New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-19
UUERE DID WE BEGINF

first pTiDciDlpS l ne AtpupH''h "li''"S
two wears ago against the rule OF Bosses anu
,he system Of Bossism was not speclhcail! anu
in as essence = movement in opposition to any
Individual Boss or Bosses. 'nough hosi"'! !"
,ho domination Of particular individuals undeni-
ably was an influential factor IN H. hu' we
have already called attention to the phenomenal
feature Of that demonstration. when WAS VIA.
al ponrb,icans the Bosses with the rest, fell
IN with IT, Even Mr.. Platt himself Who l.
~, too nuch 70 saw. represented in The popular
mind the incarnation of the system 'ooN al
oo,ivo mart first. by giving an ELUSIVE support
+, one Of the reorganization movements anu
next when he had brought that one lhlo us
favor and disrepute by the ASSOCIATION OF HIS
name with IT, by transferring MS aileeiahce anu
his following to its rival. SO the uprising was
not against any particular Boss-certaini! not
against Boss Plat. for he was in II on Do'h
sides. and. it might be added, with po'h lee''
Not all the Republicans who enrolled themselves
NJ that time in the two organizations were am
mated by hostility TO Mr.. Platts personal RUE
ar his personal ambitions. But every one vi
them who was AZ all sincere III MS ACTION uiu
mean something by it. 1t was an uprlslhg' II
not against sOmeDod! III pdi"'"i"' "e
some particular thing.
What was It? Let us get back 10 IT, now mat
conditions II similar character CONFRONT the
Marty in this county. with the Bosses no longer
lurking among the Reformers ana creating con
fusion in the ranks. but out IN the open WI!
| did such great number or Repupncans take
| so much interest in the county organization as
70 enroll themselves in 1t two years ago! III
| certainly was not merely to depose from power
one man or one set Of men on merely personal
| grounds Why was the control OF THESE men
| 81 offensive TO the great mass or hepuph'ah
| voters? Just for this: These men had Tor years
uspd the machinery Of the Repubhcan oreani"'-
! tjon of this county not only Tor seiEaeerahuI@e
mont but for the perpetuaton of Tammany
misrue This statement Is not Dlt 100 proau'
W opa who IL AT all familiar with inside
political history in this county needs 10 De re-
| minded that year after year Mr. Ilatt, as the
self-constituted leader Of the Republican party
| controlling its pction through his command Of
| the sources Of power at the primaries ana ID
conventions. was able upon any occasion when
he deemed 1t necessary, TO obtain from the lam
many rulers Of this town not only consideration
| and assistance in the advancement OF schemes
Of a non-partisan character but places and
patronage for his favorics. With this pull upon
| the Tammany rulers Of the town-the pull by
|
uce Commission. and through which he had the
| oonedepc, of Governor Flowet and Croker and
Groy-it was plainly not for his interest tha'
there should be change in municipal control
But two years ago the voters OF this town had
fully made M their minds TO make IN end Of
Tammany misgovernment. 1t was not so much
a matter of politics with them as 1t was OF SELF
preservation; Of redemption from reign OF
terror in the Police Department; Of filth and
uncoanncss in the Street Cleaning Department;
Of foulness in the minor municipal courts; cor
runton in the Dock Department, and Of rotten
ness in all They were very much in earnest
about II. And when it came to that, the great
mass OF Republican voters were sci on thinking
az to how some Republicans. or so-caed Re
| nuhlicans. were benefciaries Of Tammany, en-
| towing its patronage and basking in its favors
and through what influence this singular and
somewhat incongruous state of affairs had been
| brought about They were not long In reaching
q conclusion about it. for the circumstances at
| ,en,jng II were obvious and notorious. 80 then
they said their first duty was to purge and
purify their own party; make an end Of all the
relations with Tammany into which the Bosses
| had led the party, and with clean hands and
| clear conscience make stand against Tam
|
They undertook 10 do ii. and for time thought
they had succeeded. Upon that impulse, with
n public proclamation Of its purpose 10 make
| oroat and determined effort 10 reform the mu
| njcinal government. and an invitation to all
| citizens who desired that contamination TO unite
with II in the endeavor. the party did throw out
Tarmanv year ago and redeem this rogue
| ruled town.
Rut the work Of reform had hardly been init
| eted when it's furtive foes. the political free
hooters Of the Republican organization. began
70 develop their plans for obstrucng and de-
featlng IT, With industrious stealth they have
| kept IL up through the year. ana with such
| cess that they seem at this moment TO he II not
| in absolute control, AT least in the position Of
advantage in the county organization. They
are now making a desperate endeavOr 20 re-
| instate themselves permanently. That means
what? Possibly far as Republicans are CON
| cerned the control Of the delegation 10 the Ma.
tional Convention by Mr.. Platt possibly deal
| by which Mr. Plat will 90 into the next Cab
| met; possibly the election Of Mr.. Lauerbach as
| United States Senator-any Of these possibilities
| is bad enough--but II means, what Is much more
government and reasonable security for their
persons and property, return 10 the system Of
dealing and bargaining between party leaders
which left this great city AT the mercy OF the
| most corrupt gang that ever robbed community
or looted treasury That is the precise issue
which presents itself TO Republican voters in