New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-02
TIE UTTY OF CITIZENS.

The most singular feature of the remarkable
canvass uow drawing to its close in this city is
the extraordinary effor made to get Republican
votes for one of the Democratic candidates.
Save us or we sink " is the despairing cry of
SDick" Croker, mike" Norton, " Fatty y"
Walsh, blank" Puroy aud tho other
"saviours of society" who are In charge of
Mr.. Hewitts canvass This has been the one
and only ethod of conducting their canvass.
Occasionally we hear from beneath the sur
face that the election Of Mr. He witt will "deal a
deadly blow at the Republicans in 1888" The
Herald and other Democratic newspapers have
repeated this statement, while Mr. Coudert,
who followed Mr. Hewitt at the Stenway Hall
meeting on Friday night and some other
Democratic speakers hintsd that such would
be the sequel to Mr. Hewitt's election. Mr.
Potter urged that Mr.. Hewitt should be elected
because it would be in accor dance with Demo-
cratic sentiments in this Democratic city,"
We search in vain through all the utterances
of Mr. Hewitt and his followers for one single
appeal for support on the ground that he
would improve or reform the city government.
Mr. Hewitt has distinctly said that such was
not his purpose in accepting the nomination.
He has uttered no word of condemnation for
the men whose rule in the city has made its
government the most costly of any large city
in the civilized world aud who have brought
shame and disgrace npOn it. In all the struggle
for municipal reform which has been carried
on both here and in Albany, whatever may
have been his sympathies Mr.. Hewitt has
remained silent. His election, Mr. Choate
we'll stated in Cooper Institute the other night
means ito keep things as they are" Of what
would follow Mr.. Roosevelt's election there is
no need to speak. That he would resoutely
90 to work trying to improve the city govern
ment, and that he would be able to accomplish
a great deal, is not denied even by Mr.. Hewitts
managers. 1t is their fear of what he will do
that leads them to make such desperate exer-
tions to defeat him.
The only other question that comes up in the
minds of many citizens is how best to defeat
Henry George. 1t is on the plea that tEis can
best be done by voting for Mr.. Hewitt that his
Democratic managers appeal for Republican
support. AT this stage of the canvass there
are probably very few persons who can be
deceived by this false plea The unanimity
with which Mr.. Roosevelt is supported by Re-
publicaus, and his large following among bust
ness men, both Democrats and Republicans,
ought to put an end to the foolish talk about
Mr.. Hewitts being stronger candidate with
whom to defeat George Mr.. George is a
Democrat. Among the managers of his can
vass are many Democrats who were until with
in few weeks members of committees IN
Tammany Hall and the County Democracy.
Probably 80 per cent of bis followers are DEM
ocrats. Georges meetings have been largely at
tended, while those of the County Democracy and
of Tammany have been practical failures. This
shows what everybody knows, that a Large part
of these two organizations has gone
over to George. 1t is conceded now that he is
likely to poll 10000 votes with the possibility
of much larger number. This means neces-
sarily the loss of nearly that number of Demo-
cratic votes to Mr.. Hewitt. Considering the
registration aud taking the election returns for
a long series of years, there can De no doubt
that the Republican vote should reach $4,000. A
careful canvass of the city by the Republican
committee shows a probable vote of about
10000 for Mr.. Roosevelt. With the support
be is getting from Democrats and citizens
generally he expects, aud not without reason,
that his vote will go higher. Under these cir
cumstances there ought to be no room for
doubt as to the duty of every citizen who
wants municipal reform, and at the same time
wants to defeat Henry George by a large ma
jority. 1t is the plain duty of every such voter
to cast his ballot for Mr.. Roosevelt.