New-York tribune., 1907-10-31
AN ACADEMIC MATTER.

The great debate in Brooklyn on Tuesday
night shows how little the mass of the people
have been moved by the recent furry in the
financial world 1t is a familiar observation
that when have a crisis here in New York
the rest of the country watches it without the
slightest sympathy as if it were something for
egn which did not touch or threaten the outside
world in any way, but it is hard to realize that
right here in this city the multitude looks with
similar unconcern on such troubles and worries
have recently been filling the newspapers
Yet how else are we to interpret the hilarity
with which Brooklyn treated the debate?
The topic is one on which there is division
of opinion and plenty of room for a display of
passion by those who stood in line, white faced.
waiting for their money; by those whose funds
locked up through temporary suspensions,
and by those who withstood their own misgiv-
ngS but were filled with anxiety lest the alarm
of others should become uncomfortable. To
none of these. and they were apparently many.
would the question who was responsible for
their worries seem joke. But the crowd that
gathered to hear the debate was overrunning
with good humor. The financial situation was
regarded with gay unconceTn There were no
passionate partisans or enemies of anybody in
the audience No tense feeling as of persons
whose pocket nerve was suffering keeny. mani
Tested itself, but everybody was apparently in
the highest spirits, lavishing applause with
something like unanimity upon the contradictory
points of both speakers alike. The question was
apparently academic to the audience and of 10
personal concern. and was lost sight of in the
cordial esteem with which, as BrooklyniteS.
those present regarded the two Brooklyn insti-
tutOns, Senator McCarren and Mr.. Woodruff
1t was a great joke that Tim" and Pat" were
having a debate, and that was all there was
10 ii. They cheered Mr.. McCarren when he
was sapping the President. and they cheered Mr.
Woodruff when he made his atle defence They
cheered for Mr. Rockefeller and for Mr. Morgan
and for William J. Bryan. and doubtless they
would have applauded Mr.. Hearst. too. if his
name had been mentioned. The crowd roared
applause when Mr.. McCarren spoke of the
Presidents 'phebotomzing" business. for
wasn't it the most delicious thing that the Long
Fellow should get up right there among his
neighbors where everybody knew him years be-
fore he became acquainted with dictionary and
use a long word that no one understood? What
were alien financial worries and the question
whether the man who let in the light was or
was not responsible for what the light disclosed
compared to such jest as that?
We may look across the river and see how the
panic was localized. or let US say stratifed.
Only a layer or two in one locality has been af-
tected. 1t is as much an academic matter 10 the
polite multtudeS" nj hOma as il is 10 the rest
OF the country To them It is all unreal. dumb
show. story in the newspapers. something
alien, inpersOnal and far off The incident
shows how little. even here in ne centre of
the disturbance. the substantial basis of nros
perity has been affected