New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-10
TIE PARTING OF THE WAYS.

The scant courtesy with which the KepuDll-
can State Committee last Saturday received
and dismissed without consideration the pro-
fest of n committee Of six hundred Of the most
influential Republicans of this county against
the fraudulent enrolment ana dishonest prma-
ries from which the so-cael Republican County
Committee derives its authority t. represent the
Marty left but one course open 10 the Committee
of TWENTY-FIVE under whose auspices these
frauds and crimes had been investigated ana
exposed. The chairman of the committee acted
with praiseworthy promptness in issuing al once
call for meeting Of the committee al 'he
Windsor Hotel this evening, and taking immcdl-
| ate steps for mass meeting of honest Rcpubh-
can voters in Cooper Union at an early day. 1t
| is unnecessary to dwell nj length upon the pro-
| ceedngs Of the State Committee. 1t Is suiilceht
| 70 say that they were brutally short. sharp ana
decisive and in perfect accord with the Ilatt-
| Lauterbach methods Of getting together. ana
| promoting harmony in the party. Without the
| slightest pretence Of serious, or even courteous
| consideration. the protest and accompanying
| documents containing incontestablc proof OF the
| fraudulent title Of the Lauterbach committee
| were tossed over CONTEMPORARY To the very
| men whose title is In dispute, and resolution
was Immediately passed declaring all the falls"
and fraudulent proceedings 10 be regular ana
proper
Upon that transaction it Is quite unnecessary
| to dwell 1t tells It's own story, ana carries Us
| own comment. Nor Is 1t our purpose to anuci-
| nate the action Of the Committee OF twenty-five
| this evening or of the mass meeting OF honest
| Republicans TO be held as soon as arrangements
| can be made therefor in Cooper Union. Inc
| Tribune is not leading in this movement. though
it recognizes the absolute necessity for IT, II the
| Republican party Of this county ana state Is 10
maintain its integrity and retain the trust ana
| confidence of the people, without which II can
not and will not deserve to succeed. For II the
result Of this action. whereby the executive body
of the party in the State approves defends ana
| becomes responsible for these crimes against law
and morals Is not sufficient to bring about a
spontaneous and Indignant uprising OF all honest
men. nothing that The Tribune could say would
| avail 1t is for the honest masses OF the Re
nublican party to take this business in hand ana
| make their influence felt. The Tribune, rs It's
| readers well know, has from the beginning OF
this agitation counselled patience ana modera-
ton Not until the Lautcrbach committee hai
demonstrated beyond question its purpose to
ride roughshod over all opposition and the forms
| of common decency did we abandon the last
desperate hope Of fairness and common honesty
from that organization. 1t was hoping against
hope but we waited and counsclled patience
to the last stage Of endurance. The honest Re
pubcans Of this county have now exhausted
every resource within the scope Of the party or
ganzation in both county and State. They not
merely believe but actually know. as well by
the confessions of TIE conspirators themselves
as by the results Of their own thorough ana
searching investigations, that the socallci
| County Committee which pretcnds to represent
them is a fraudulent usurpatlon. That III Itself
Is sufficient justification for revolt from lis rule
When to that is added the conviction, amount
Ing to moral certainty In the minds Of all III
telligent men, that the powers usurped by this
fraudulent committee are 10 be abused and
prostituted in the betrayal OF the party 10 lis
worst enemies, the downfall of municipal reform
and the resumption Of rogue rule in this town
there Is not only justification for revolt, but no
shadow Of excuse for anything else.
We confront in this county conditions which
honest Republicans have tried by every means
in their power. short Of the sacrifice of personal
honor and selfrespect to avoid, but which are
now forced upon them. The names Of more
than six hundred Republicans who dispute the
|
offer documentary proofs in support Of their con
tention, have been made public. Let everybody
look them over and see for himself what man
ner of men they are. Let anybody who knows
anything Of current politics and Of the standing
| of men who are looked upon as leaders compare
the names in that list with those recognized us
the leaders and managers Of the Platt-Lautcr-
bach combination, and say which are factionists
| and disturbers; which. judged from their pub
lie records, are intrguers and self-seokers, and
which are honest, selfrespecting men whom any
good citizen can tie to and coniide in. That's Il
| good test We submit 1t, and willing to
be governed by It, We call no names for they
will suggest themselves to every candid mind
The situation presents two alternatives We
| offer them without argument One Is for the
Republican party Of this county to recognize
the authority of County Committee which
thousands Of Republicans believe to be Il fou
and fragrant usurpaton. Would that strengthen
the marty? The other is for honest RepuDllcan'
and we SO classify them with clear con
seriousness Of the distncton-to rise up III th'
name OF common honesty. and In Dehall OF 'h'
honor OF the party Of which they are part ahc
whose proud record they inherit, ana say
These creatures OF fraud do mot represent us
| nor any part Of us, nor anything in when We
believe. any more than the camp followers ane