New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-25
NO COMPROMISE WITH PLATT

ENTERING UPON THE PRESIDENTIAL
CONTEST OF 1885,
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Republicans find prolific subject OF re-
mark and comment in the marvellous career ".
President Cleveland, and well In that CT f'chafu
Croker, though a less conspicuous stage ineS
are fond of imputng these signal instances OF ais
parity between the poverty of the merit ana .he
magnitude Of the reward to the peculiar constitu-
ton and procliyities OF the Democratic party us
serty of intellect, its lack OF conscience ls WANT
of lofty aims and high moral tone.
Considered as Independent truths, these renee
tions are well enough, but when uttered, as they
usually are on the assumption that the fepuo-
Iican party is beyond the reach of kindred criti-
cism the expression OF them Is in the highest de-
gree nresumptuous and absurd. For our annals
exhibit no more fragrant example OF the subJectlon
Of n great party to the arrogant Will or one
man than Is bodied forth in and illustrated
bv the later political history or Thonas =.
Plat 1t Is ile to ignore or disguise the iacI
that his control of the party movement IN this
State has been for some years, and still IT, sud-
stantiaIlv supreme and his supremacy receives an
almost daily illustration in the action or nop-actioh
of our State Legislature. A dominion SO perfect
and effective vested in any man, however pure III
character however sound In principle, however oe
voted to an unselfsh advocacy or the right' couiu
not but be harmful to the party's interests anu
pregnant with QlSnONOr u ITO ian A"'i'~'
in n man Ike Thomas c. Plat 1t involves con-
stont menace OF disaster and brands the collective
manhood of the party with ineffaceabe shame.
The length and strength of his hold ON the or
eanization are an enigma to every man VINO mas
made the matter a study. whence comes MS
bower? He Is not a great man, morally OF Intel
icctually He lays no claim to oratorical excel
lence His whisper is significant enough IN the
anteroom. but his voice is never heard on inc
stun,n or I'm the hall OF a convention. lie IS not
n writer of the slightest ability. The manifesto ne
nut forth In standardization some months since
was a farrago OF pattude and crudities, eXpresSeo
I'm a style so poverty-stricken and inane that ooy
of twelve ought to be fosged IL he could not peter
IT, He has no personal magnetism, such as tha'
which kndled the enthusiasm OF every man VINO
ontered the presence of Blaine or that enabled
Roscoe Conkling to dominate even a hostile auoi-
ence with n royal mastery lie draws no iiiSp""
ton from the grandeur OF the partys pohcy OF
the magnificent reach OF It's aims. lhdeea' !. Is
doubtful II he ever talks thinks OF its principles.
His mind is wholly focused its underground
machinery. .,
Rut II Is idle to push the inquiry further.
Whether the secret Of his success is pure accident
or some undiscovered trick or character 'he SUI
cess is certain Subject TO some eXceptlohS' 'ie
contest now pending, which he has PROVOKED Is III
its main incidents proof conclusive or II. lie mas
90 far been powerful enough to bereave the party
vernber He failed In his endeavor to wrest from
orr Navor and arrogate TO himself the prerogauVe
of amendments devolving on that ofncer. pul ne
has succeeded hitherto in preventing the adop''oh
NJ Legislative measures imperatlvely demande1 py
the public needs, because they would confer upon
the present Mayor additional powers.
No intelligent Republican not blinded by inter
est or favor can contemplate the present cohdltioh
Of the marty without the most poignant huIlilla-
tion The need Of party leaders. repFest
men who speak the Will or me misses am " bm
such men. though in some senses ltA-st a -,
All things seryants-honored servants, inIeel' w
servants neverth eless Such Is not MI. rat -
would h.. porvcrson OF terms TO call him a repre-
sentative Republican. and he would scorn the roe
OF party servant Inc only "ora ''"' '''' '''' D'
is the modern appellation boss. ,,.- .,,, Tor
The Republican party has no legitimate place ior
such a functionary. II is made up IN the man OF
intelligent self-respectng men. owning no HlaSJer
and resentful OF the very idea OF bondage. Inc
nortv lines are not extended enough or elastic
p"cyrb - hold This mass OF loyal and the man
no fcon sciotisly them essays 10 'ooss them
Therein lies the bright promise OF party emanclpa
ION Tho power of this usurper rests In his hold
tr,s, To most or their constituents he is mere
name signifying nothing. When once ne becomes
known them for the mschevous rednty Ina le
H. his dominion will not survive the exposure ah
tou- Then even his thames Will ny from him.
Tho contea, he has stirred up has fortunately
occurred Just "a tho party had proved us IN
and II must be pushed to his complete, ana maj
overthrow No compromise can be tolerated or
,hourht or for compromise means concession,
ana concession in this would lend sane
ton right 10 a usurTt tlon that SO IaL nas
rested in pretcnslon tro o,Id "' Ss in this con-
iuncture II the least little OF what ne demands Is
yielded tn price OF IT, The ntte 81, prepa ,,
Gs,la Of 1895 Is 10 eectually settle the status or
Mr. Thomas C. Plat In this year OF grace 1870
brooklyn March y. 1895. H. H. u.