New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-17
ITO STGGEST THINGS.r


The gaycy OF this continent after all is not
TO be cclipsed. and that OF Europe enhanced, 10y
the withdrawal OF the senior member Of the
firm Of Me and the Committee" from the scene
Of his recent political triumph In this city 20
the field which he has assigned himself for
somewhat grandcr strategy on the banks of
the Tiber. Colonel Bliss will remain during the
summer in this country. either in town or with
I'm easy reach thereof where he can be consult
cd by the committee and direct Its operations.
The announcement Is made on the authority OF
an interview with the Colonel himself. pub
lshed In the evening newspaper which he has
constituted his personal organ. The accom-
uanving statement that h. was reluctantly
nersuadcd" 10 grant the Interview In answer
10 an attack in IAN evening newspaper that
has heretofore pretended 10 sympaihize with
the Committee ~ Thirty plan Of rrorganIza-
ton was hardly necessary. There Is probably
no man In public life who appears IN print
with such frequency. accompanied with such
extreme reluctance as the Colonel In many
newspaper offices relays Of wild horses are kept
constantly under harness 10 draw ont his views
on current political questions. or course he
WAS reluctantly persuaded one Of the Colo
nel's most striking characteristics Is his rclnc-
lance The activity which he manlfcscd nj
the meeting Of his County Committee on Mon
day night, extreme rs IL was, volumlnous.
yoluble and overpowcring. was not unmarked
by the quality of reluctance familiar 10 news
paDer men who have at times undertaken the
difficult task OF pcrsuadlng him into publicity.
Still II was not that kind OF reluctance which
borders Oh obstinacy. II did yield under pres
sure. though il did not clearly appear In the
published reports what the pressure was.
In the Interview referred TO he seems TO re-
grct that he permitted his reluctance 10 be over
come Il am sorry he says, III seemed I'M
duly prominent in the meeting, but II must be
remembered that there had been no caucus, and
II seemed necessary that some one should sug-
gcst things" In this Enthusiastically modest
disclaimer Of any desire TO be "uuduly prom
Inent' the Colonel ENORMOUSLY reveals the
secret of his great usefulness 10 the party and
to-himsclf 1t IL when there has been no eau
Gus and nothing agreed upon; when the danger
Is that some indiscreet, unwisc or inexperienced
porson NAV out Of his own head make n mo-
ton or introduce Il resolution or otherwise dis
turb the smooth and harmonious flow Of brsl
ness that the necessity arises for some one to
Suggest things" 1t was by bencficent pro
vision OF the committee under whose auspices
Colonel Blisss County Committee was launched
that when that necessity arose on the present
occasion the Colonel there To arise with 1t.
Not only that but TO keep rising. He was there
TO Suggest things" Had he not been there TO
Suggest thngs''-had the committee been left
TO their own devices. with any ordinary member
al liberty TO Suggest things"-no one can tell
what would have happened If" says the
Colonel. on the other hand. there had been
caucus, where ii was decided that this man
should be made so-and-so and another man
something else. what n row the papers in ques
ton would have made about it, Why, yes: Of
course And how plain It Is that there having
been no caucus to decide who should be so-and
So Colonel Bliss having overcome his reluc
lance 10 appearing unduy prominent. deprived
the papers in question OF the opportunity to
make n row by deciding himself who should
be so-and-so, and then making the motion. put
ting the question and declaring it carried with
ont waiting for the vote.
The Tribune gladly recognizes the great pub
lie service rendered by Colonel Bliss In over
coming his reluctance TO be drawn into pub
LEFTY and assures him that he was not. he
modcsly inimatcs, 'unduly prominent" In the
proceedings of his committee. On the contrary,
we believe he was duly prominent. and that his
prominence cannot fail 10 have good effect I'm
enlightcning the public mind. Having made
this concession, however we must be permitted
10 continue In the conviction that n large ma
jority OF the Republican party prefer II rcor-
ganization I'm which all the proceedings Of the
committee constituting the executive body OF
the party are not so en- ,irely dependent upon
one man to Suggest things" even though that