New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
THE SONG AND DANCE EPISODE.

nor of tho Progress Republican Club, in which
Mr.. Lauterbach concluded with Bacchic dance
his vivid and exhilaratinS portrayal OF the good
things to come under the Greater New-1orK DILL
and was followed by Mr. Plat, who' unape 10
restrain his emotions or express them III prose-
speech, burst forth in song with the ueclarauon
that his eyes had seen the glory OF the coming
Of the Lord" That episode had for the honest
citizens Of New-York County. II they give IL
moments serious consideration, profound sig
nifcance True IL was udcrous and laughaDle
bovond measure The town has enjoyed It's
laugh over It. and the Progress Republican Ciub,
with It's guests Mcssrs Platt and IauterDach,
Is entitled 10 thanks for It's contribution To the
cavetv Of the community. Nothing could be fun
nier than fol Mr. Iautcrbach To hug bottle
Of champagne and execute Il pas de scul after
del,shtinc his hearers with visions Of the Greater
NewYork. in which they should have full swing
NJ everything worth having with the better
element" mot in it," 1t was funner' In fact'
than Mr.. Platts song. Both together were cX-
cruciatng.
But is that all? Shall we dismiss 1t so! lc'
us see Mr.. Lautcrbach is the president oi the
so-called Republican County Committee kepulA-
ton far from immaculate. Title more thah
doubtful Yet the ttular head of the Kepup-
Ucln organization Of this county. To the iros-
rcss Republican Cub-his immediate audience
and to the general public. which permitted Itself
To be- amused next morning with his antics ne
stood for the party in this county. Behind nm.
supporting him and approving his declarations
was Mr. Platt. who is believed by great many
pcrsoIs to stand for the whole party in the state
The chief indeed the only significance attl'h-
ng TO Mr. Lantcrbach's remarks. in the pubic
mind related TO politics-currcnt Rrpdhliran
politics He spoke as the titular head OF the
Republican party in this county and what he
said carried added weight because OF the ap-
nroval Of the tiiular Boss of the party in the
State Well what did hc\say: In brief, tbs:
that the Republican party Nf the county am
State rcpudatcd and disavowcd the municipal
administration which II helped elect In N"Vcin
bcr 1874 For what reason: No other than be-
cause it had refused To play buAco game upon
its allies in that election. and had not violated
its express agreement and understanding win
them and with the whole body Of voters. II hld
not appointed 10 Office the men TO whom Mr..
Platt and Mr.. Lauterbach had promised places
What else did he say? Why, just this: That
there were certain persons In the Republican
party who pretended t. have HIGHER notions OF
party honor and political morality than were
held bv himself and Mr.. Patt and III" men whom
he was addressing. and VINO upon that prcicnce
onposed the violation Of antc-clectlon pledges
and the distribution If municipal Offices In dis
regard Of them These Republicans he described
as the better element; and with Infinite scorn
stlgmatiZcd them IL the "hOlier than-th"u class
the Pharlsccs Of the party. Then. with The On
not
authority. he declared that the Republican party
Of this county had 10 use for the better ol'-
mont: that the men who compose 1t have no
right to any voice in It's counsolS ana snail nave
none: in short that the highest level Of party
honor. integrity and loyalty was represented 10y
the Progress Republican club in Avenue ~ 10y
lis guests. Thomas =. Plat, Edward l-au''r-
bach Jacob Patterson. Cornelius Van COZ
James Stewart and the rest; and that II The pet
ter element" cannot come 10 that level II can get
out Of the Republican party, for the party has
no use for II Candid. wasn't 1t: 'l'An-cut
definition OF what these persons mean when they
talk about getting together.
What else? Why. this tiiular head OF the Re
publican County Committee, backed by the state
Boss" announced authorlta,iycly that present
" a Republican Legislature would pass. ana
Republican Governor would Sign. Il bill Tor the
organization Of Greater New York. under Which
all the offices Of this enlarged municipal cor
poration should pass into the control and dis
posItion of Mr.. Thomas G. Plat and Mr. Edward
IAuerbach, and the members OF the Progress
Republican Club would be made happy And
then Mr.. Plat broke into song with Mine eyes
have seen the glory Of the coming of the Lord.
Is there anything in all this for sclfrcspecilng
Republicans TO stop moment ana THINK about,
now that the hilarity Of the occasion Is over:
Did Mr. Lauterbach and Mr.. Plat officially
establish the standard Of personal and party
honor for the Republicans OF this county at the
dead level Of the Progress Republican Club? Is
there nothing better than that In Republican
politics? We put the question In all seriousness.
And II any fool newspaper editor, so bcfoggcd
by the qualification Of his own ambition rs TO
think that everybody else is consumed by the
same passion. shall lift up his hands in holy hor
ror saving This means bolt" and "Where can
YOU so II YOU leave the Republican partyT we
answer simply, that there is no bolt, and no one
proposes to leave the Republican party. But
there are thousands of honest Republicans in
New-YOrk County who do rot and VIII not,
recognize an executive body organized upon
fragrant frauds and openly proclaiming It's pur
pose to bring the whole party down into the
mlre and filth Of corrupt and dishonest politics.