New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-05
Any SHAPE BUT TINT.

Washington. The united ana harmonious De-
mocracy made intelligent and ineligible" by
the Mugwump Contingent begins selecting a
Speaker about noon. The trouble that mas been
brewing for several weeks between the Demo-
cratic Party and the best thinkers is expected to
eliminate soon after. We have already record
ed the main facts in the situation, to wit, that
the best thinkers only ask as their reward for
having lifted up the party out OF feebleness and
imbecility the privilege of running it for year
or two; that the more aged and feeble Demo
Gratis, who have been rescued from feebleness
without knowing it, are rising up and kicking
against it, and in many cases speaking disrespect
fully of the best thinkers, and that the best
thinkers have been gradually moving forward
through successive states of mind from the con-
ciliatory to the persuasive, then the argumenta-
tive, followed in regular order by the horta-
tory, deprecatory and imprecatoy, until they
struck on to the frame of mind in which Roger
Mills was when he told the Connecticut searcher
after knowledge to " go soak his head" and for
day or two past have seemed passing rapidly
into that highly exalted intellectual state at
tanned on a former occasion by Mr.. Henry d.
Purroy, when he closed an argument in Demo
cratic Convention by crossing over to his OPP
ponent and breaking his jaw. There has been
much saving the air in this matter for several
weeks, and grave apprehension has been felt
lest the best thinkers might get so stirred up
as to withdraw from public affairs. 1--WE write
it with shudder)
1t is not to be denied that Republicans
thoughtess, perhaps, OF the calamity in which
it might involve the entire human race, have
looked On the contention between the two fac
tons of the opposition party with something like
philosophic calmness. They have not thought
best to take sides in the Speakership contest or
interest themselves in squabble among their
opponents over the spells of office, which the best
thinkers say are demoralizing and the Old
Romans say they don't want. But within the
last twenty -four hours affairs have taken such
shape that Republicans who value their own
peace of mind can no longer afford to remain
uninterested or silent spectators. 1.-The New
York Times,n which has been rising to the oc-
casion by easy stages ever since the trouble
began, after treating the subject on Thursday
with certain massive solemnity that gathered
all mundane interests in the oyerhangng gloom
of "A Critical Hour" in its Friday issue gave
utterance to what cannot he considered other
than a terT0r-inspiring and blOod-curdling threat
A threat of which Republicans must take cOgni-
zance for it concerns the future welfare of their
party and their own peace Of mind. Says "Tho
Times" speaking Of the effect upon the best
thinkers if they are not permitted to run the
Democratic Party: "They will soc no reason
why it should be preferred to the Republican
Party, and the great number of them who have
heretofore been Republicans will take their way
back where their old associations attract them"
Now, we arc no alarmistS but if there is any
meaning in the English language this sentence
bears but one Interpretation. 1t is a deliberate
and cold-blooded threat that if the Old Romans
persist in refusing to let them run the party the
best thinkers will return to the Republican Party
No less. 1t does not need to be pointed out
that this is an emergency that calls for decisive
action on the part of all Republicans who value
peace. But let us be calm. The duty OF Re-
publicans is clear to contribute in every way
possible to the election of Mills so that the best
thinkers may stay where they are and run the
Democratic party. Meantime, if there are any
Democrats who are secretly hoping for this con-
summation and are insidiously contributing
thereto by opposing Mills, we beg to remind
them that there are certain considerations of
common humanity that are recognized in modern
warfare. As when, for instance, during our late
War an experiment with a mountain howitzer
strapped to the back of mule having resulted
in the destruction of the entire detachment in
charge of the experiment through the natural
uneasiness and restlessness of the mule, it was
proposed to organize a Observation-Disclosures mule
battery with the understanding that it should
desert to the enemy at the first opportunity. Tho
proposition was rejected as inhuman..
We ask nc favors from the Democratic Party.
But we do have a right to protest against viola
tons of the rules governing honorable warfare.
And sending over mountain howitzer mule bat
teres with loaded guns on their backs going off
in all directions is not treating an honorable
enemy with common fairness.
TIE BROOKLYN BOARD or EDUCATION.
1t would be an excellent thing if the Barth-
man affair in BROOKLYN should lead 10 a reor-