New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-03
and If IN explanation can tighten IT, he should
not delay 10 speak
NOT SWAPPING BOSSES.

There has been time, perhaps since the cleo
ton Of last Novembcr-though the period was
very brief-whcn there were Republicans in this
town-not many in number 20 be sure.
but enough 10 count, and quite honest
in their convictions were i'll som"
confusion of mind as 20 the existing local stu.
alton 1t seemed to thcm-the party being
50 absolutely committed to municipal reform as
an ovcrshadowng issue in State as well as local
politics. and intensely earnest about it-that
there could be no manner of doubt as 10 the atti-
tudc Of every voter toward that question what
ever differences Of opinion might arise as To the
details Of legislation necessary To put reform III
practical operation They knew that the Demo
cratic party was insinccrc in most OF lis pro
fcssjons and they were not greatly surprised
when that party, coming into power upon lis
declaration in favor If tariff solely for revenue.
turned its back upon that doctrine with such
conspicuous contempt as to awaken the disgust
Of the leading Democratic newspaper in the
country The New York sun But they said.
with commcndablc pride in the achievements
and the record of their own party. that Repub-
leans were made of different stuff: that what
their platforms declared they adhered To: what
they promised they performed; that loyalty To
IFS engagements was not only lis predominant
characteristic, but the very essence Of It's being
and that II only lived and succeeded aS II kept
faith with the voters So they may have thought
when questions began to arise as to what seemed
10 the casual observer minor and unilnporiant
details of legislation that these differences might
be smoothel over by mutual concession, rival
factions rcconciicd upon some practical If not
ideal basis and the party brought into harmoni-
fh,
mcnt of municipal reform.
There are no such Illusions now in the mind OF
any voter of ordinary intelligence. The events
Of the last three months have cleared the public
mind OF all political cant; have dcnuded the sub
iect Of all cXtrancous issues, and stripped the
main question to the buff That question i
whether the Republican party said what IT
meant and meant what It said last November,
when In this city and county, it adopted the plat
form and accepted the candidates Of the Com
mittce of Seventy; or whether with tongue IN
cheek and the bunco- scercrs lccr 1t Haunted
before the trustful voter dccci,fu lure and
MANNED a deliberate lie All the devices and
sophistrcs and tangled dcviltricS OF IN" Inst
three months with which the public j. familiar,
have obscIred nothing but only served 10 make
II each day more clear that the issue here and at
publican party last November shall be- used hon
cstly. AS the great mass Of honest Republican
voters desire, for the public good or dishonesty
and trcachcrouSy. as a corrupt ami intriguing
Boss. backed 10y some men whom he has f"lstru
into office and more who hang To- him in III" hope
Of place demands for his own advantage. From
the moment whcl Mr.. Plltt at a public dinner
last December planted himself by connNahc" OF
his attorney Laucrbach- at the ear OF ~" Mayor
elect and began his web weaving and pitdiSIinS
down TO The popping Of the last It'll" penny
illuminate in III" form OF discoSur" mat 'oi"-
mel Strong is not the upright merchant ana trulh-
full citizen all men took him for. hut a promi3cu-
Gus and all-round liar. The plot has been unfold
Ing until now. 1t is no secret now; for Mr..
Platt's own Senators Have proclaimed win
quite unncccssary emphasis that II Mr.. fIatt j
no, recognized as the authorized leader nnd b"sS
Of the Republican party, and as such c"nSuli'7l'
conciliatcd and dealt with. Republican Legs
laturc will refuse any further reform legislation
to the voters Of this town. io whom the R'pnb'
ncan party promised II without reservation or
conditions II Is not Tn" Tribune th1' charges
this; II Is the Plait Senator's. OConn"r. l"A"W
and the rest who openly AMI publicly threaten II.
II is not Mayor Strong against whom all Inc
plotting and cunspirlng haN" b''n gong Oh l"l
The last three months. but the Republican party.
He has been their objcctiy" point only because
II was necessary To- invcig" him int" ih"r tuHs
In order Ia bciray The party and max" II sub
soryicnt 10 a Boss instead 81 "b'li"nt 10 III"
people and useful to great cause. In ms STATE
/ az affairs il il not impossible Indeed. II these
blatant O'ConnorS and struttnc I"Nows who
90 about dcnouncIng III" gangs OF rrformcrS,
NAV be believed. II Is probable, that th"r"
! Will bc no more reform legislation al Ia" hands
Of this Legislature. Very well. Better SO: bet
ter for the Republican party; better for The
cause. Of reform. which may be DELAYED hut can
not be defeated; better for The city ana county
and State for all good citizens and NIL good
causes that II should br So than that We should
consent by changing one Boss for another. Ia
| the DEGRADATION and prostitution of great vie
tory in which public morals were involved ana
the public conscience was arunscd. Let II he
borne IN mind. when our lmpaiirnce exposes uS
70 temptation, that IL is better 10 bear Si"nily
] existing Ills and keep up the fight against them
! than 10 accept change Of corrupt Masters ~ a
substitute for the reform Of an iniqnitols Sys
! TEN. We are not swapping Bosses this year.
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