The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-31

Mr.. Seth Lows Responsibility.
1t rests with MI. SETH Low to determine
whether he and his friends are to join In
the opposition to Tammany or are to range
themselves as allies Of Tammany In opposi-
tion to the Republican party.
Except for the course pursued by men
closely associated with him, there would
now be no obstacle to the continuation of
the union of the forces opposed to Tammany
and Organism which carried the Greater New
York last November by $4,000 majority.
From the first the Republican organiza-
ton has manifested a hearty desire to bring
about such a union. 1t has put in the way
of it no obstacles of any kind, by word or
by conduct, but has sought steadily to pro-
duce and promote the harmony of senti-
ment requisite to secure It. Mr.. PLArT,
for instance, has been bitterly and even
insultingly assaulted by friends Of Mr.. Low,
but he has not retorted in kind, refusing to
let himself down to the low level Of his
assailants. Mr.. QUIGs, the Chairman Of
the Republican City Committee, has been
no less dignifed, and throughout the sum-
mer has uttered only conciliatory words
expressive of his sincere desire and purpose
10 eueCU u COTuldl union VI Uue OppOSltiou
to Tammany on a basis honorable to all.
Every fair-minded man in New York
knows hat If the Republican party and
the Citizens Union are divided and hos
tile in the coming campaign, the respon-
sibility for the disunion will rest solely on
the little knot Of friends Of Mr.. Low who
control and manipulate the machinery of
the Citizens Union in other words, on Mr..
Low individually, for they can do nothing
without his consent and under his direc-
ton. He is at Northeast Harbor, on the
island of Mount Desert, off the coast of
Maine, but Is In Geographic communica-
tion with New York, is kept advised Of the
intentions of his Citizens Union friends.
and understands exactly their purposes.
On the 18th of last June Mr.. Low adj
dressed n letter tothe Executive Committee
of the Citizens Union, in which he said
that he could not lay aside his duties to
Columbia University, Except under the
compulsion of a public duty that cannot be
gainsaid;" that he did not feel warranted
in accepting the nomination of the Citizens
Union at the present time;" that he "must
have much more evidence of the popular
desire" for his candidacy "to make it seem
to me a public duty to become a candidate;"
and that "ifI were convinced that there were
such q popular desire, and that my candi-
dacy would prove a unifying force among
the friends of good government in the city,
1 should not hesitate to accept your nomi-
nation"
On the strength of the promises, condi.
tions, and sentiments of that letter, q
vigorous canvass was made for signatures
to a paper expressing a wish for the "noni.
nation and election OF SETH Low" 1t was
simply a popular desire" for his can.
didacy II he should prove "a unifying
force" That was the condition on which
he made his candidacy depend, and it was
Of the nature Of a solemn pledge.
A newspaper distinguished for the spite
fulness Of Its opposition to the Republican
party, pretends that among " the friends of
Good Government" Mr.. Low did not In.
clude the Republican organization; but IL
he had in his mind any such secret reserve,
his letter was a false pretence, making him
unworthy of all public respect. Mr.. Low,
moreover, took pains to create among
the people the impression that he had
no such reserve, but was sincerely and
In all single-mindedness influenced solely
by a desire to unity the opposition to
Tammany, not for his own advantage, but
In the interests of the public welfare. He
said that only II such unity was brought
about by his candidacy could he regard it
a public duty to become a candidate"
In the face of this condition 80 clearly
and solemnly laid down by Mr.. Low, It Is
said that his friends running the Citizens
Union machine intend to put him in NOM
ination tomorrow In defiance of the Re-
publican party, and in disdain of all its
efforts to bring about the unity required
by him. OF course, such a proceeding
would be nothing short of a declaration
of war against the Republican party. It's
motive would be plainly violent hostility
, to the Republican party, for there is no pre-.
text of advantage as against Tammany in
B fastening thus the nomination in advance
> of the common date for the holding of the
anti-Tammany conventions upon which
the Republicans seek to bring about an
agreement. 1t would simply be a notice to
the public that Mr.. Low had entered into
alliance with Tammany Hall for the pur-
pose of fighting against the organized Re.
publican party in New York.
AS Mr.. Low is the absolute arbiter of the
Citizens Union. he alone would be respon-