OF smartnesS to be insulting. Old fashioned
stateliness and courtesy are somewhat at
discount and in this region at least, we do
not fight duelS because of eptthets From the
pulpit as we'll as from the political platform
often come reckless and hysterical statements
which ought to discredit a speaker, but which
seem only TO advertise him. 1t is still, how
ever. everywhere considered the height Of bad
breeding to violate the obligations of hospi-
talty. If a man cannot respect another enough
to avoid impeachng his honesty or courage he
should not accept dinner invitations from him.
If one person thinks another a coward or a
sycophant he can at least refrain from joining
in celebrating his bravery and self-respect. If
he must attack him he hire a hall, instead
Of appearing at the enemy'S festal board In the
disguise of a guest for that purpose.
Ali this is the commonplace of etiquette, and
even OF decency. but there seems TO be some
need of recalling it. When young man be-
comes so conceited over his own powers of pour
ing out oil of vitriol upon those with whom he
comes in contact that he cannot refrain from
showing off at the expense of his hosts at
dinner, it is time for him TO take few lessons
in good manners It may he all well enough
in the midst of n political campaign in mere
recklessness to charge your principal support
ers with having sold you out and then have 10
take it back 1t is a question Of expedency
whether you can advance yourself in public
esteem by assuming TO be the only person in
the city who brings either wisdom or honesty
to bear upon public questions. II may be all
right for a public officer, who charges every
body else for taking attitude toward the
liquor question before election which they
pudate afterward, to run for that office an
exponent Of non partisan government, and i'm
mediately after taking office TO say: Il do not
stand FOR nparttsanship. 7 have always
believed that the city, we'll as the State.
"can he best governed by n great party TO the
dictates of which all the members are willing
Ito subordinate themselves. except when sucl,
great vital questions of right and wrong arise
about which there can be no difference be
tween honest and decent men," Those are
matters OF political expedienCe and political
consistency and we are not now discussing po-
lticaI conduct, but gentlemanly behavior.
When a young officeholder goes to a dinner
in honor OF OF his chief supporters. given
by other of his supporters. and improves the
occasion 10 tell the dinner givers whose guest
he is that many of them are sycophants whom
he used 10 see crawling in the dust, and then
genially suggests that their guest of honor
also not long ago cringing coward. the
sensation which he produces IS one of wonder
at his i'll breeding. II may be true that the
table is lined with time servers. The guest of
honor may he white livered, dishonest per-
son whom everybody ought to treat with con-
tempt Anybody who thinks ought TO stay
away from his dinner. Moreover, If he foels
in duty bound TO throw vitTiol on his old sup
porter when unhampered by the obligations
of hospitality, he ought TO be a little careful
about sneers at others for changing their atti-
tuda with election. young oficeholder who
gains great applause by his eloquence and
daring may he pardoned II he loses his head
a little and takes himself too seriously, but he
ought not to let himself be so carried away by
his own smartness or even his own nerves that
he fOrgets the good manners beitting a gentle
man. All Of which is presented in kindness and
with the best of good wishes for the consider
alton of Mr.. William Travers Jerome who
everybody knows, means we'll but sometimes
shows unfortunate tendency to forget what
he owes to himself and to others.