New-York tribune., 1896-01-08

GO SLOWLY.

Ine present pOllllcdI SlttidllOn III tiliS county
makes it imperative upon all Republicans who
have any regard for the future Of the party to
consider with some seriousness the question
which is locally most pressing and urgent
whether. upon the whole, 1t would be better 10
recognize and sit down under, the rule Of an
organization which by large number Of Repub
leans is considered to be illegitimate and fraudu
lent. or rise up in revolt against 1t. We leave
ont of consideration the question whether the
recognition of the existing regime affects the
attitude Of the party toward the nomination or
Governor Morton for President or any other
subsidiary issue. The simple question for Re
publicans to consider is whether, in the first
place there is anything worth while to fight
about in the fact that the control of the Repub-
lican organization in this county Is In the hands
of a set of men who have hitherto used the or
ganzaton for the purposes of selfish dealing
with the corrupt Tammany organization. and, in
the second place, whether sufficient proofs OF
fraud can he placed before the Republican
voters 10 convince them beyond pcradvcnturc
that the enrolment and the primaries ut the re-
cent election were deliberately and with precon-
ception prepared for that purpose. The Trib-
unc. as it is hardly necessary to say. has never
Hin any uouUt H> W pul poS' vi lil' IH'H WIN
carried on the enrolment and managed the pri-
maries II has cndclvored to set them forth by
due and proper array OF the facts that were
within the public knowledge and Of general
notoricty. But II has never failed to keep in
mind the circumstance that facts of public noto-
ricty needed absolute demonstration in order
to impress effectively the popular mind
Many Republicans in this county are Of the
belicf-and they are quite earliest about it
that the present duty of honest Republicans.
who are satisfied that the Republican County
Committee owes It's existence 10 fraud and cor
ruption in the first instance. and is Indebted for
Its possibilities OF continuance to the prevalence
Of the same conditions. Is 10 make instant re-
volt The Tribupc has considerable sympathy
with those who feel impclled to act upon that
impulse But II has also great regard t1r The
possibilities of the situation, and for the ncccs-
sity which seems potential to make that revolt
mean something more than helpless protest.
II should not mean mere factionalism. 1t should
not mean n mere personal objection to some
individual leader who. Whatever may have been
his motives, IS entitled 10 the consideration OF
having made for himself prominence and in
fucncc that cannot safely be underratc1. 1t
should mean nothing but that Tor Inc pest OF
reasons the majority of the Republican party Of
this county arc in revolt against dishonesty In
It's management and corruption in it's control.
Revolt, II revolt there must be, should be with
high motive and clean purpose And II should
have no mere prctext for it, hut IN absolutely
high cause. That cause must be demonstrated
beyond any question for the satisfaction not
merely Of the active politician. but of the aver
age voter
So The Tribune undertakes 20 say to-day with
the seriousness which oycrhangS situation por-
tending the division IL the party into local fac
tions which may threaten its future u.rfuln'~s.
that the firsf duty Of the gentlemen Who has"
undertaken To overthrow the present local man
accmcnt Of the party in thi> county ~ Z" max"
plain ro the average voter the necessity for IT.
We believe the proofs are accessible. We lee
Uoyc they are ndubtahc We have n0' the
slightest doubt that il l. easily susceptible ~
proof thai the men now holding office "A, The Re
publican County Committee hav" been gully
Of frauds and collision with fraud. which easily
disfranchi>e them from any office of trust. Bui
we insist that the first step toward rc"r.lniIi-
tion Of the party or revolt against the present
organization. should be the establishment -
facts that warrant II by proofs satisfactory 10
the average voter And The Tr.buncS advice
/, 10 proceed slowly. hut to have every step made
sure II has no doubt of the result.