The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-17
Here They Arc Again.

The Mugwumps who with a great pre-
Gminary flourish OF trumpets established
In 1890 the peoples Municipal League"
sought before and above all other things to
establish minority rule in this town: the
adoption Of the views OF the minority. the
filing OF the public offices by the minority.
and the surrender by the great body Of
the voters OF their rights and interests to a
handful OF humbugs and pretenders. This
foolish and unsubstantial movement Of
cranks came of course to an inglorious end.
and its instigators were buried in ridicule.
Two years have elapsed since that time.
and the Peoples Municipal League, with its
pretty typewriters. its wealth OF circulars.
its dudes. its enrolment blanks. its brass
bands. and its many offences against good
taste and common sense. is merely humor-
GUS "Reminiscences. Some Of the typewrters
are happily married: some OF tho dudes
have gone to work. and many sparkling
and heat-giving flame has been kinded at a
New York hearthstone or in n kitchen
range by the circulars and enrolment
blanks Of the Inflated. dishevelled. and
diverting Peoples Municipal League.
Knocked Off their political pins collec-
lively. the individual members OF tho
League Of 1890" Tor at least some Of them.
for the Republican members have since
fallen by the wayside. and many Of the
Democratic members have learned some
thing In the meanwhile) have reappesred at
the old stand Us "the Provisional Commit
tee OF So" and the click Of the typewriting
machine and the rustic OF the unread circu-
lar Ii again heard. while MAcGREGoR FAIR
CHILD Is to be seen at the head OF the table
OF conference. under which. secreted from
the scrutiny Of the censorious, the Mentor
OF the Mugwumps Is as safe from observa-
ton as at any time heretofore in any sim
liar movement.
There are. OF course. some points OF diff
ference between the Mugwumps Of 1890 and
the Mugwumps Of 1892. There are. for in
stance. fewer Of them this year than there
were two years ago; and they meet on tho
fourth door instead Of the second. They
seek to discredit the integrity Of Demo-
cratic organization In its national instead
OF its municipal aspect. and the meagre-
ness Of their following is better understood
now than 1t was then. But in all essential
features the Mugwumps Of 1892 and Of 1890
are identical. They had their prototypes in
1883. when the same individuals. man for
man. raised noisy cutlery against the
nomination Of DAVID Is. Hill for Governor.
with the result that he was unanimously
nominated by tho Democratic Convention
In Buffalo. and triumphantly elected
The Mugwumps begin their political bat
ties by the reckless distribution OF circulars.
charts. and pads; by vigorous enrollments.
by mysterious social conferences In back
parlors and on top floors. and by fierce and
unrelentlng threats OF destruction and dis
aster to the Democracy II their Vows are
not compiled with. Whenever Democratic
Convention has hearkened to their outcries.
damage has resulted. Whenever the Democ-
rscy has paid no attention to them. victory
has rewarded this proof OF courage and
sagacity. and the candidates the Mugwumps
have opposed have been elected. According
to all past experience and observation. the
price Of the support Of each Mugwump Is
tho loss Of two voters whom the alliance OF
the Mugwump drives away. To accept.
therefore. Mugwump as . recruit while
ths opportunity u 1t handof retaining him
- IN opRopents would b., ths~helght of