New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-12
TIE MAIN QUESTION.

The Tribune presents its compliments 10
several of its contemporaries in the interior or
the State-chlef of which we may perhaps name
without being lnvldious or exciting iealouSieS
THE Albany Evening Journal and THE Roch-
ester DcmoCrat"-to which IL Is indebted Tor
daily attentions during several weeks past.
These attentions, we beg to assure them, have
been duly appreciated. They have not as a
rule ovcrfowed with courtesy, and we have
sometimes thought the language in which they
were couchcd might be made more appropriate
for the parlor and home circle by little tonins
down. but we freely admit tha; We may not he
entirely free from prejudice in the matter Get
we have none the less appreciated th" earnest
ness and sincerity Of the editorial writers. and
though they have impugnc1 the motives OF III"
Tribune with breezy freedom. we have not
sought 10 explore their own. In fact. we dld
not need to- We seize The present occasion,
however 10 express our thanks, and To say in
exclamation Of orr apparent neglect of them
that it has only been because The Tribune has
been occupied with matters Of much more IN
pnrtance than vindicating Itself or answering
aspersions upon the sincerity Of its purpose or
the purity Of lis motives.
With this explanation ana apology The IT'D
une begs leave to recall the attention Of In"
able and influential journals referred TO as well
those which indulge in original editorial matter
as those which print contributions from eminent
statesmen under the editorial head without any
feeling OF personal concern thcrcin-to tn" qurs
ton which really IS or ought To be under con
sideration. That question is Il very simple one.
II IS not primarily. as some of these able ana
influential editors seem Ia think. whether Mr.
Thomas c. Plat is a distinct entity in the pres
cnt political situation. clothed with authority
! and endowed with power that he must be con
sidered consulted and dealt with before any
thing can be done in the way of legislation on
behalf Of great community of many thousand
voters That is only incidental. and not Of Ia"
first importance Nor il il question OF shaping
legislation or dividing official p1tronag" In shch
"A way as 10 build up and strengthen the R"pub-
lean party. important though that may be, AMI
distinctly desirable II II can be done without
sacrifice of principle. loss Of honor or repudia
ton Of solemn obligations. Nor j. II question
Of how anybody's Presidential aspirations or
anybody's political future IS 10 be- affected 10y
what is done or Is not done NJ Albany. These
also are incidental. and in the light Of the
| actual issue of the most insignificant conS"-
quence.
The essence Of The whole matter is in this:
! An Investigating committee, endowed with un
usual powers to meet an unusual emergency
! has probed or partially probed the municipal
government Of this metropolis. II has up
! turned condition that has filled all honest citi
zens with alarm Under This feeling Of ins'-
curity and apprehension they took unusual
! action. Awaiting themselves of their only rem
edy. the resort TO the ballot they went to The
| pons in November and answered with 1900
majority this appeal Of the Republican party
read it over carefully -"We appeal to all Cit
"zens Of the city Of New York. regardless OF
party utilization or inclination, to join with us
lin one determined and united effort TO rescue
our city from the corrupt influences of The
"dospoers Of Tammany Hall" That appeal
had been prefaccd by a cordial approval OF
the platform of the CCmmitc" Of Seventy
which promulgated the doctrine that municlpa
government should be entirely divorced from
"partv notifies and from selfish personal ambi
"tion or gain" There is nothing doubtful moth
inc ambiguous about that And the simple
question is whether the party that took Office
under that declaration Of It's purpose and lnten
is going 10 do what II said II would.
1t is not Il question how the fnlfment OF M
pledge Is to affect any mans power or infiu
cnce or ambition. or how even 1t IS TO aifec
the future Of the party. 1t Is question 81
honor. OF uprightncsS, Of telling the truth. DC
we tell the truth? Did we mean what we said
Or did we lie To the $4,000 voters who trusted
in us, and shall now by small tricks an'
petty subterfugcs wricgle out Of our contract
There is the question in Il nutshell. gentlemen
of the press Please come back 10 H.