New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-12
PRACTICAL VALUE or INDEPENDENCE.

/ PRACTICAL VALUE or INDEPENDENCE
! An encouraging feature Of the existing political
situation Is the uncompromisingy hostile at'i-
tude that the young men Of promise IN the he-
! publican party throughout the State are assnm-
! Ing toward the discredited Patt machine.
Around the standards Of reform they are rally
! ing with an earnestness and enthusiasm that are
intensely gratifying They are in the van or
the movement for clean politics. In every con
test, successful or unsuccessful, that has been
waged thus far against unworthy candidates ana
bossism in Oneida County. Washington. Sara
toga Duchess Clinton Cattaraugus and else
where, they have been In the front ranks OF the
opposition, fighting in many instances against
tremendous odds, compelled as they were to
match their unskilled arms against those of the
veterans Of the old regime. The courage they
have shown is of the highest order; their energy
Is marvellous, and the confidence they manifest
in the ultimate, If not immediate, triumph Of the
cause for which they fght-honest, dgnhed
methods in the practical affairs Of the party-is
not surpassed by any precedent in the history of
York politics.
The battle has been terrific: Il Is still on. In
decd, 1t may be said to be only fairly begun 1t
is death struggle with the old machine and IN
the desperate efforts that II is making to stave
off defeat and ruin there at times such dis
plays Of recuperative power aud persistency as
70 discourage the most enthusiastic reformers
and make some Of them, who have honorable
ambitions for public service. feel that after all,
warfare against such an organization as Platt
controls is 4 thankless task and questionable
experiment for ambitious statesmen. For the
peace of mind and encourag cement OF all thus
afflicted it may not be amiss TO call attention to
a few suggestive and reassurng facts that Illus
trate the downright practical value of political
independence in public life, In this day OF
machines and bosses
In the last Legislature which was Republican
in both branches, there were few Senators and
Assemblymen who resolutely refused to make the
public or the partys interests subordinate 10 Mr..
Patt's selfish schemes. They stood up boldly
for what they believed 10 be right In utter def
ance of the machine. 1t was generally supposed
that they were all marked for slaughter Sena-
tor Higgins was given to understand that the
Boss" had pronounced for DOOM In his case.
A Plat candidate, Assemblyman Nixon, was
directed TO capture Mr.. Hggns's seat, but the
decent people of the Cattaraugus District made
such an emphatic protest against this effort that
Mr. Nixon retreated from the field without firing
shot, and Mr.. Higgins will he renominated
without opposition. Senator Mullen has always
insisted that he could think better for himself
than could be done for him at No. 40 Broadway
and when the State Club was formed he became
one Of its ncorporators. Mr. Plat wanted his
head a charger, but the Republicans Of the
WATERFOWL District have decided TO return Mr.
Mullen and no one has had the temerity to enter
the lists against him. .Messrs. Lamy and Per
sons of Buffalo, were drags the machines
wheels. but both can be renominated and
reelected without any special difficulty. Senator
Pound never made himself extensively indie
pendent, but all the same he insisted upon per
feet freedom of action. He also would have
been returned had he not accepted professor
ship at Cornell University Mr.. Pavey led the
fight against Plat In the Assembly. The Boss
would take particular delight in driving him out
of public life, but Mr.. Pavey will go back to the
Assembly unless he decides to represent his con-
sttuency in the Senate, which we understand
he contempates Colonel Sanger, an indepen-
dent Of independents. was offered the nomina
ton for Senator by his appreciative people, but
preferred TO continue to labor in the Assembly,
he will go back there whether Mr.. Platt desires
1t or not SO far as known IT is in the power OF
all the independent Assemblymen. Wids, Par
sons Percy and the rest, to go back TO Albany
II they to do so.
On the other hand, the Bosss followers, the
men who did his bidding at all times have been
mercilessly slaughtered Coggeshall, who was
supposed TO be nvncible In the Oneida District
has been buried under an avalanche OF righteous
Indignation. Donaldson carried the Saratoga
District in his pocket for years, but an aroused
people prevented his name from ever being pre-
scented in the Convention. Robertson cannot 20
back from Westchester. O'COnnor has been
shelvel In the BroOme District. Kilburn made
credtable record on many things, but unfortu
natey he allied himself with Platt and he has
been compelled to make room for his rival in
st. Lawrence County And throughout the
list The contrast could scarcely be strik
ing.
There never was a period in the history Of the
Republican party. or any party, when indepen-
dence Of bossism was better political invest
ment than at present in the Empire State, and
never were the wise words that Junius wrote
to his publisher more applicable than now: Let
all your views of life be directed TO solid
however moderate, independence Without it no
man can be happy nor even honest"
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