The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-27

In .nescb recently delivered by Mr.. J. Sloan
rs.sstt Hon. "Me Too" Platt's candidate
Tor Governor of New York. hat gentleman
,t,s,sa tho sage remark, "One thing at a
time" This epigram sorors very much o. tne
uncommon man, - such as Is described of
Dickens in his character OF Pickwick. wno'
being called by Mr.. Wrinkle from his window
looked first TO the right. then TO the left tneh
in front of him and finally did what II ne
had been A common man he would have lone
In the first instancc-looked up and saw MI
Wrinkle. SO when Mr.. Fassett said Oncth'hg
at q time he evidently intended 70 say some-
thing which the common man wouiu nA'o
expressed very differently, but whicn was
calculated to confound the simple by its mys-
ticism and gain for its author a reputation ior
deep-seated sageness.
The wonderful wisdom conveyed in this re-
markable utterance Of Me-Too's man is
however. being interpreted that he IS nun
ming for Governor on State issues alone ana
that he should be supported on these issues
without regard to Federal politics.
This is plainly Mr.. Fassett's only hope. IL
he fACf9 DIS CONSTITUENTS VIZ A-t
reform. whichis the only Federal or, ashe CANS
it. nationally issue that can obtrude itseh
into a State canvass, he knows that he Is
Obliged 10 be defeated. When Grover Cleve-
land threw that tariff reform bomosheA IN
the ranks of the enemies OF the Democracy
they saw at once that it was loaded with dyn-
amite. and that if it was permitted 70 e1pioue
it would play havoc. So Me-Ioos man III
New York and Mckinley in Ohio are both In
dustriously engaged in trying TO extinguish
its fuse with some kind Of political sand-the
former by talking about state issues ana
tho irrelevance of National" questions, and
the latter by the purely local issue OF free
silver.
But how futile Me-Too's mans efforts 10
conhne the issue in New York 10 State poll
tics is shown by the campaign
which his party managers are ISSUING Ohe
Of these is as follows:
"Dos'r FORGET THIS.
"One important fact should not be forgot
ten. The political engagement OF ~ IS the
| beginning of the great battle OF '9l, and every
vote cast for Flower lSa vote for british Tree
trade"
So il seems that while Mr.. Fassett. with a
| saeacity that does him credit and even enti-
ties him to a position ahead Of his coacher,
| Platt, SAYS ''one thing at a time" bis mana
! gers will persist in Juggling the national
| issue of British free trade" into the canvass.
They apparently forget that if every vote for
| Flower means a vote for British free trade
| every ono for Fassett means likewise a vote
for Mckinley protection. And they forget,
too. that this same issue was presented
| s~ouarely to the voters of New York In $780,
| and that the people Of the State then gave q
majority Of rs. 900 against McKinleyism.
Mr.. Fasset must either curb bis managers
or he himself must accept the inevitable.
He must either impress on them the necessity
| of obscuring national" with State issues OF
he must lie content TO confess that tariff re-
form is political ghost of Banquo that VIII
not down. With this admitted, and with
+ asset fighting Flower on the issues OF anti
| McKinleyism and i-Force-Billism, the
| Oh ances Of ii Me-Too victory over Democracy
in New York next November will become
| excee dinghy ~dinphanous.