New-York tribune., 1896-02-01
THE mCOr-NTY COMMITTEES" ANSWER.

THE "COUNTY COUMITTEE'S' ANSWER.
From the unusual prominence and display
rivcn by one or two of our contemporaries with
Platt lcanings to the disclosures made by MI
"Sol' Rcrlincr and one or two others OF the
norfdiousncss Of William Brookfeld, we infer
that these disclosures made under the solemn'y
Of afiilavits. and officially promulgated by the
nrescnt soralled Republican County Commntce,
are put forth as the answer OF the County 'om-
u,tteo so called to the charge made by more
thon GOO Republicans. and sustained by IN
luhitaho documentary testimony, that the com
mittce itself 50 called is an Illegally constituted
body. founded upon fraud and organized upon
confessed and Migrant crimes.
We are quite willing so to accept and treat
those domnatorv documents. Far be IT from us
70 bclittle the cnormity OF Mr.. Brookfieids or
forcn IN attempting TO corrupt Mr.. William Ger
main by the offer Of place at 81 day. Inc
ef,ct th,t Mr. German, according 70 his own
otfdavlt never intended to fulfil the conditions
~ his agreement in return for the pace III -
-, dov. though it casts Il shade Of suspicion on
Mr.. Gcrmains own absolute personal integrity
does not change the character Of the transaction
ar relieve Mr. Brcokicld from the odum OF AZ
,nmrting 10 draw away from Mr. Platt and Mr.
s,iontions supporters by the offer OF place
NJ 81 n Gay Mr.. Germans ailidavlt seems 10
\. corroborated hv that Of Sol Berncr esq,
whose last public service prior 10 thls WIS III
contributing 10 the general JOY by saying anu
doing things in dn ardent ana animated ,"N
for several days in succession, Il pulc er'Pi"V
orcouut of which cnlivcned the always interest
ing columns OF our contemporary, lhe Ne"
York Sun" Mr. Bcrlincr. as we learn from 'he
documents issued by the Repubhran county
Committee SO called, is now engaged III rrad'ne
law very commendabc pursuit We are not
certain thai Mr. Berncrs corroboraii"n pu's
the careful affidavit of the Ingenious MT Ter
,,oi, =, hirh llp anon. the unimpcachahl" ana
everlasting veritics rs 10 leave no sllauo" "'
doubt AS To- its mathematical ana sc'h'ih' nc
,uracv. Bat il may at least bc said ihi' u does
no harm or perhaps 10 be more lr'''S' h"'
,ncaiculablc harm. At any rate. IL J. SAFE /" say
flat It hroadrns and dc"p"ns ana III All dlr''""ns
onlarces the feeling which the Gormain aiiidaV'
produces upon the common mind Wh'''''' ''"'
feeling may be.
I, may he said. ~ course. that th" issuance "i
this manifesto 10y the Republican County tom
mi,,ee SO called charging Mr. Br""kh"ld VIII
q most hpinous offence against public m"r"ls' ~
wou os against the individual consc"ncr' "i
Nessrs Germain and Bcrlincr. took place s'N'r'i
hours after MIR Brooliicd had embarked upon
an ocoon steamer. and when. consequently de-
ooula moi he heard In answer This. though Oh
tore,v q suspiciollS circumstance. may nave
hon only cnincilcnce. II III" E"pnhllrih
county Gnmmi,tcc 50 called can safely appeal
o. N. rnnutaiior t. has made for itself for Mp
;.,,,uess and fair dealing. II VIII undoubtedly
H. 80 and 50, at rest any suspicion arising from
s,cb . colntj,i,.ncc that the publication ~ ms
charge was mirposcly postponed until Nr bT'oR-
,o,a ,v,s ont Of reach and unable 10 pui IN de
f.nce When this happens and ih" N"puhllcan
rourtv Committee so called has vindicai"i II
lie iron, AZ suspiclon Of unfairncsS 10y such an
oroo1 to It's own character and standing In ih"
community the question will be whether. upon
tho whole Mr. RrOokfcld's character and stand
,r,, ir this community are such that hc i liable
., .rrfor I'm nubic estimation from the af'idaylts
Of Messrs Germain and 'crlin"r pom mat
,, {, ic not necessary that We should express
or ouininn II IS not impossible. ~ course, that
,h.ro ore those who upon ex partc aiiidaylts and
hcr,re hearing Mr. Brooliicld's side will accept
tho conclusion Of the Republican County Com
r,,,oo On called that William Brookhcld has been
cr,tv ~ nm attcmIt to corrupt the earnest and
dovotcd friends Of Mr. Platt by places worth
81 = day And although the Republican County
committee so called has published the aflidavs
with no prctence of regard for public morals,
hut avowcdly for the sole purpose OF claiming
,ho rewards offered 10y Mayor Strong a pro
| cccding which may be explained If not excused.
bv lis confession of poverty it Is not absolutely
| Incredible that Mr. Platt and Mr.. Iautcrbach
| and all the members Of the committee were
| ro,lIv unite shocked by this high-handcl attempt
| or William Brookfcd to corrupt Mcssrs. Ger
main and Bcrncr by the offer Of places al 81
q day.
And vet, everything being granted that the
| Republican County Committee so called has al
| lcgcd concerning the wicked and criminal con
| huct Of William Brookfied. we feel compelled
IN say that II Is no satisfactory answer 10 the
we'll -subs,antiatcd charges made by n committee
of more than six hundr~a well-known Repub
ucans that this Republican County Committee
so called has stolen the livery Of the party and
the machinery OF its organization. and has no
moro right to exercise The functions II has
usurpcd than Richard Croker has TO preside
over a Republican convention or "Paddy" Diver
IN nreach in Dr. Parkhursts pulpit.