New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-18
THE "BETTER ELEMENT" WILL STAY.

THE "BETTER ELEMENT WILL STAY.
There are three classes Of persons now paying
special attention to the local Republican sltua-
ton who seem particularly anxious that the
protest of honest Republicans in this county
against the fraudulent usurpation OF executive
functions by the Lauterbach so-called RepuD-
Ucan County Committee should take the form or
a bolt from the party. They are: First Demo-
Gratis, who naturally enough rejoice in anything
that portends division in the ranks Of their
opponents; second. the Mugwump Contingent
whose ruling principle is that anything coherent,
organized and unified must necessarily be iniqui-
TONS in IFS aims and totally depraved in its meth
OILS The members of this select and superior
body of folks-if they can be called a body
naturally delight in anything that contains the
promise or threat of dsintegration. disturbance
and scatteration. The third class consists OF 'he
adherents Of the Lauterbach faction VINO are
much more interested in retaining possession OF
the machinery Of the party for business purposes
of their own than in harmonzlng and unifyinG
the party upon Il basis of common honesty,
which, while strengthening the party. would
weaken their own hold upon power. These last
have been exhibiting considerable activity ana
manifesting unusual indications OF excitement
during the last two or three days
TO duell this intellectual disturbance and re-
store calm to the minds of all these persons. Inc
Tribune takes leave to say that ali OF them are fly
inc wide and beating the air over their own VAIN
imacinings The protest of honest Republicans
against the LautcrbaCh usurpation does not III
the relnotest sense threaten the Integrity OIL the
Republican party or portend disruption even
within the comparatively narrow limits of New
York County. It's significance is simply this
and The Tribune is only repeating now what 1t
has been saying ION the time when the Lauter-
bach conspiracy first began unfolding itself
that thousands of honest Republicans in THIS
comfy will not recognize the legitimacy Of the
claim which the so-called Republican County
Committee makes to recognition as The executive
body of the party. Will they bolt. then? Ridicu-
lous. Why should they: What is there for them
70 holt against? Certainly nothing in The car
dinal doctrines of the party. They have not been
changed, nor Is there any effort on FOOT To chahS'
them Republicans who believe IN PROTECTION
and Sound Money, have no idea or leaving the
party because the machinery OF party organiZa
ton in this county has fallen into The hands OF
corrupt gang of political traders and sei-seeK-
ers They are not weak and silly as TO Kick
| themselves out of party in whose principles
they have an abiding faith just because a local
branch of the party machinery has fallen into
| dishonest hands. That would be the height Of
absurdity
| Nor is there any ground for bolt on account
| of differences Of opinion regarding the next po-
| litical event which is the selection OF delegates
10 the convention to nominate candidate for
| President There is no hostility to Governor
| Morton as the candidate OF the Republicans OF
the whole State for that high place. and rs 10
| any succeeding political event there has been no
development Of conditions that would justify
| serious consideration of a bolt OH account Of these
| remote possibilities. There may be- and no
| doubt are. serious objections In the minds Of
many Republicans to the selection Of seventy
| two delegates TO the National Convention who
would be simply so many pawns in the hands
of Mr. Plat to be played in the game after lie
| has used Governor Morton's good name and
| abused his good nature up to the point where
| sacrifice becomes necessary and compromise use
full But they have so much confidence in the
ultimate good sense Of that representative body
Of Republicans that they have no fear that Mr..
| Platt with his seventytwo votes, or any other
| Boss with similar potentially, will bring about
| an unfit nomination. or one which would furnish
| the pretext for bolt. Even II Mr. Platt should
be enabled by his control of the machinery Of
the party TO swing the whole delegation at his
own sweet will, there Is nothing in that situa-
tion-revolting as it must be. to the minds Of
| honest and self-respecting Republcans-to war
rant bolt
No: there Is nothing whatever In the talk which
| the Platt-LAuterbach people are indulging In
| about a bolt Of the better element" Whether
| Mr.. Platt and Mr. Lauterbach have or have not
| any use for (which, they say with effuson,
| they have not-the "better element" will stay
In the Republican party. 1t will stay without
sacrificing principle or selfrespect. II will stay
because that is It's proper place. 1t will stay
| because Of the conviction that the Republican
party has record and history which are the
riphtfu Inheritance OF its better element" 1t
will claim its Inheritance. And it will not be
driven out by the Platts and Lautcrbachs or by
any other Bosses or combination Of Bosses
Right here In New-York County it will stay II
will be patient it will wait. And some time II
will happen-maybe not to-day, nor tomorrow
but some time-that the executive body Of the
Republican party, founded in fraud and perpetu
ated in crime will see that 1t Is In violation OF
good policy, as well as Of common decency, to
sheer at the better element in the course Of a
song ambulance jubilee IN Avenue A.
ARMY AND NAVY IN CONGRESS-.