THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2028, 24 August 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1880.

The resolution of Or. Hulbert respecting the establishment of a Mayor’s Court was, as we anticipated, carried by the City Council, but not unanimously. Councillor Gapes recorded bis dissent. As this gentleman is known to be a candidate for the mayoralty it is only fair to suppose that bis modesty led him to vote as he did. The weight of mayoralty he has borne ere now, but what if, in addition to the cares and chain of office, should he added the duty of presiding on the Bench at the Mayor’s Court ? The prospect is evidently too much for Councillor Gapes. We cannot, indeed, help sympathising with him in his present frame of mind. Ho knows, full well, how uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, and he has, metaphorically, of course, “ jibbed” and thrown the full weight of his influence in the direction of quashing the plan. It is a pity he stood alone, hut yet there is something heroic and noble in his attitude, which is moreover strictly conservative. Why should there he any departure from the customs prevailing among Mayors gone by, and why should there bo added yet another weight to the many responsibilities of the onerous office ? There are curious people who would say that once establish a Mayor’s Court and Councillor Gapes’ chances of the Mayorality would fade into dim distance. But these are some of the crosses and troubles to which great men in the course of their career are subject. The admirable manner in which the multifarious duties of the Chairman of tho Works Committee have been discharged by Councillor Gapes, is a sufficient answer to such an insinuation. It may ho true—though we do not affirm it—that after agreeing with his colleagues in the morning as to a certain course, he has opposed it in the Council. We all know that there is an old proverb as to second thoughts being best, and no doubt Councillor Gapes has acted upon this very good old saw. It is also said—with what truth we cannot say —that during his term of office as chairman, tho committee Las been anything hut a happy family. Should this indeed he the fact, tho true greatness of the statesmanlike mind of Councillor Gapes asserts itself. Despite tho possibility of his colleagues being right and ho wrong, he has shown that ho has tho courage of his opinions, and has stuck tenaciously to his colors. So doubtless with regard to tho Mayor’s Court. Though all his colleagues in the Council are agreed that it is a good thing for the public, and that the people also may hold similar opinions, ho will proudly stand alone. It is sad that so promising a project as the establishment of a Mayor’s Court should he nipped in the bud; but of course the projectors will go no further iu the matter. Gapes has spoken and all is over. We have yet hopes, however, that reflection, as it has done on many former occasions, will convince him that he is wrong, and that he will vote the other way as if nothing had happened. It is to be trusted sincerely that such will be the case, as without the imprimatur of Councillor Gapes, which alone can stamp the plan as a good one, it will be of no use for the Council to forward their resolution to the Government. Tho name of Councillor JGapes is as well known in the Cabinet as it is here, and the Government would hesitate ere it ventured, with his dissent recorded in the City archives, to carry ont the measure as suggested. If Councillor Gapes will but consider the position, he will see that the attitude he has taken up will irretrievably wreck a promising public boon, and this, we fool sure, will induce him to mako yet one more sacrifice of consistency, and this time in a good cause.