New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-01
THE COST OF "PEACE."


Many different interpretations are being put
on the ElliSOn-Sullivan peace compact To
TIE man i'll the street it looks a good deal like
a welcome truce between antagonists who had
grown heartily sick of fighting. Each seemed
TO be more interested in recuperaung his
strength than il inhicting further injuries on
the other Each entirely willing to let
the other alone for the time being. From this
point of view it is logical enough for Mayor
Mcclellan to insist that he has neither with
drawn nor modified his declaration of last fall:
Il am unaiterably opposed to Charles +. Muir
ply and to everythin- that he stands for" 1t
is also logical on Mir. Murphy's part to an
nounce that he is still the head of the reunited
and harmonized Tammany organization and
will retain the leadership until dispossessed of
it fOrcibly. Grim Visaged war has smoothed his
wrinked front. But the questions which pre-
cipitated hostities are still unsettled, or set
tied only on the unsatisfactory basis Of Rti pos
sidetiS.
There those. however, who see in the
reconciliation of the administration and the
Organization" prOfounder purpose and a fur
Their reaching promise. The example of lar
mony and brotherly understanding set by the
warning elements in Tammany Hall is, they say,
to inspire and regenerate the distracted Demo-
cratic party Mayor Mcclellan limited at this
Interior motive when he promised to go as far
forward as any man for political peace which
sis so needful to my party In the city, the
state and the nation" Instead of cutivat-
ing further the spirit Of "unalterable OppOSi-
ton" now so pronounced in Jeffersonlan circles,
the local faithful will try TO overlook all minor
differences in creed and practice. They will
never again sit down 10 jefferson dinners invid-
iously graded In price and differentiated in or
thodoxy, each gathering arrOgatng 10 itself the
right to say what is Democracy and who are
Democrats. Working together under the ELI
sOn-Sullivan compact, it is suggested, the Demo
Gratis of this city may hope to solve the
conundrum which has of late so heavily OPP
pressed our valued contemporary, "The New
York World"
Peace, especially a peace which has a tran
scendental purpose like this always costs some
thing What is the McCellan-Tammany paci-
fication to cost? The World" draws rather
peSsmstic picture of the future. 1t seems 10
fear that in spite of Mayor McClellans declara-
ton of continued independence the old sys-
TEN OF Tammany exploitation will gradually be
re-established in all branches of the city gov
eminent. Such result. it is also frank enough
to say, would be too high a price TO pay for
harmony here and It's psychological effect OH
the Democratic party in the state and nation,
One proposed sacrifice on the altar of peace
would be deeply resented by the voters OF New
York without regard to party. That Is the dis
missal of General Bingham TO make way for
a police commissioner more agreeable to the
Sullivans and the classes which look to them
for protection. We are disposed, however, to
take Mayor Mcclellan at his word when he
says that General Bingham is to stay in his
present post so long lie fills it to the salts
faction of the public. The administration of the
police force has been one of the most creditable
features of Mr.. McClellan's second administra-
ton. General Bingham has won exceptional
measure of confidence and to this confidence
was due the much larger grant of power re-
Gently given him by the Legislature. He should
have a free hand TO try out the reforms he has
in view, however disagreeable those reforms
may prove 10 the political friends and hackers
of the now discredited police autOcracy. If the
Ellison Sullivan compact included a cutting
short OF General Binghams activities, the pub
lie will agree that peace" was purchased
through an extravagant and unseemly sacri-
fee