New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-02
THE PASSING or PLATE

II ia said that some Republican members or me
LEGISLATURE who have hitherto been acting upon
the notion that the Reform bills relating 10 ms
CITY were So purely local In character mat 'h'lr
own constituents cared little aboni them mr."
hccinunc 10 find that they have been ihp'rlhe
undcr a mistake: that the question 81 muni'lp'I
reform rs now agitatcd Is much more ihan local.
Is In fact the toprnost topic Of the tim" ana "'
universal interest: and they are beginning !"
think ahouf II seriously II might have been Del
fer ncrhaps had they discovered This Themselves
and u,,l. earlier instead Of waiting 10 learn IL
fran ,hcir constituents bui II j we'll even now
A hrief r.captulation # recent events may adi
f., the seriousness II their reflections ana per
hans aid them in reaching conclusion - I" 'h'!T
dutv or if not their duty. their personal ana p"-
u,ical interests Some Of them who nave pc'h
either In public life or active politics for several
veors have, received the impression from The iac'
,bo, contributions to their campaign expenses
c,,ne from the Republican State Committee III
| the form Of Mr. Thomas {. l'lafts personal
check that he was their political bcncfacior ana
snopsor and that for their official action they
wcre responsible not 10 the Republican party
Ian, IN him And rs these contributions were
made in time 10 affect the action Of nominating
contentious as well ~ the election ITSELF th'y
| naturally fell into the belief that II they desired
| ro,omiuatIon they must regard his wishes ana
his views rs s,Ipcrior 10 all other CONSIDERATIONS.
| Unwevcr that may have been hitherto. III" "c-
| currcnces Of the last year furnish pretty con
c,uslvc evidence that il will not be so h'r"aft'r
Mfr Plat will not control conventions ana die
| ,,,. nominations this year The sources from
which he has derived the means 10 carry on thai
limo az onerotions will be closed Even should
| no succeed In 4 few instances. his fayortcS VIII
no, be elected For honest Republicans viii not
hesitate 70 follow the advice Of the only Rcpub
lcan NEWSPAPER which has lately enjoyed Mr.
Plaits confidence That is, If 1t Is Impossible
",o nrcvcnt their denominations. then Kopub
cleans ought TO vote for their Democratic oppo
'nenis good or bad
However ignorant the statesmen at Albany
| may have kept themselves Of the current OF pun
lie opinion. the great mass Of Republican voters
! throughout the State were thoroughly awaI" OF
the meaning ana sign cancc Of last Novcm-
ber's election They bad followed with deep IN
tcrest the proceedings Of the Lcxow Committee.
They were aware that the investigation would
not have taken place but for the action Of the
| Chamber Of Commerce Of this city. which guar
antccd the expenses Of the committee after Gov
that purpose. They cav that the kSow Com
mIttcc was pushed into The probing Of abuses by
the action Of the Chamber Of Commerce. the Com
| mittcc Of Seventy Gnd the several organizations
| Of citizens Irrespective Of party which had be
| come enlisted In the cause Of municipal reform.
| Az the inquiry proceeded. II was not alone the
| citizens Of this town. the immediate sufferers,
/ who were moved To horror and Indignation by
the revelations If official corruption and organ
izcJ crime but the whole voting population Of
| The State And when these voters rose up as they
did In November and voted to throw ont the
whole gang Of political miscrcans. and make an
end Of their iniquitous system. they did II with
sincere appreciation Of the patriotic services OF
the various civic bodies and organizations which
had laid aside partisanship 10 unite IN the com
mon purpose Of reform. All Republican voters
knew that their own party In this city had en-
tered heartily into this nonpartsan movement
and soemnly pledged itself TO carry It into effect
in spirit and purpose. and were proud OF their
party on account Of II. They had faith in the
party. and never doubted that II would fulfil It's
promise and redeem It's pledge. They never
dreamed that the party or any leader Of The party
would turn upon the organizations which had
contributed to the grand result and say: This
lis partisan triumph You are only mcddls-