The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-11
THE CAKES AND ALE OF OFFICE.

| LIE cANEO AND ALE OF' OFFICE
 Last summer, during the dog days the Citizens Union of New York was 1 organized for the purpose of redeemng | the metropolis from the wicked Tam | many spoilsmen, The declaration of principles adopted by this organiza tion
 was pitched in the highest key of un- l selt1shnesS. The world was amazed to | discover that in this corrupt and de- ceitful genration there should be found l in Gotham, of all places, on the globe, so large body of men animated by such lofty motives. We do not want, ," seemed to say these angelic creatures, any reward for our labors in behalf of god government. Our sole desire is to purify Greater New York, to make it a place worthy of such citizens as our
 selves and others equally high minded.
 Office has no temptation for us. For
 patronage We have the greatest repug-
 nance. The soft snap and the easy job we regard with detestation We are simply altruistic patriots banded to- gether for the accomplishment of a mo- ble purpose"
 Human natures unoc' weak and rarely to be trusted" Probably if the reform movement in New York had failed, the Citizens Union would have remained true to it's ideals It would have stood upright in it's integrity, and it's unselfishness would have been proof against all the assaults of the Evil One. But with the triumph of reform has come the downfall of the Citizens Union Its self-denial was invincible as l,A enemy, and no member of the Union was eligible for appointment It is not so very difficult after all for a man and patriot to deny himself something that is utterly unattainable. Millions of plain people do this every day in the year and never think of proclaining their virtues to the world. In the case of the Citizens Union of New York. |! however, it was fair assumption, after It's many protestations of disinterested- ness, that when the spoils of office were actually attainable it would manifest he same strong aversion to them which t had evinced when reform was still outside the breastworks. Sadly. but it must be said that this is lot the case. The Citizens Union no
  pWn reward It's leading committee met n New York on Monday night. made lnknd remarks about the Mayor the Union helped to elect and uttered a viz 'rous protest against the manner in which the rewards have been appor- toned, Three months ago the Union We care not who get the polls so that we get purity of govern nent.' Now it wants offices as an in ispensable eondiment for purity
 We should advise the Citizens Jnion' says the New York Tribune, not to make an unnecessary conspic- ous display of human weakness at this inc" Perhaps it would have been bet ar to advise the Union, immediately af- ar it's organization, not to make an un- ecessarily conspicuous display of hu- lan weakness by advertising itself as immune to the bacillus of spells. When
 body of men-poor, frail creatures ke the rest of humanity-ostentati : announces that it is composed of su- arior beings. absolutely without the { 'ibles and imperfections of mankind. it c akes a grievous blunder When it ! ills, it falls harder than those more ( rcumspect and less disinterested in- ' vduals who discreetly refrain from themselves the salt of the ltrh. Instead of adopting resolutions a 'fore the battle was fought that the tizens' Union was composed of the " best people on earth, the members or-