New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-22
GEMS OF RHETORIC.

Whether the Grenter New-York bill Will pass
the Assembly to-day or not depends upon the
effect on the minds of Republican and Demo
cratic members Of two Numerically opposite
arguments. Speaker Fish and other RepuD-
licon leaders in the Assembly are expected by
Mr. Plat TO convince Republicans that the
measure is in the interest Of the Republican
marty. Senator Cantor. on the other hand who
homes 10 be the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor. will endeavor to convince Democrats mat
the effect will be extremely favorable to Tam
many. and go far to promote the success OF the
Democracy at the next election. In ms stat"
II things obviously somebody will get fooled.
The bill is not favored by majority OF either
party and cannot accordingly. be made party
measure. But singularly enough. leading states
men Of each party are urging itS passage FOR
no other reason than that II Will HIRE to 'le
advantage Of their respective parties.
All this is very confusing 10 the common r'hd'
But we may get some comfort out Of the s'ina-
ton from the rerlHal Of some OF IN" thfliiihs
editorial matter poured out in support of the
bill by Mr. Platt's personal organ. Yesterday
for instance. it remarked with great earnest
ness. that mot only contemporary Judgment,
"but political history will begin to pick ont the
This is not difficult to understand The sheep,
of course. are the Republicans who answer the
call and follow the crook Of Shepherd Plat, and
the Democrats who flock after Cantor. Inc
"goats" are those Republicans and Democrats
who do not flock after shepherd or MS crook
but ruminate by themselves. and sometimes
butt intrlldcrs who attempt familiarity. Iheh
the organ. continuing announced with orlcuar
Ia
mass nj this session" The reason why Is that
10 oppose 1t sis 10 oppose law OF Nature, De-
cause consolidation IL merely the political name
for gravitation" This ought 10 fetch the goats
Furthermore: IF there were proof wanted of
the plain sense OF this saying II Is found In
"tbe utter artinclality, the unnaturalness Of the
arguments opposed to the measure lf they
"were natural they would fall in one line, occupy
zone plane. But being unnatural forced and
"contrived they fly into each others faces
1t Is not easy to understand how arguments
that do not fall In one line, occupy. one plane
can fly into each others faces but the hgure
Is fine. anyhow.
Then follows this series OF reflections:
If Is worth while stopping 10 ponder at times.
though few men do II. on the sort OF history
one is making year, aye. three months,
from now all the distorted shapes That nave
risen In the miasma OF factional distrust and
| dislike, without ever taking the body which
| may be met and overcome with the weapons ~
| reason will have vanished In the clear sun
| light OF common sense which always succeeds
| period OF political storm and elemental pertur-
| baton Then, when the shadows are gone ana
| the whispers are still. the men whose souls have
| been troubled by them will be unable to answer
| 70 others will be putting vainly 10 Themselves
| the question TO why they were troubled.
| We shall not undertake to say what this really
means. for we do not know; but this may be
| because the vision Is obscured by 'the distorted
shapes that have risen in the miasma. We do
say. however, without hesitation or reservation
that It Is uncommonly fine, and that, In our be-
lief, many goats" will read 1t over and over
several times and then say. with emotion. Yum
yum 1t Is the sort OF thing that rouses the
utmost enthusiasm In the sheep and utterly
bewders the goats" The consolidation bill
may be a deception and n snare, but we must
at least give It's promoters credit for having
elected a noble and inspiring though somewhat
confusing. contribution 10 English literature