New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-28

In the interview given out for publication Dy
Mr. Thomas c. Platt on Sunday that guileless
and ingenious person appears rs saying aiVr
describing the recklcssness and devilishness
with which William Brookfcld. Cornelius \.
Bliss and other designing men are threatening
TO revolt from the rule Of the Platt LauterDach
County Machne-"Wel, now, l don't know
what the matter is. l don't know why we
cant get together
What charming simplicity, You don't know
what the matter is" Mr.. Platt? Nor why we
can't get together? Well. this is what the mat
ter is: Let us go back a little. DO YOU remem
Der that two years ago the honest RepuDhcahs
of this county, sick and tired OF leadership I'M
der which they suffered year after year not only
the discouragement Of defeat. but the dlsgraceful
consciousness that their own leaders were using
the name. influence. prestige and all the ma
chinery Of party organization for the most
treacherous and dishonest purposes rose up III
revolt and undertook 10 reOrganlZe the party
Against whom was that uprising? Against MI
RrookfeM? Mr.. Bliss? Mr. Elhu Root? MI
Joseph H. Choate? Or any Of the Republicans
with whom yOn now whimper that you can
get together? That was not kick at empty
air. an uprising against nobody. You said your
self at the time, in one of those interviews pre-
pared for YOU by your Man Friday, that the
movement was not only justihable, but abso
Mtely demanded by the then existing political
conditions Indeed, you seemed ambitious TO
lead the movement yourself. But whom was 1t
against? Don't you know: 1t was against a
man who had been for years using his uSurpri
leadership Of the Republican party for playing
into the hands Of Tammany Hall, ana securing
official and other plumber for his personal fol
lowers. Do You know him: Want his name:
Ask Croker. Ask Groy who touched Inn
for a couple of Police Commissioners, who had
to be removed for untitncss. Who else was it
against: You can find the MINES Of some OF
them on your Lauterbach County Committee
and more, perhaps, in the list Of Governor Nor
toms appointments
Do YOU remember that there were two move"
ments for reorganization? That between the
two you played the cunningcst game OF your
life? That while You took pains to publish
effusivey your sympathy and support for one
You sent your leutenants to occupy back seats
and wear temporarily an air Of humility ana
penitence In the other? That your processes
ripcned together beautifully SO that by the time
YOUR name and connection had blighted one
vour lieutenants were in practical possession Of
the other? You have not forgotten these things
Of course? They constitute the greatest triumph
Of vour life That was the time when you did
know what was the matter and how TO 'gct
together" Nor can you have forgotten that
after the LexOw Committee had got away from
YOU and uncovered the rottenncss Of this town
decent citizens Of all parties rose up In demand
for municipal reform. and that you opposed the
movement as long as You dared, insisting upon
straight Republican municipal ticket so ridicu-
lous in character as to leave no doubt In the
mind Of any intelligent man that It's sole pur-
pose was to make diversion in favor of Tam
many Whether you have forgotten it or not.
other people remember it. And they remember.
too how, as soon as reform administration was
inaugurated, you began TO demand places from
It for the disreputable persons in your retnuc
as the price Of your support and "A bride for
legislation at Albany. They remember that you
held up and INSTRUCTED every measure Of munc-
ipal reform at Albany until YOU co,Cd take toll
for its passage or shape II TO your purpose; and
that nothing under Heaven except Governor
Norton's clearer judgment and wiser forecast
of the effect upon his own political fortunes Of
your reckless obstinacy saved anything for good
government in this town. Everybody knows
this Don't Won: That's considerable part of
what the matter is" That's one reason "why
we can't get together" You are too well known
Another thing Mr.. Platt Your Lauerbach
County Committee has been plotting for the Last
twelve months to retain control of the organlza-
tbo ny
uprising against them two years ago so earnest
in purpose and overwhelming in volume that
they actually took part and hid themselves with
in il to escape the storm. That they accom-
plished their purpose by the most glarDg frauds
ever perpetrated is notorious. You yourself do
not deny it, with all your qulbbling: and they
have so little sense Of dcccncy rs to chuckc
over It, At every stage Of these fraudulent pro-
ceedings Republicans at whom you sneer as The
better element protested with carncstncss and
persistence Your Lauterbach Committee only
ieered nj them and rode over them roughshod
There was never any thought on their part Of
getting together until they had worked out
their conspiracy in every detail and made their
hold Of power secure. That was IN outrage
upon honest citizens. Mr.. Plat. exceeding in
infamy anything ever attempted by any gang
of political frecbooters of any party in this
rogueridden town. Such outrage that It's
perpetrators do not pretend to defend 1t, and 10
decent Republican can afford 10 do anything
but stand up and make uncompromisins war
against it, And You know il; You know. too
the purpose Of it. For though ii seems to have
been conceived in the very wantonncss of I'M
bridled power, and carried out with brutal in
science and suicidal recklessness. there was ii
purpose in it, That purpose was to give you
power. For what? Not to carry the state dele
CATION for Governor Morton. That's the thin
nest of pretences. Not merely that you can
have a delegation to trade with at ST. Louis,
though that is Of course, part Of It, New-NorK