New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04
THE SUMnING UP.

The vote cast in this city and State tomorrow
Is presumably an intelligent vote; that is, the
vote of intelligent members Of the community,
who have some purpose in it; who have given
some thought TO the questions involved: have
made IN their minds as 10 what they want, and
what they really hope TO accomplish by
their votes, and are doing something when
has in their minds meaning, significance
and force. Let us proceed upon this as
sumption: That the mass Of voters are in
telllgent and thoughtful and have some
end in view; and inquire what 1t Is; what they
will mean bv their votes and what the result
Of the election will signify. Without by any
means losing sight of the fact that this election,
like all others. in greater or less degree, has
some bearing upon National politics. in its in
direct effect upon party prospects ana prestge'
and more directly, from the circumstance that
the State Senators elected tomorrow will have
a voice in the election Of n United States Sen
ator to succeed David b. Hill, 1t will no doubt
be admitted on all hands that the issues to
which the vast ma ority Of voters have confined
their attention are local in character and that
the result will have its chief significance in It's
bearing upon the determination Of these local
questions What are they? Or rather, to be
more definite and concise what is the single
local issue, the one subject upon which in the
last ANALYSIS we find public opinion divided; the
one which has during the past eighteen months
focused public attention and occupied to the
exclusion Of almost all other themes the public
mind? Let us in the final summing up eliminate
the side issues and all the minor and unimpOr
tant considerations which have attached them
selves 20. or been lugged into the discussion,
and get back TO the very essence Of the bust
ness in hand What is it?
viii anything be definitely settled by to-mor-
rows vote except the attitude of the voters OF
this city and county. and for that matter OF the
whole State toward the subject have been
agitating with so much earnestness and ard0r
for the past eighteen months-the subject OF
municipal reform? Does any intelligent voter
doubt that that is the main question-ln fact
almost the only question in hand? The election
tomorrow Of this that or the other candidate
for any Of the positions on the county ticket will
have no significance whatever except as it in
dicates the attitude OF the voters toward the re
form movement initiated last year. Nor will the
election of Senators and Assembymen here and
throughout the State signify anything Of impor-
lance except as an expression Of the views Of
voters upon this question: Have we repented OF
what we did with such hcartiness and en-
thusiasm. and by such magnificent majorties
last year? Were we acting then upon impulse
and passion. and shall we say tomorrow by our
votes that we are sorry for it? Are we so dis
appointed at the inadequacy Of the results OBJ
tanned by last years victory. or dissatisfied
with the methods by which they have been
reached that we are ready TO turn our backs
| upon the whole business. sound the signal for
retreat and abandon the field to the foes Of
good government whom last year we routed out
| of their intrenchments? Are we so easily dis
| couragel so tickle and capricous that at the
end Of hardly year Of effort in the direction Of
| municipal reform should quit the fight and
| let the plundering gang come back whom
| drove out last year!
That is the gist of the whole matter. That is
| the question we shall answer by our votes to-
| morrow 1t is Of the highest importance that
| the voter should give ii intelligent and serious
| consideration. For although the immediate eff
| feet of his vote may not in existing conditions
be fatal to the movement for municipal reform
| which Is certain to go forward for a time at
| least, whatever may happen tomorrow, the
| moral effect Of vote for reaction will be in
greater or less degree damaging 10 the cause
We are confident that ii cannot prevent the
eventual triumph Of the forces that are at work
persistently and hopefully for better government,
| but II may retard and postpone it. The cor
| ruptionists who expelled from power last
year are counting upon the circumstance that
| for a variety Of reasons many Of those who
voted against them then are now so disaffecied
with and angry at the administration they
helped elect that they are anxious for change;
| so anxious that they are ready to retract their
opinions and vote for the restoration Of the
old regime. 1t is not to be denied that some
weeks ago, under the stress Of demagogic ap-
| peals to passion and prejudice, this feeling WAS
| so rife that it threatened serious detection from
| the reform ranks But cooler counscls have
since then prevailed. Some Of the most vio-
lently disaffectcd have discovered upon refec-
| ton that the course they threatening to
| pursue was not only unreasonable In itself but
absolutely Intellectual in producing results.
| They have come 10 see that the only effect "
| their resentment would be to strengthen the
Tammany corruptionlss by giving them re-
newed confidence and prestige From present
appearances the detection Of unreasoning angry
| voters who will go over to the support of their
worst enemies In blind resentment against their
| natural allies and associates will be small We
| feel confident that the great mass Of voters who
last year united 10 put down Tammany and in
| itate good government are OF the same mind
| still; that they want good government and
| honest administration now as much as ever;
| hat they know what they want and how TO 2,
| 20 work TO obtain It; and that tomorrow they
will with comparatively few exceptions vote
ntelligently according to their convictions. and
not blIndly and foolishy In qualification Of mo
| mentary resentment spite.
| There can be no doubt Of The result II only the