New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-05
THE LEAGUES FAR CHANCE.'

Never since the disasters which oVercame tne
Republicans of New York during MIR. COnklngs
splendid but unfortunate leadership has so prom
ising an opportunity been presented to recover
the State as that existing to-day. We dare
say that some of our experienced politicians Will
deny this. MIR. Flowers money and the Tam
many organization appear to them as dlscourag,
ing and demoralizing forces. So they are, ana
they will fight desperately. Mr.. Flower, a per-
son of prodiglous vanity, will spend fortune
on the chance of being called Governor" and
Tammany, which has put him in the field as
an instrument in every way suited to assist III
its new ambition, will leave nothing undone
that promises to restore to its bosses the place
and power they held in State affairs during the
term of Governor Hoffman. Tammany shrewd-
" calculates that it can give Flower perhaps a
larger majority in this city than Hill obtained
two years ago. Its programme is simple. IL
relies on the Democracy outside of New-York
to poll a normal vote. 1t has no intention OF
prosecuting an especially active campaign nortn
Of the Harlem River 1t can do surer, better
and cheaper work among the denseiy popula'eu
districts of New-York City and Brooklyn anu
here it aims to buy up enough votes to make
Flowers election certainty
This is kind of campaign, it must be owneu'
wherein Republicans are at disadvantage
They are not good vote-buyers. They must
oyercome-they cannot copy Tammany Hall.
When was there better chance for successful
effort than now? The party is without single
disuuieting condition. There are harmony and
unity everywhere. The old differences have
disanpeared and no one has the smallest motive
70 stir them up again. 1t was in this c0ndluoh
that the Republicans of New-York cast 65O,33s
votes for Harrison in 1888. They could spare
80. 900 of these and still defeat Iammany at
its worst. That there is a clear majority OF
Republicans in New-Yorll cannot be nationally
doubted II is true that Hill received hun
dred more votes than Harrison, but he obtained
more than his party strength. His relations
with the liquor dealers were of themselves suffi-
cient to give him $4,000 votes, the greater part
of which would not have been cast at all e1-
ccpt in defence Of saloonkeeping, and the bal
anoe of which would have divided.
This State, especially in view OF the existing
situation, all ords great opportunity to the
Republican League. If it is ever useful 1t
should be useful here and now. If 1t can I'M
part an influence to the methods OF campaign
ing under any circumstances, it should be
| able TO do so when the party is quiet, salts
| fed. harmonious and ready. The League aims
| to educate, to inform the voters, to arouse ana
interest them, to awaken In them the disposition
to work. That aim accomplished in New \ ork
this fall. no amount of Tammany crime can
save Mr.. Flower In "a word, if the nature OF
Tammanys conspiracy could be explained to
every countryman north Of Harlem bridge the
result would Slrely be Republican triumph.
Defeat. if it comes, will be attributable to moth
ing SO much as to inertia. We hope that
Colonel McAlpin and his fellOw-delegates at
Syracuse to-day will consider the practical ques-
| ton how to get hold of those country voters
who are beyond the reach of ordinary means OF
campaigning 1t is not in the large towns that
extraordinary efforts need to be made The
regular party committees can be trusted to do
| the regular work of the contest and to Obtain
fair result in every centre OF population
| Labor there on the Leagues part is liable to
| he redundant. The ignorant hOrdes whom
Tammany will bring out of rlmshops and tene-
ments on Election Day must be overborne by
| the men from the farms and forests, who only
take the trouble to vote when they believe that
something important is really at stake. These
are the men the League should 90 after. If it
gets them, it will give NewYorl Republican
Governor on the first of next January.