New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-30
THE BROOKLYN INDEPENDENTS.

The feat OF standing so stralgnt rs I'd I'dn
backward is not an impossible one. either phys
caly or morally. 1t is Of just this thing that the
independent or Shepard Democrats In Brook
,vn seem TO be in danger At their meeting on
Monday evening they rcafiirmed their declaia-
ton of independence I'm unmstakablc terms. and
odonted n series of resolutions which appear To
mako harmony of action between them and the
"regulars" an impossibility. II there Is any har-
mony 1t will be only on the conditions liked by
the Shcparditcs, and will imply the complete
surrender to them OF the Mclaughlin organiza-
ton. The principal resolution OF tine Demo
cratic Party in Kings County afiirms that II
nroposes TO nominate for Mayor "a Democrat
..who is and has been undoubtedly and prac-
..tically devoted TO the reform for when this
organization stood in 1893 and 1894, and for
(which il now resolutely stands and II Is 1ur-
tbcr declared that the organic ion will not help
TO confer the Mayoralty upon any man, how
..cver cstimablc or talented, unless he be known
..bv citizens generally to be reasonably equipped
for the difficult duties Of the place. and unless
Ibis ideal of those duties has been exhibited by
IAN open, unmstakable. courageous stand on
Ibis mart for the welfare Of Brooklyn in 1S'E'
"and 1894" Obviously this greatly narrcws the
ties will harnonize on such terms is utterly out
Of the question However respectable hgurc-
be,d they might be willing to put up the indie
pendcnts will accept no one who has NOT p''n
identified with their own movement during the
last two years.
We are disposcd to give the Shepard wing Of
the Brooklyn Democracy credit for a sincere ana
honest desire to secure good government 10
Brooklyn. They want for Mayor "A Democrat
whose qualifications for so responsible ana emf
..ncnty practical an office are to he FOUND not
less in his practical experience OF bic ana
..political affairs than in his general business
capacity and personal uprightness as ven as
one who has shown his devotion to REFORM b"'
why. we may ask. IL it necessary Tor mem I'D
insist ON a Democrat? Why was not the woru
..Democrat" stricken ont of the clause just
ouoted and the word 'cItzen" put in IT, place!
The Reform Democrats ought to put themselves
in n position which will make union between
them and the large number OF friends ~ good
government i'm the ranks Of the Republic larty
possible All these people are worhing TOT the
same end and such comblna'i ion wouiu ne
irresistible To insist on the nomination OF
Democrat only may lead to the restoration or
the old Ring to power.
The lesson of ten years ago ought not to he
forpotten In 1850. il will be remembered. the
reform element in the Democratic party-the
mon who had contributed 10 the election ana
reelection Of Mayor Low-thoughi II wise to In
sisr on the nomination Of one Of their own num-
bcr I'm the person Of General Woodward. with
three candidates in the field. the Ring Democrat
won. and the four years Of good government
under Low were succeeded by eight years on
Whitney. Chaplin and Body Is that bit II his
tory 10 bc repeated? II may be if tn, Shepard
Democrats pcrsis. in their policy of INNING
candidate Identified with their own namb'r. II
they are sincere in their desire for clean and
honest government, II they rate this above their
desire for partisan success, they should ardently
Use their influence In favor Of the election to
the Mayoraty Of man Of the Schleren type,
who will maintain the high standard Of admin
istration established in the last two years.
union Of the reform forces similar 10 hat which
achieved so great victory in 1893 ought to be
possible this year. The Shepard Democrats
have the power to prevent 1t, and will do so II
they adhere 10 the policy set forth on Monday
Let them not assume so much virtue that the
triumph Of their sworn enemies will be the out
com. Il Their hoasted independence.