New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-29
no MASTER: 40 PLATT.

4
The Tribune ventures to suggest TO Republican
newspapers outside this State. and to visiting
statesmen as well-whO are permitting them
selves TO be quoted as deprccatng the lack or
harmony here and urging the need of burying
fractional dilfcrences-that it is more than pos
slblc that they do not understand the LEGAL SIT
uation The Republicans of this state have IN
der consideration an issue which 10 the large
majority of them seems hardly less important
than the questions of National politics involved
in the Presidential campaign. 1t Is whether, IN
the first instance they will recognize the au-
thority and bow to the will of any person who
STYLES himself. or is styled by subservient fol
lowing, 1.-THE Republican master of the state.
In the second place. it is whether considering
the character and the record Of the man. ana
especially his relation 10 the candidate or the
party before and since the nomination. they VIII
recognize Thomas {. Platt as that master.
And the facts warrant us in saying that very
large numbcr-we believe Il ma1ority-0i Re
pubcanS are upon this question in entire sym
pathy with Senator Thurston. of Nebraska who
in the Addicks case said-and subsequently had
the Endorsement of the National Convention
for his action-that he would not vote to recog-
nzc such leadership even If the election of Il
Republican President depended upon 1t.
1t is not Il question of factions. 1t is Il ques
ton of personal independence and individual
manhood. of political morality common hon
esty common drccncy and common sense. II
has been possible heretofore, though with some
difficulty TO believe that the grave differences
between Mr. Plat and some Of the most emf
ncnt and honored members of the party. which
so often imperilled the pairys success, grew
solely out of questions OF leadership III which
no essential principle was involved. That Is
impossible now. Mr. Patt and his followers
are now demanding not only that he be recog-
nzcd as the Republican master Of the state
but that he and his creatures, after maligning
and traducng the Republican candidate for
President and furnishing the opposition the
most effective ammunition for their warfare
against him, shall be intrusted with the con
duet of the Republican campaign and the dis
bursrnent of the funds 10 be raised in That
behalf Not only that: the demand includes
that they shall be permitted TO name the can
didates for State offices and the Legislature
from their own fnction To be yolc1 up. for good
or Ill., with the Presidential ticket.
There is no need to elaborate This is n ques
ton not of factions or leaders. but Of self
preservation. Unless the party proposes dclib-
crate disqualification and suicide, this man
grasp upon the machinery Of the party organ
iZation must be thrown off. The Republicans Of
the whole state. and especially of this county.
where his bnleful influence has been most felt.
are in dead earnest about it, They mean bust
ness and will not be diverted from 1t by the
empty talk about harmony in which Mr. Plat
and his followers are just now indulging. Their
view Of harmony Is the recognition of 1.-THE
master" and obedience to the dictatlon of Il
political machine conceived In fraud, born In
inquity and pcrpetuated In crime. This Will
not be tolerated. or even listened TO- No Re-
publican newspaper in this city favors the Plat
domination, but It Is q significant fact that he
does derive aid and support directly and indi-
rcctly from all the Democratiexand Mngwump
Journals 1t will be dark day for the Repub-
lican party when 1t permits itself TO he dragged
by an opposition press into the support OF an
arrogant and Overshadowing Boss, who notOri-
ousy uses his ill-gotten power for trading pur-
poses with the political enemy.
New-York Republicans are not fractional, but
they are In dead earnest In their determine
ton to have no "Rcpublcan master Of the
State" and least Of all such n master Thomas
G. Plat. The word has gone forth: mo Mas
ter. No Piatt.