New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-19

The" CT IZENS' IND THE REPUBLlCINS.
The Citizens Committee has probably de-
strovcd any chance there may have been Tor
union on local Offices against Tammany. 1t has
abandoned its ticket ard practically disbandcd.
Its Democratic chairman, Mr.. Coudcrt, had
previously paid visit to Albany-thc pleasant
town up the river, whore Mr.. Manning resides.
This Committee might as well have been dis
honest as stupid and its needless disagree
ment with the Republican, was either stupid or
dishonest. Without Republican support 1t had
no more chance to elect a ticket than II had to
reconstruct the map of Europe. Whatever else
if did. il should have avoided rcpelling, or
seeming torepel the cooperation Ofits expected
allies.
PEOPLE now naturally ask who constituted this
Citizens Committee who appointed them ana
whom they represented. Their ruling spirits
were Democrats, who had lost whatever inilu-
encc they ever had in any wing Of the Demo
cratic party. They were privately asked to
come together originally for the purpose OF
organizing a Citizens movement by one OF
these Democrats, on his own responsibility.
The gentleman AT whose house they assembled
soon repudiated them. Their first presiding
OilCCI ull the Stlt til lllt lllNl must lA'ih
inent on their Committee in the last campaign
left them. They still included in their number
some excellent, philosophical citizens; but in
reality they were absolutely sclf-choscn and
represented nobody. Nevertheless, they had
an opportunity with sense and honesty
TO serve al important public end.
If the people who last year supported the Citi-
zcns' movement and the great force undoubt-
edly represented by the Republican organiza-
ton could be united on a worthy ticket, it
could be elected.
With reasonable tact and an honest purpose
the Citizens Committee could have done this.
The Republicans behaved well throughout, and
the spirit they showed in the little negotiation
permitted was as generous as anybody
could ask. They were perfectly content
to have a non-partisan ticket, were will
ing that the majority of the names
on it should be Democratic, and We're ready
to listen to any suggestions made in good
faith as to the acccptability Of different Re
publicans. They were willing to let the lu-
crative Office of the Rcgistership go to the
Democrats, and there is good authority for
saving that even Chairman O'Brien, who
ran against Butler would have been
content 10 support his last ytdI an
tagonist if the Citizens Committee had
been wise enough to put Nh Butler forward
again. One Supreme and one City Judge would
have satisfied the Republicans and they would
have named men the Bar would have been
proud to support.
These facts were accessible to any intelligent
man taking an interest i'll political situation.
In their light it is impossible to ac-
count for the behavior of the Citizens on
any other theory than that the
designing men who led the rest by the noses
never cared so much for union against Tam
many as they did for such a handling of the To-
cal canvass as would help the Democratic State
ticket. When they found the Republicans
would not tolerate this, they tore their hastily
nominated ticket to pieces and disbanded. Nc
doubt that satisfied Mr.. Manning. In the emer.
gency the Republicans have dome the best they
could. They have nominated a good ticket
which deserves election. We think the impair
tial judgment win be that it is better through
out than that OF the Democracy. The caudi