New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-28
pL1T7'S EXPECTATIONS"

PL1TT'S EAPECIAIIONS'
81 cxpcct. nevertheless said Mr. Thomas c.
plott in one Of the ",nachcs Of conversation
lately recorded by a newspaper correspondent,
ito control the next State Convention. Inc
"ncverthelcss" had reference To the context in
which he had with great frankness Informed
the correspondent that Mayor Strong had broken
faith with him. that Governor Morton had dlsap-
pointed him. that Quigg had been attacked WIN
the big head" and undertaken Ia set up Tor MIN
self and that the public generally hhd maze me
mistake Of assuming that the Police Force OF thls
city was corrupt because they had been III the
habit of receiving tips. which are gwen III
all civilized capitals" He seemed also To be
aware that the Legislature which he controiied
had not fulfilled public expectation. "NeVer'h@
less" he says. he expects 10 control the next
Stale Convention" Doubtless he does. And
doubtless he expects also 10 control a ma)orll!
Of the Senate and Assembly conventions, where
by he will have the same power in the next
Legislature that he had in the last. To ihai END
he will be bending all his energies for the next
six months For its accomplishment he viii use
up 10 lis highest power the machinery OF the
State Committee. which recent developments III
connection with the abusive ana unlrulhlul
Lautcrbach circular have shown that he controls
through lis executive officers. He VIII use, 80
far as he can the Republican Committee ot me
County of New York through Chairman lIuier-
bach his attorney He will use. a> he has habit
ually used. the political contributions. made. vol
unfairly or otherwise. 10y corp1rlii"nS Wlich look
tn him and his creatures in the Legislature Tor
legislative protection. or the furtncrancc If
schemes for corporate ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. And he
will also use the fears of tmd Republicans VIII"
ar. ready 10 sacrifice anything for harmony, ana
thc ambition If solfscckcrs, who put blind trust
in empty promises
These are the forces upon which h. places his
dependence and base, his confidence when he
SAYS Nevertheless. | expect 10 control the next
State Convention" And the confidence of his
followers j. based upon the fact. which ihcy
never cease proclaiming with boaSifu assur-
ance. that he plays politics all The year round,
night and day. every day IN the year, while his
opponents. whom they call political amateurs
take 10 interest in politics except for few weeks
before election in each year. That III" lnhlHrr-
ence and apathy Of influential Republicans VINO
do honestly believe in the principles ~ III" party
and do not 10y any means approx" of MT fialt
methods or accept his leadership, have afforded
in the past reasonable grounds for the confidence
Of Mr. rlati and his followers The Iribnn" VIII
not pretend 10 deny But that The events OF The
last year. and particularly of The late session 81
the Legislature. have had the effect To change
nearly all the conditions and take away nearly
all the grounds for confidence. The Tribune can
not doubt That the honest Republicans Of III"
State will 10y their Indifference. or for any other
reason permit Mr. Plat 10 control either the
state Convention or the Senate or Assembly con
ventions or the primaries ~ which delegates ar"
10 be- chosen this year. after the experience OF h'
wear past. is hardly credible They would hay"
10 forget too much. TO put Mr.. Plait IN control
Of the State Convention they would have 10 for
get that after controlling the last, ~ he boosted
that he did, he had the assurance 10 undcriak"
10 dictate the policy Of the Governor. whom ne
claimed 10 have nominated and that nothing
bui the Governors SENSE Of cfrcSpcct ana per
sonal honor saved The party from being snip
wrecked Oh a rlatt policy Of corruption. false
hood and ircachcry 70 give him control of the
nominations for the Senate and Assembly they
would have 10 forget that his control Of the last
LEGISLATURE brought only scandal and disgrace.
To conccdc 10 him the position Of leader. 10 which
he so ostcnlatously aspircs. they would nave To
forget that he has fallen on with every prom
incnt and influential Republican with whom he
has ever had any dealings. and has shown no
capacity whatever except to distrac, aud disturb
party councils.
BET If he does control then WHAT Does any
intelligent observer Of current politics doubt
what would be the result! The great body of
independent voters who hold the balance Of
power, by whose aid the Republican party was
enabled 10 throw OF Tammany control In city
ana State sckcncd and Disguised ~ the failure
Of their honest effort To- rid themselves Of the
rule Of POSSES and The system of Bossism, viii
resent The imposition pracscd upon their ere
,luliiy and good nature more angrIly than they
did the abuses and corruptons endured under
the old regime In other words rlaltS control
means Republican defeat and the return Of The
Democrats to power In the State. For the mass
Of independent voters. and perhaps great many
Republicans. will reason that the Democrats may
have learned something from the lesson of de
feat. while the Republican party has shown
disposition 10 deceive the people and the lack Of
capacity TO shake off It's own corrupt and lncom-
pctcnt leaders II * idle To attempt 10 disguise
the fact. Plat and his following constitute a
mcagrc minority of the party. but he has the
machinery Of organization and other advantages
not 10 be dcspiscd. Yet We are confident that the
great mass Of honest Republican voters through
out the State are not 50 forgcfnl If the lessons
Of the past as To permit Mr.. PattS expectation
to be fulfilled 10 the discontinue Of the party
and the encouragement Of the friends of good
government and honest administration.
WADE HAMPTON on TIE NEGRO.
Wade Hampton has just been publishing his
views on South Carolina politics. and particularly