The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-06

Notwithstanding Deathblow.
The Citizens Union is said to be disposed
to continue its organization with a view to
branching out further into State politics,
into which it entered In the late campaign,
in defiance Of its professed principles, by
nominating candidates for the Assembly.
Whatever the concern may do. however,
It annot %galvanize itself into life after
the deathblow it received last Tuesday.
Such a political rebellion as It made re-
quires success for its justification. Defeat
is its final condemnation, and more es-
pecially such adefeat as the Citizens Union
encountered on Tuesday. Its prime pur-
pose, professedly, was to establish the
principle and the theory of non-partisan-
ship in the municipal government. Actu-
ally 1t proved to be the marplot which
brought about the unconditional deliver
ance of New York to the strictly partisan
domination Of Tammany Hall. That or
ganization, now representative of the Bry-
anized and radical Democratic party, will
have almost undisputed control of the
machinery of government Of the enlarged
municipality and will run 1t in accordance
with its party rules.
If, then, the election decided anything
~emphatically and finally, it was that the
great majority of the people of this COM
munity want no more of the pretence Of
non.partisanship in their government.
That decision was expressed in the great
plurality for VAN WICK and was strength
ened by the additional vote of more than
100000 for the Republican candidate.
Low, the ostensible representative of non.
| nm tiaap ahin uUaa appnortad hya ,~;ao.;.-
of less than one-third of the voters, thou
sands of whom followed him with minds
on ~expediency only.
The Republicans suffered greatly, though
undeseryedly, because of the non.partisan
Strong administration. Their party was
held responsible by the people for the
laundering disregard of public sentiment
which has distinguished tho municipal
Government under Mayor STRONG, and it
was punished accordingly. Yet STRONG had
manifested his non partisanship more espe-
cially from the first by steadily turning the
power and the influence of his administra-
ton to the aid of a Republican faction
which was bent upon the destruction of the
regular Republican organization. His mar
row-minded policy, so exasperating to the
public, was adopted and has been pursued in
contemptuous disregard Of sound Republi-
can Judgment; yet 1t was charged against
that party by popular sentiment.
The experiment of non-partisanship,
therefore, turned out to be disastrous for
the Republicans. STRoNG's sins were Wis
tied on their heads, though they had been
the chief target for his assaults. In the
early days Of his administration he had
| annOintA1 m nam0nrat NO TnrnnraIinp Cnpn-
sci, one Of the most lucrative offices at his
disposal. The incumbent. while still hold
ing the place, deserted n.partisanship to
run successfully as a candidate for the
judiciary on the ammany ticket. All the
Democratic part of the fusion by which he
was elected left him in the lurch, though
he had rewarded it amply with the loaves
and fishes of office. 1t ran away precipi-
lately to escape the odium attaching to
association with non-partisanship. Even
Col. WARING, his Street Cleaning Commits
sioner, his one successful appointee, seems
to have been ready to follow that example
II he had received the encouragement of a
partisan nomination.
thus the whole fabric of non partisanship
fell into ruins. Low essayed to build it up
anew. He promised to be even more non-par-
tisan than STRONG, and justified the promise
by an even bitterer assault on the Republi-
can organization, for, in practice, non-par-
tisanship is primarily to keep regular Re-
publicans out of office. 1t is to conduct
the municipal government in enmity to the
Republican organization, and with a view
to its disruption. All the same, az We have
said, that party is held by public opinion
responsible for its vagaries. II Low had
been elected. the Republican party would