Year: 1878

In recalling this well known phrase and
presenting it rs fair rendering of Mr..
Dana's attitude toward the Mayoralty, we
would gladly remove the thin shade OF
derision which has rested upon it from
time immemorial. When MIR. Dana says Il
do not wish to be Mayor" he is unques-
tionably more sincere than were the ecclesl-
astics of the olden time, who declared, with
affected humility, II do not wish to be
bishop" The nolo episcopari was taken by
irreverent auditors in what we moderns call
a Pickwickian sense, like the coyness of the
virtuous maiden when first approached on
the subject of marriage But girl OF sense
and spirit despises an admirer who willis
under the first rebuff, justly concluding
that he could have no proper appreciation
of her value when lie gives her up so easily.


We suppose that there was never an in
stance when the nOlo episcopdri prevented
suitable candidate from being made
bishop, and if the becoming coyness OF a
''fair lady" sometimes stands in the way OF
her marriage it is because some "faint heart
which does not deserve to win her is def
cient in that quality which alike in love
and in war is called gallantry. The people
Of this city are too fully persuaded OF Mr..
Dana's admirable qualifications for Mayor to
retreat and look sheepish because the maiden
proves little coy. Faint heart neer won
fair LADY, the only thing to do is to act in
the spirit of the proverb and persevere
General Grant did not want to be Presi-
dent; he says he has hardly forgiven him
self for relinquishing the command OF the
army to take that position but he did
He expresses the same reluctance now, but
his friends will not despair of overcoming
it if his candidature should seem necessary
for the salvation of the republican party.
To be sure, General Grant is not q man
whose example Mr.. Dana would be in much
haste to emulate, and SO we remind
him that Washington himself shrank
from being our first President and
also from o reelection but in both cases
he yielded to the persistent urgency of his
friends We are persuaded that Mr.. Dana
will likewise sacrifice private inclinations
to the public good if his fellow citizens in
sist that he shall be their Mayor.


We do not in the least doubt that Mr..
Dana's nolo episcopdri is sincere. There is
one reason for his reluctance which his
pride and modesty alike forbid him to men,
ton but reason which we may state, al
though it would not become him to do SO.
Mr.. Dana is one Of the few men whose ideas
rise to the height OF the situation one Of
the few who understand how much would
be expected Of first class man in the Office
of Mayor. The great problem of our time is
municipal government The state of affairs
in our chief cities begins to throw doubt on
the success of our free popular institutions;
there are widespread doubts of the COM
patibility of universal suffrage with honest
government in our municipalities. Ii this
great problem can be successfully solved
for the city Of New York it will be solved
for all American cities, and an oppressive
load of doubt and misgiving will be lifted
from many minds. Relief from municipal
corruption and extravagance has here
tofore been sought in charter tinkering;
but we are confident it is to be
found only in great administrative ability
and force of character at the head of
the municipal government At any rate,
this experiment ought to be tried. When
we have once had Mayor of the utmost
personal efficiency we shall be for the first
time in position to judge what changes
are requisite in the charter to enable man
of capacity and vigor to give US the kind of
government we need. Mr.. Dana is one Of
the few men who perceive what qualities
are requisite to make great Mayor of New
York, and pride and modesty alike forbid
him to say that he can fill the BILL But if
his fellow citizens unite in saying SO he
will have no moral liberty to thwart their
wishes.