New-York tribune., 1890-08-30
FOR A STRAIGHT TICKET.
MANY REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS SHOULD
PLACE ONE IN THE FIELD.
WHY MUST THEY ALWAYS BE THE ONLY NON
PARTlSANS7


who signed the address to the public In favor Oh
regular party nomination in preference TO an aiilance
or a combination that would require explanation anu
leave in doubt the political character oil tNc seh"'
men presented for Office. beg the favor OF rev o'.
have read appeal from the Peoples Muhe'pi
League expressing the hope that the views oI te oo
mttec may not be indorsed BY the club; nave ai'o
noticed an interview with Postmaster Van Co't pun
lishcd in "The Posi- favorng some Kind OF conpiha-
ton from which the Republican party, as poliuca'
force, shall be carefully excluded.
The first question that arises In my nina a''o'
reading these publications IS why their appeal 10 ghoc
party politics in municipal affairs Is limited 10 thc
Republican party Why is II not good citlzeus'p
OH the part of the Republican Club to sfand hrhs pS
the men, party and principles which they sihcereH
believe will the best government, II leading
Democratic clubs are not expected TO lay aside thef
party men or measures such an occasion ii "io
two parties made up OF citizens OF equal aVe'1s'
desire for the public good, why should they not MAKE
an appeal to the Democratic party 10 ur Its banner
on the occasion Of q municipal electon' III sue" "i
appeal is useless and would meet with refusal ana
contempt, must conclude that the Municipal REFORM
League expect greater party concessions from te i'o
publican voters for the good Of the community than iron
members OF their great political rival. ii thh -
true and municipal rciOrmeIs and independent Vou'i'
are acuatcd by a desire 10 do the greatest possible
goCI or all and by no other motive, why should they
moi for once support straight Republican uchc'
an excellent one is nominated Surely. good material
IN abundance can be suggested Such an act on thcir
part II the ticket were successful would secure COM
p,ete change and would be followed by sweeping
investigation into all the affairs OF the city II woud
require al least some years for the new RepuDhcah
officials to degenerate the present level or standard
OF city official life.
We believe IT is claimed by municipal reformcr'
that the straight Republican ticket has never been
in ipgta ma
ago in a limited way. All kinds Of combinations ana
citizens movements have been tried with unsatis-
factory results II IS suggested that the Republican
party can poll only 100000 votes 70 l6oOOO votes Oh
the Democratic side, and that for this reason the
weaker party should disband then we ae left 10 iner
that political mob be organized to fight secure
and hold vicory-a mob made up OF all kinds OF dis
coraant clements ofccrcd by men who have proved
ny their record I'm the past that they Will not remain
long in any political organization, and who pride 'hem
selves upon their record for insnh0idlnaton cN VI
discipline and love Of descrtOn on the eve OF battle
and boldly teach their doctrine "a All wh0 VIII listen 10
them in their fsvorts independent papers. ana Ia the
clubs where they can influence public opinion; men
who delight In such expressions as "Tley wear no
mans collar no party shackles bind their con
sciences or opinions: men who win rs soon as aiy
man develops sufficient organizing power 10 direct
successful canvass-and no campaign can DC couuc'"
wtho ut this mastcrful brain wOlk-ca bis followers
machine men and openly defy him and impugn his
motives ard aSsal his character. IL IS idle ana nope
less to expect that such body OF people can meet
and destroy as wclltralncd and well organized
poltcal force As our Democratic foes have at their
command to-day. No great reform has ever been
secured by such miscellaneous host. ana II tcmpor
ary success were won the result Of victory eond not
he reapcd for Obvious reasons. ii GUY reform friends
will devote their time 20 creating an effective parry
organization of their own. able leaders. drill
o. hat fipir
can control them for the work they have in hand and
enter the contest ~ stay until they win-SNng for
no favors OF any OF tho present party orgauizarons
much less OF the Republican party, which they VIII
not support at any kind Of eect!on-they VIII
triumph 10 the end II their party Is rg, and crown
themselves with the undivided glory of the achieve
ment.
The proposed combination cannot succeed The Re
publican party. In listening 10 senlke ovefurcs Gun
nngly wOrded ~ 10 appeal 10 the civic pride OF
every good citizen. containing promises or reform a
indefinite and impossible tho proier Of The Garth aud
all II contains made nearly 1000 years ago, with Ices
power 10 perform the part Of the temptcr. VIII
weaken their organization throughout the city, and
dsplt us members who, when the bars are down are
as likely 10 stray into pasture another " the
party does adopt such course, the miscellaneous IT
regular mas will suffer defeat and when the next clcc
ton for state Natiouol officers comes around when,
as understand from Postmaster Van Co'' Interview,
IL VIII be entirely sdc 10 DC
not be surprising II the voters have largely diminished
I'm number and the party organization become thor
oughy demOnlzcd.
what benefit have been derived In the past from
combinations such that proposed II r. admied'
believe that success, can come Ony from supporting
some body ol Democrats who have grievance or quar-
rel with some other Democratic wing or body. Al
pre- eut II +, the County Democrats aud perhaps some
other small ncbulons gang OF Democrats That have
broken oil from the main body for some reson or DINER
| Of their own with whom are Invited Z" combine.
What have they quarrccd ahout1 Intense devotion 10
the public good and cOnsuining desire iOr wise ana
purc government oh. The trouble arises from
the difference among themselves abOut the division of
spos supplemented IN some cases by envy, Jealousy
and disappointed hopes and ambition, on lie part u
individuals all traits Of human weakness not par
| tlcularly attractive
II the Republican party lends Its support 10 any
man with tho ghost Of chance, he must be member
from some iactlon known TO be Democrat, VINO can
he relied upon as an open and avOwed eDemy OF the
Republican voters and all that they hold dear. II they
are Republicans worthy Of The name. man Wen
enough perhaps, IN his way, who, when elected "iii
20 about making his wing VI the party the d"nliah,
faction OF the city 10 control the spcIlf and uPhou
and secure the supremacy Of the rockrbbod, simon
prUo Democracy. 10 the exclusion OF All else ana leu trn
days after election all the reform elapfaP oi Lc & al
vass Will be quietly tucked away ont VI sieh' un'''
II Is for this result that our party is invited to
lay aside lts organization and dsband lis follower.
aud confuse and hcwilder The minds oi we peVgao n
uutn they lose all confidence In any colnplna'ioI
exccpt the Democratic party, which they see reap an
the harvest, no matter what The movement Is ca''eu
| or what the battle cry before the election.
We all remember the promises made to eaten vote
when AbTam >. Hewitt ran for Mayor gehuehtl
OF que- toned personal honesty and ability ana VIZ.
an apparently sincere desire 90 do well. The rasilty
In ali the departments went OH az usual ana we nov
know that ali that has been developed siuec was IN
| existence under and about him lie coud do nom,
| Ing because he AT the head Of great army Ol
partisan ofrcias, and was prevented ny them from
seeing under or their heads In direction We
assert that no change worthy OF the name can ever
be made In the conduct Of affairs Of the City-nay,
more that the public Will never ltnou of hall the
depths Of rottenness that exist until Po"erIni
every Office In the city, and with regular party ma
0linery lays barr every nook and Granny.
| 20 long tie contest remains a struggle between
two Democrat factions for ascendcncy ii matters but
little 10 Rcpobilcan voter whch alae t.inhphs, p,sndeS %
and no material change in methods character of men
will be obtained IL desires to use the eicht
intelligent and honest body Of Republican voters in q
. comLinen called citizens movement, In order 70