New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-04
DEFEAT TIE CONSPIRACY.

DEFEAT THE CONSPIRACY.
The obvious immediate purpose OF the Platt-
Lauterbach consplrators in padding the enrol
mrnt lists in this county is to secure through
their control Of the County Committee the dele
gates to the State Convention, and thereby the
delegatcs-at-large to the Republican National
Convention Having possession Of the machin-
crv of both the county and State organizations,
they think they can count on securing a ma
ioriy Of the district delegates so that when the
time comes they will have the vote Of the State
Of New-York in the National Convention in their
own hands to dispose Of as they please. The
National Convention is obviously their immedi-
ate objective point. If these men were honest
IN either their purposes or methods, there might
be nothing in this to cause uncasinesS or excite
alarm. For their control Of the delegation to the
National Convention would mean then no'hih1
more than that the vote Of New-lork would pe
swung solidly Loyalty and persistently FOR "o'-
ernor Morton. in literal accordance with the
terms of the resolution which they themselves
proposcd. and with enusive demonstrations or
ardor and enthusiasm carried through the last
State Convention. TO that there could be no
objection. But it so happens that no lhteiiigeht
man between Lake Erie and Montauk Point mas
the slightest idea that they have any such IN
tention or that their pretended enthusiasm lor
Governor Morton means anything more thln
blind behind which they propose to Use the
seventytwo votes of this State for trading plr-
poses. 1t is believed by some that the Interior
purpose is to trade off these votes for CaDlnet
appointment for Mr.. Plat. We hardly think so.
Mr. Platt does not lack assurance bur II Is
hardly possible with his knowledge of political
conditions and Of his own relations to the party,
that he should aspire SO high Still. the Dellef Is
universal that the Lauterbach manipulation or
the enrolment means nothing more nor less than
a poltical dickcr in the National Convention, or
which Mr.. Platt will be the beneficiary.
There il. however another consideration,
which, in the minds not only OF all honest he-
publicans. but of all good citizens in this county
has and ought to have great weight In the Ills
cussion OF the inquies Of the Lauterbach en-
roment 1t is this: That the success or TINS
conspiracy against the Republican party would
mean-bv all the surface Indications at least
the recantatlon Of all the professions Of devo-
ton 10 the cause of municipal reform, upon the
strength of which the party and its allies came
into power a year ago. 1t would mean that the
Republican party in this county repudiated the
leadership under which it gained last years
victory. and had installed in its place that Of
Mr. Iauterbach and his County Committee; that
instead of desiring the additional legislation
needed 10 make the reforms already begun
operative and efectual, it had adopted the Platt
Iautcrbach view that last years reform work
was from Il partisan point Of view. Il blunder
and should be rather repealed than completed
II would mcan in short the triumph Of the fac
"a; .ttx
because it can better use the machinery Of
conveniently small Republican organization in
procuring patronage and places than it can that
Of Il responsible and self-respecting Republican
majority.
1t is precisely here that the conspiracy affects
most closely all honest Republicans in this coun
" and all lawabiding and order-oving citizens
as well. Men may say they do not care whether
Plat swings the seyentytwo votes of the State
in the National Convention, or whether by
swinging them he gets himself place in the
Cabinet; whether he sticks to Governor Morton
or cheats him; they may not care whether
Lauterbach by his manipulation of the enrol
lncnt makes himself so solid with thc Legislature
that he can either Use it in the service of the
corporations he represents or for his own el"c-
ton as United States Senator They may be, or
pretend to be, entirely Indifferent to these rather
important aspects OF the case, but they cannot
as men who regard their own personal interests
rs citizens the security Of their own lives and
property be Indifferent to the fact that the re-
action involved in the success Of the Platt
Lauterbach conspiracy means in the end Il re-
turn TO Tammany disagreement; to the con-
troll Of the town by political freebootcrs; to ii
brutal bullying and Matchmaking police SYSTEM
to filth in the streets; to audacious collision
with criminals and cOnniyancc with crime on
the bench Of the lower courts to open and I'M
blushng corruption in all departments and hon
esty and decency in none. To a return to these
things they cannot be Indifferent. Far more
important than even the Presidency or the Cab
met or the United States Senaorship is the sense
of safety for life, property and health to the
citizens Of this metropolis. And it is from this
point Of view that The Tribune urges with all
the earnestness Of which it is capable that all
good citizens should interest themselves in the
defeat Of an iniquitous conspiracy. which aims
not merely at the decentralization of the Repub-
lican party Of this county, but at the defeat and
overthrow of ii movement which has done more
for municipal reform and good government than
any other one thing during the present genera
ton.