The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20


Platt having expressed wish to be
heard in the matter of this appoint
ment, the mayor observed the same
courtesy in his case as 10 that of others.
Mr.. Plat was asked to name the men
he would recommend, and was assured
that they would receive the considera-
ton given to any others. Mayor
Strong did not like Mr.. .Platts selec
tions, and, being responsible for the
administration of the Office of mayor,
he turned aside from the entire crowd
of politicians and self-seekers, and
chose man for whose official acts he
was willing to be sponsor.
Mayor Strong may make the errors
that inhere in humanity, but he is eter-
nally right in the course he is pursuing.
His official acts have lively interest
and an important bearing far beyond
the limits of the Empire States chief mu-
nicipality. He maintains certain kind
of good humor and bonhomie amid
these clashings of selfish partisan
schemes that reminds one of Lincoln,
and he exhibits rugged honesty and
bluntness that have an echo of "Old
Hickory" There is a great deal of vo-
alteration respecting Thomas G. Plat.
Much of it is justified, and much is like
the childish terror inspired by the bob
bling up of the traditional Jack-in the
box. Mr.. Plat has the right that any
private citizen has to his own opinions,
and to impress them upon his fellow
citizens by any legitimate means. 1t
does not necessarily follow that because
Mr.. Plat supports for Office man like
Governor Morton, for example, or be-
cause Governor Morton is polite to Mr..
Platt and treats him with the consider
alton given other prominent citizens,
that Governor Morton therefore wears
Mr.. Platt's "collsr." Talk of this kind
in connection with Governor Morton is
sheer impudence.
But Mr.. Platt does not content him
self with the custo mary and legitimate
exercise of the functions of private citi-
zenship Holding no official station,
responsible in no way for the discharge
of public trusts, he is nevertheless the
man who seeks to control elections, to
usurp the powers of public officials, and
to dictate to the legislature of his state
If Mr.. Platt were q man of eminent
wisdom, virtue and unselfshness, his
assumption of the powers of dictator
might be endurable, whatever might be
said of the usurpation as matter of
morals. But Mr.. Plat has not won
fame by exhibitions of craftsmanship,
or success in leadership, or by the luster
of his private or civic virtues. The
period of his political domination in
New York is marked by humiliating
defeats for the party, a section of
which, it must be regretfully admitted,
he has misled and which still exhibits a
strange infatuation with his assumption
of leadership. In some large measure,
this evil genius of New York republi-
canism is responsible for Tammany's
long and corrupt sway, and, it is charged,
has been often in collision with this
arch enemy of good government. In
Mayor Strong he has encountered a
sturdy exponent Of political reform.
In the mayors appointment to the
office of public works, the most impor-
tant place in New York, 30 far as spoils
are concerned, of a man Mr.. Plat can
not control, check has been imposed
upon the usurper's exercise of power,
whose leaden scepter spoils have always
tipped. Hence the CONSERVATION over
Mayor Strong's appointments.
The republican party won in Novem-
Der in the state and city Of New York
its first important victory, in the one in
half a generation, in the other since
its organization. Mr.. Platt had no
part in that revolution. He was forced
along by it, but was not of it. If now
the party that triumphed goes about
it's business in an honest fashion, rele.
eating Plat to his proper place in a
community of American citizens, the
revolution of November, as is said of
revolutions in general, will never go
backward. ItNewYork republicans take
good and honest care of the present, the
future, in its relation to state and national
politics, upon which all this maneuver-
ing is said to have bearing, will easily
take care of ITSELF