New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
MR. BIGLIN SPEAKS OUT.
A REPLY TO A RECENT ATTACK UPON HIM

REILLY 10 RECENI Al1ACk UPON HIM.
HE IS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR THE CHAIRMAN
SHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN, COUNTY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
BERNARD Bign, the popular Republican leader Of the
X--Iith Assembly district, was asked last night il he
had anything TO say to the recent attack made upon
Tim by The Mall and Express" Mr.. Blgln smiled In
his characteristic way and replied: any first impulse
TO say nothing at all. and if did not believe that
the article inspired by some outside the Office
OF that paper would not say word, for it matter
Of utter Indifference to IL Is TO almost every
other sensible member OF the party, what Colonel Shop
ard says does not say. / think l voice the general
sentiment Of the active Republicans of the State when
l say that Colonel Shepards entrance into New-York
journalism has been positive serious loss to the Re
publican party. say this in perfect Sincerity and
without bit OF personal feeling There is not Re
publican leader in the city who has Irish Catholic
constituency in his district that does not dread the
appearance Of every issue of hepads paper In conse
Quence OF the foolish absurd attacks that
stantly made upon the Church in its columns. This,
say is serious matter. 1t is all well enough for the
leaders laugh shepards utteances, but the rank
and file of the partymany Of Them at leas-look upon
him one speaking by authority, and hence the dam
age to the party by his assaults on the Church.
"Now for the article in question. and / am going
TO talk very plainly, for think the time has come
for little plain speaking. 1t is claimed that have
jumped into the field for the Executive Commit
tee Craftsmanship. This is downright falsehood,
the imagination of small and jealous mind. 1
not q candidate, have been, have
any aspirations for the office have been q
loyal supporter of Judge Patterson. In fact l
think may say / was the first man 10 advocate
his election chairman. 1t is true that L have
differed materially with him In matters of poliov.
hold that the party should be bold and aggressive
strengthened, not weakened and disorganized sim
ply that primaries and delegates TO conventions may
be controlled-in other words that the chief con-
Germ Of the leadership should be to get into the
organization, not out of it, to build up, not pull
down; to live above petty personal iealousies; 10
know distinctions between races"
what do you mean by that last remark 2"
al mean that the IrshAmerican element OF our
party is not receiving the recognition and attention
that IL merits. You know and know that there
are no more vigorous, aggressive and absolutely
loyal Republicans than the Irish Americans. They
furnish not less than one-third of vote here in
the city and county Of NewYorh, and yet we find
a paper like this of Colonel shepard's con-
stamIy attacking their religion sfath. and dispo
sitOn on the part of the present leadership of the
Executive Committee to turn them down."
"What have you to say 10 the charge that you have
not been successful the leader Of the XVlIh Assem-
bly, District"
Before answering that question l will just say a
word about other districts, the districts OF the
who dave thought best to make and Inspire this attack
upon ME. / won't be so cruel rs TO dwell upon The
XXIst District TO any extent. will simply remind the
Colonel that Notwithstanding all his wealth and in
luence, and notwithstanding the fact that every I'M
pOrtant Federal Office in tile City with one or two
exceptions has been given to this district yet it went
against President Harrison in 1888. and gave Mr.
EIower majority OF 2CO against majority OF 100
tor AttIl RpSid
and Alderman were beaten This is a sample Of Boss
ShcpaIds leadersip-Boss Shepard, my critic.
Personal regard for Judge Patterson will me to
say Te about the Xh District also, yet the mere fact
that notwithstanding all the money spent in the great
stecKler movement, and despite the County Democracy
aid IL gave Flower nearly 1000 majority while ROesch
for Senator received larger vote than he received at
the previous election. The contrast between the vote
of the Xth and the other two districts that make mp
this senate Distnct-the XIvth and XIIth--is as re-
malkable as ii is significant. Bui don't propose to
answer this article by You're another argument
say. aud ! shall prove it, that the allegations made
against me by who should be the last to do 1t are
absolutely false and the very figures used In The Mail
and Express article help to show it,
Mr.. Bigln here read the following extract from The
Mail and Express" article:
A little methodcal calculation will show that Daven-
port in 1855 poed 22 per cent Of the total vote OF the
district Miller in 1888 poed about 1853 per cent, and
Fasset In the election about 27 per cent OF the
toal vote
Now continued Mr. Bigln, I" II this means any
thing il means that the Republican vote OF my district
has been steadily increasing That is the fact III
stead Of being district favorable TO Republican sue
cess every weLinformed member of the party knows
that It is one OF tls hardest districts in the city In
which 10 make Republican gnins. There the strongest
leaders OF Tammany Hall and the County Democracy
have lived-John Kelly, Hubert o. Thompson ana Rien
ard Croker. These the men, backed Win All tie
patronage OF the city, that have been compelled 70
Tight wear after year. Nevertheless tile hgures VIII
show that when took charge of the district we used
TO think we were doing very well If we got loo or
300 Republican votes. In 1880 We gave Garfield
o.5ss: in 1884 we gave Blaine o,sl2 in 1883 Har
rlson's vote was 3,l05 and next year will show Il
corresponding increase. On this point ] think the
district will compare favpmbly with the Xth, XXlst
or any other district in the city, for that matter 1T
IS true as 81 psrd states. that was elected 10 the
Assembly In 1872. They neglect 10 state, however
that was reelected. ard that was also candidate
two wears successfully, aiterwad and was only beaten
bv less than 200 votes each time fail TO though
how a statement OF the fact that ] have carried Il
district normally Democratic by 1000 majority, twice.
and am the only Republican That carried IL, is an
argument against my leadership.
"As 10 Government contracts. This subject Is
harped on a good deal by people. who seem to be
unaware Of the fact that obtained what contracts
have in the usual way that is by competition"