New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-26
MR.. LAUTERBACHs SUCCESSOR.


In pursuance of the programme laid out last
Sunday at the Fifth Avenue Hotel under the
guidance of our Junior United States Senator.
the Hon. Lemuel Ely Qugg was last night duly
elected president of the Republican County Com
mlttee. Following the example Of his iustrl-
Gus predecessor. he had manifested considerable
reluctance, and, in accordance with established
preceden,s. his reluctance had been overcome.
Had he stopped there in his imitation OF Mt.
Lauerbachs example. il seems TO us he would
have been more wise. 1t was not necessary that
he should in his speech of acceptance go some
what out of his way to assure his hearers that
his devotion to the political fortunes of Mr.
Plat and his subserviency TO that gentlemans
dlclaton would he 10 loss than had been shown
by his predecessors. No exception need he taken
to the somewhat warm and glowing tribute paid
10 Mr.. Lauterbachs splendid services and IN
spring leadership" for that was simply the IAN
guage Of compment-formal. ard more or less
empty. and certainly without special sisnlii-
canoe as Indicating a line Of policy to be pur-
sued by himself as president or by the County
Committee under his leadership. The phrases
were we'll turned. and the language OF euogy
in the main graceful and well chosen. And even
though the statement that Mr.. Lauterbach's eff
forts have made the Republican THE strongest
political organization tina. has ever existed IN
"the city Of New-York' may excite a smile, 1t
must pass as pardonable exaggeraton. born OF
an exuberant fancy.
When, however, Mr.. Quigg goes still further
out of his way to pay tribute to Mr. Platt as
"the leader under whose guidance we have won
so many victories: when he says that lit was
"his craftsmanship which created the Greater
"New-York. and conferred upon the people OF
this new municipality larger measure OF self
government than is enjoyed by any community
ION the face Of the EARTH and that 'this mag
"nificent achievement will be his monument to
''all new generations, and q worthier has not
been builded," he is open to the objection OF
Juggling in without cause or provocatiOn, and
without the slightest pertnence to the occasion,
the man who had been his predecessors evil
genius through his whole official career. Not
only that the assertion that his craftsmanship
created the Greater New-York Is without the
slightest foundation. His name nowhere ap-
pears officially in connection with that mag
nificent achievement" Whatever he did was
done under cover, with no official sanction and
without any responsibility whatever 1t will not
be "hs monument to all new generations" The
under ground, but upon the surface Of history.
There Mr. Plat does not appear in connection
with this achievement"
So, In what Mr.. Quigg says as to what was
within Mr. Platts contemplation as the "splen-
did destiny" Of so noble city," as If the mis-
sion Of the Republican County Committee was
simply to carry out that genteman's "contem-
plation," he is far astray. Mr. Plat is not even
or;,x
of the greatness of the new city that it had to
60 out of itself for the craftsmanship that
created it, and still stranger conception that
with all its 100000 population, it has to go
outside for the craftsmanship" to direct its
splendid destiny when created. Mr.. Quigg. If
we were TO take him seriously in this glowing
eulOgium. would so bettle the whole people of
the new city that it would be a shame rather
than an honor to live in and be part of it, The
truth is that Mr.. Quigg in all this was talking
the most arrant nonsense Gilded and brilliant
nonsense TO be sure. but none the less nonsense.
Only 10 one man in all the world does the IN
cense of it redeem the nonsense. 1t Is too full
some even for Lauterbach. Its only excuse Is
that, while it may sicken everybody else, the
east wind OF it all will comfort and fatten the
object Of it.
Still. after ALL the Republican party Of the
county Of which Mr.. Quigg Is now the titular
head, will not hasten TO Judge him critically or
harshly by what, upon the spur Of occasion and
under generous impulse he says; it will rather
wait TO see what he does. The better element
of the party-and Mr.. Quigg will do well not to
follow the example Of his predecessor in quoting
"better element with a sheer. for there actually
is better element" that without boasting it.
self Is so recognized and means business, too
this better element will wait to see whether
he means 70 use his position and influence for
harmopizing and strengthening the party and
bringing 1t into active and sympathetic co-opera-
ton with the great body Of citizens who desire
good government or will prostitute his place to
the demands of corrupt and selfish so-called
leaders. There's hint Of antagonism TO a nom
partisan union in what he says about fixing re-
sponsibility for failure TO unite all the elements
Of opposition to Tammany under Republican
leadership; but that may be only a manifestation
Of an excess Of partisan zeal. He need have no
doubt that the people will fix the responsibility
for failure of the effort to give the new city
good, honest anti-Tamma9y government where
it justly belongs. Meantime, he has need to re-
member that the organization upon which the
greatest responsibility for successful outcome
Of the cndeavor to establish good government
rests at the present moment IS that over which
he presides. and whose counses ii is hoped he
will be able TO direct with wisdom and dscre-
ton.
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nTSCASC GERMS IN MTTE