New-York tribune., 1896-01-21
4 MOST SERIOUS SITUlTION.

4 MOST SERIOUS SITJlTION.
'If the Republican party IS to live and retain
power in this State says our evening RepuD-
ljcan contemDorary "rhe Mail and Express,
"the source of it's power must be guarded from
"the contamination which brought disgrace ana
ruin on the Democracy The fraudulent enrol
.ment and its benciiciarics must be east aside
"and the party rescued from the danger which
.tbreatcns its very life" 1t is we'll and truly
said They are words Of truth and soberness,
and they do no; magnify the dangers of the ex-
listing local situation Its very life" Is what the
Renubljcan party of this county now sees put
in peril. For the life of this party is not in the
machinery Of its organization; not IN the clever
ness and cunning of it's leaders; not in candi-
dates nor in policies nor In tactics nor STRATEGY
but, above and beyond all these ephemeral views
and petty considerations in the weil-Srouhneu
confidence of an honest body of voters that the
organization in which they put their supreme
trust is itself honestly constituted. founded on
honor and built up in good faith. These are i's
essentials Essential everywhere throughout 'he
land where Republicanism stands for adherence
to principle for devotion TO the Senerai soou' 'or
maintenance of public credit and the preser'a-
ton inviolate of the public faith. They are vital
here. where the party has waged long ana
desperate fight against corruption ana fraud III
all the manifold forms in which they have de-
based municipal government and degraded mli-
nicipal life.
For this County Committee OF which Mt
Iauterhach is the head il must be remembered,
stands for the Republican party i'll this county.
1t is the representative. the mou'hplece' 'he
actual and only official organ OF the party. lt
is much more thln its instrument; it Is It's SUI
peror; its manager and If 1t so wills. It's laWess
and irresponsible manager. During IFS tenure
Of Office it is without Accountability; without
check: free TO work its own sweet Will III WHAT
ever direction il chooses. And it can do all Ill
the name Of a party whose Endorsement II has
forged whose honest membership il has dc
fraudcd. and upon whose good nature it Is
constant and CRYING imposition. This state VI
things cannot continIe and the party which
to,erotes il maintain its existence. Ii Is not
a question of continuance Of power, but OF
cortinuonce of life This is the cOnsdcra tion
which even from the point Of view Of the man
aging noljtician and the "Boss"--the men who
are actuated only by selfish motives and per-
sonal ambitions ought to have weight. 1t ought
to make them stop and think. 1t has not, and
there is no sign that 1t will. They are absolute
" crazed with the possession OF power Inc
utter wantonness with which they have over
ridden all protests against their fraudn'ht pro
cccdings and driven out with drunken mirth
respectful minority which only asked nearing
is the more manifest when it Is taken into ac-
connt that nothing but their own retention OF
placc was at stake. Only one political event oi
importance Immediately impends and that Is the
selection OF delegates to the National Conven-
,ion II is not pretended that this was, or is an
issue There is no opposition in this STATE or
county, so far as has appeared, to Governor
Mortons candidacy. There has not been the
slightest shadow Of a pretcxt for the outrage
which this County Committee has perpetratcd
upon honest Republicans. Nothing whatever
except the desire Of its own members to per
pctuate themselves in Office for purposes easily
guessed.
From every point Of view the whole pro-
ccedlng is indefcnsiblc, inexcusabc and almost
incxplicable. Incxplicable because the wicked
cs Of dema gogues do not usually lose their heads
and combine fatuous folly with scheming trick
eIy. There is. Of course, but one way OF escape
omen That is absolute and unconditional re-
pudiation by the Republicans of this county Of
the whole gang who have put themselves in
possession of the machinery Of their organiza-
ton by manifest rcachcry and confessed fraud.
II is no time for trining; no time for ncgotia-
ton or compromise or mcaly moutlcd phrases.
The simple fact is that the present Republican
County Committee does not represent the hon
est body of Republican voters. 1t has stolen its
office. and Is not entitled TO recognition. An
honest party cannot permit itself to be ruled by
n dishonest and fraudulent executive body. The
committee cannot purge itself. The body Of
voters must rise up and sweep it out 1t seems
n difficult task. And yct-and yctnot so diff
cult after all Let honest Republican voters
who believe in. and are proud Of. their party
look at the list of names published this morn
ing Of those who have taken this task upon
them and be encouraged by il.