New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-16
TO A FINISH.

Some of the Kings County men ut ST. LOUIS,
when they heard of the proposition TO make
Mr. Depew chairman of the New York dclega-
ton instead of Mr.. Plat. are said to have asked
forthwith and earnestly whether or not IL was
to be a fight to Il finish all along the line. ii II
was to be fight of that sort. they were ready
and anxious 10 enlist: if not. they did not care 10
have the issue drawn at that time and III that
way We suppose their feeling was that II
would be neither useful nor creditable to make
a declaration of war amid surroundings so con
spicuous. unless they had guarantee OF stead
fast cooperation. They felt under no obligation
to Join in a spectacular display and saw no
advantage in creating mere diversion for
temporary effect, but they were prepared to
help vindlcate their principles in fight to a
finish.
The question which the Kings County dele
gates asked yesterday with reference to par
ticular action is the question which multitude
of New-York voters have been asking for Il
coed while past and will continue TO ask so
long as there is n particle Of doubt as to the
answer. Mr. Platt has been rank offence 10
party and public sentiment for years, and the
desire TO turn him down and out has more than
once seemed strong and determined enough TO
accomplish that object. Bat in one way or an
other he has heretofore succeeded In avoiding
his fate Sometimes antagonists have been
conciliatcd by a shrewd use Of resources In his
possession: sometimes they have yielded their
convictions from n mistaken sense Of duty TO
the party and the country; sometimes they
have persuaded themselves that he had learned
wisdom and acquired virtue from adversely;
sometimes they have grown weary of strife
Nj how loft him IN WORK while they rested
He has never before it is true, been in so dis
graceful and desperate Il situation as that In
which he has now put himself; but If his OPP
ponents. who are a great majority Of his party,
relax their vigilance in the belief that he Is
irrcvocably ruined he is likely 10 find means Of
recovering, In a measure at least, even from this
disaster
Not only the Brooklyn delegates now ut ST.
Louis and the many loyal, unsclfsh Rcpub-
leans who have lately been in the forefront Of
the opposition 10 a treacherous boss, but tens
of thousands of New-York voters, and citizens
of every State to whom machine methods are
odious. desire to know whether this IS really
q fight to n finish or not. Moreover, they are
entitled TO know, now at the beginning OF a
Presidential campaign, how far they can rely
upon New-York for an enthusiastic, rcsolutc,
Str1lSnllOTWaTu suppoIs Vi tIflr CdHuIdd't
the kind of support which they are sure be will
receive elsewhere, the kind Of support which
they will not expect him 10 receive here If the
man who has eagerly DETAINED him is left in
control Of his and the party's Interests. The
vote for Mr. Plat in the New-York delegation
Yesterday afternoon is not surprising or sig
nificant, excepting for the vigOr and extent Of
the opposition to him. The fact that Il large
majority Of the men whom lie has politically
created stood by him does not mean that the
question of the Brooklyn men is answered In
the negatve-that this Is not TO be a fight to a
finish. On the contrary, so far as the vote
bears any relation to that inquiry, 1t may be
accepted rs gratifying assurance that the
cause OF honest and patriotic politics will not
be abandoned on any spurious plea Of expedi-
ency. A standard for upright citizens TO rally
to was raised to good purpose some time ago,
but 1t was raised still higher yesterday, and we
have no doubt that the response will be en-
trely satisfactory to those who are holding
It up