New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-23
RESPECTABHITY.

We are going 10 bring new Indictment
against respectable men in politics. If it were
not for the respectable men, how long could any
corrupt machine last? If it were not for the
men who within or without politics have won
regulations for cleannsss and probity, how long
could political dehasement be maintained? If il
were not for the men whom the people delight
10 honor. how could those remain in power who
are covered with political dishonor? If it were
not for the citizens Of notable standing who have
fought the Bosses" who have warred upon
machines, who have gained fame for their indie
pendence how would the bosses and the ma
chimes continue 10 do business If IL were not
for the constant supply Of available candidates
who By universal agreement cannot Ice CON
troled." how would the corruptionists keep
their control over the rest OF US? If good men
would not be put up TO save the day for the
machine" wherewith could il be saved? II
whitewash We're not always AT hand in album
dance, whom would sepulchres deceyef Ii is
common 10 indict good men for their failure To
take part in politics; would also indict
them for the part they too commonly take when
they do take part.
What does Tammany owe 10 respectability?
Why, lis very existence. Perhaps-nay, very
likely-it is going la owe its existence 10 re-
spectabilty again this fall. Nor Will this be the
first time for it has cutched at the substantial
come ashore in safety How respectable the
candidate must be in this exigency is now the
subject Of debate. IL is being nicely considered
by those experts in public endurance Mr.. Muir
ply and his advisers and all may rest assured
that their final Offering will De a candidate
respectable as necessary. VIII responsibility
draw back from the pitch OF this alliance? Not
if it follows precedents We have seen 1t i'm all
its guises saving the day for Fourteenth Street
the man of prep0Ssessing antecedents lending
an hOn0red name 10 stem the adverse tide Of
public feeling, the prominent figure in the bust
ness world giving assurance in his person Of "A
business Administrations Tammany business
administration the judge from the bench. the
whiteness of his ermine just cast aside pro-
ducing an illusion Of continuing immaculacy;
the leader Of the bar, the militant reformer.
yes, above ALL the militant reformer, especially
the anti-Tammany reformer for You cannot 20
too far sometimes in offering respectability and
the public delights in contrasts. II is persuaded
though not always-by Shepards and Grouts
as the civic offerings of Murphys and Sullvans.
We might tarry over the Shepard case To
show what the machine will do for responsibility
and what respectabiity will do or will Try TO do
for the machine. We might dwell how a
disgraoeful and vicious political combination,
exposed, derided hated, pursued OF all men,
when ii faced political annihilation reached out
its hand 10 a man who had record for fighting
corruption and corrupt machines and how he
reached out his hand 10 IT, and how they two
hand in hand, sought 10 brave the Storm We
might dwell on all this profiably as an extreme
illustration of the uses Of responsibility, the uses
which, we are sorry 10 say, responsibility courts.
but why should we waste time on parallels or
wander in the incurable past when the present
calls US loudly, when the debate on respecta-
bility. lis necessity, uses and incnations, RACES
about us once more? VIII II be necessary to
turn again 10 Brooklyn, where the valiant Nc
Carren guards the bridge. maintaining reser-
walton for the breeding of candidates above
suspicion and suitable for the hours of stress?
VIII ii be necessary again TO choose candidate
who has won fame fighting for civic decency
standing for everything that Tammany is not?
The Sphinx looks through his famous eyeglasses
with unwinking eye as he deliberates, and every
one knows that his decision will be 10 the oc-
casion just But will responsibility, which has
never before failed him. fail him this once?