Year: 1877

4


opposed more or less fercely by all to whom
the continued existence of that evil is an adj
vantage and every endeavor to secure any
improvement in the administration OF law,
in the rapidity and comfort of locomotion,
or in the condition of the people in any
respect, is opposed as an invasion OF their
rights by those whose clumsy or iniquitous
practices the improvement will displace.
This is one of the facts of human expe-
rience that is best known. In chronicle
that has perhaps been more read by the peo-
pie than any one other history ever written,
it is recorded how the Christian religion
itself was fiercely opposed on certain oc-
casion by the mechanics or artists Of Ephe-
sus, who had ''vested right in the contin-
nance of Ephesian idolatry because they
made the idols and affairs before which
the people worshipped Diana. If the
religion preached by Paul should prevail
this was their argument-and the people
should worship in accordance with his
views, there would be no market in Ephe-
sus for images of Diana or affairs sacred to
that goddess and thus an enormous guam
tity OF property on their hands would be de-
prived of its value, and one of the greatest
industries of their city-one that gave en-
ployment to thousands of men and subsist-
ence to their families-would be destroyed
forever. Therefore the silvcrsmiths of the
great city assailed the preacher and did
what they could to prevent the propagation
of Christianity, having no regard whatever
II ;v,xo
est in certain Of the material consequences
and if some Of the arguments that have re-
Gently been advanced in our courts are good
law these silversmiths' views are entitled to
some consideration.


Opposition of this sort is made in the city
and to the endeavor to secure good muni-
cipal government. In regard to rapid transit
the horse car companies have "vested
right" in that torture which is inflicted upon
o patient people, when, on q winters day,
they are put into an ice box on wheels
and rolled at snail's pace from
the City Hall to Sixtieth, Seventieth
or Eightieth street. TO the sublime hint
of hungry man. who says that rapid transit
will get him home to his hot joint in twenty
minutes, where they torture him for an hour
and half /; or to the suggestion that on the
steam trains the cars will be cool in summer
and warm in winter, while theirs are just
the other way or that in the sweet by
and by there will be no more hanging
on by q strap-to all the eloquence
and suggestiveness of facts like these
they are as oblivious as the silversmiths
of Ephesus were to the great truths of
Christianity. They answer with material
inquiries. What shall we do with our old
cars they say, and our still older horses?
and where shall we get the sixpences with
which we now pay interest and dividends
on millions and millions of bonds and
shares, which represent an actual out
lay of about ten cents on dollar?
These companies may be answered
by inquiries even moro material
than their own. Is there my value in their
franchises or their property without the
streets, and do they own tho streets?
Clearly not. Whence did they derive the
right or privilege to use the streets From
the people. For what purpose was that
privilege given? Solely for the satisfaction
of need felt by the people at the time-for
the public convenience; and if the public
convenience now requires that the people
shall give another privilege to another en-
terprise is the fact that privilege was for
merly given to them limitation on the
power of the people Is the right of the
people to give privileges of this sort ex-
hausted by it's exercise in favor of one COM
pany?


Obstruction to the organization Of good
government for the city is made most ear
nestly by those who are part of the bad
government that exists. Sinecure holders
cures, and when half dozen or fifty of these
get together somewhere and call themselves
'the people," and subscribe q months pay
and send their man to Albany to operate on
the Legislature, their views are apt to prove
important.


There is but little doubt that under the
scheme Of municipal government that is
now before the Legislature, and which is
made the special order for tonight. the
affairs of this metropolis might be admins-
tered far more effectively and chcaply than
they are. 1t is a measure that would prac-
tically restore here that old, simple and
vigorous system of government that is found
efficient everywhere in the world for commu-
mites of moderate proportions. Everywhere
small deliberative body and an untram-
melled executive constitute the elements of
good government; and the more these are
overlaid with contrivances ostensibly pre-
pared to prevent robbery and tyranny the
more tyranny and robbery are facilitated
and the sense of responsibility to the peo-
pie is lost. This we have experienced in
the commission system, which alone made
nnSsible the yillnnias of the Twaad