Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-22
The New York Election Should Not Have
National Results.

National Results.
At this distance it looks as though
those who are so strenuously declaring
that the defeat Of the Republican ticket
in Democratic New York would be q
blow to the sound money sentiment are
laying up a demand for necessarily em-
barrassing explanations after the cleo
ton is over. We are not sure but that
kind of talk will prove mischievous in
the end for it may be accepted, in
event of the defeat of the Republicans,
by some of the supporters of sound
money in the country as discourage
ment when as matter of fact 1t wouli
warrant no such conclusions.
OF course a political organization
that holds it's lines firm and preserves
discipline in a municipal campaign is
in q way to be more effective in state
and national campaigns. OF course the
election of Henry George would be
likely to make him a competitor with
Bryan in 1900 but Bryan is sure to
have competitors and we believe there
is greater number of people in this
country convinced that Henry George 5
land confiscation vagaries are imprac-
teal than are assured free silver is,
and the Chicago platform is already
so crazy a structure that with few
more crank planks it could not hold
nearly as many as it did last year.
Nor will it be forgotten that had there
been a union of the good government.
elements in New York city there would
have been no possibility of the election
of Henry George and little likelihood
of the election of Tammany.
Moreover while listening to the
denunciation of "Plattism" those VINO
live at this distance from the fray, dis
lance that helps us to be dispassionatc,
have not forgotten that the Low men
refused all proffers of the Republican
leaders to unite unless the effort be
made with the distinct understanding
that the formers pet candidate and pet
tisanship should be accepted in al
vance. Nor are we in Maine, and of
course those in other states have like
possibilities of vision, oblivious of the
fact that personal hostility to Plat and
those now the accepted leaders of the
Republican party, is exerting more
marked influence with the professed
good government forces than is hos
tility to Tammany, while on tine other
side there seems to be more thought Of
self defence than of defeating Tam.
many.
While these two factions are the
only ones that have put up candidates
creditable to the metropolis we
might fairly look for good government
under either ticket--it seems absurd to
say that the contest in that city is mar
rowed down to a struggle between the
volunteer forces of good government
and the Hessian hordes Of bad govern
ment, nor, on the other hand, between
the allies of sound and the fanatics Of
a spurious money, nor between a
united Republican and united
Democratic party. The intelli-
gent people of this nation looking on
know better though they realize the
probability that government by thieves
or government by cranks may result.
They do not relish being told, though,
that this wrangle among the better
elements in New York signifies that
the better elements of the country are
to be so torn asunder and arrayed
against each other in consequence. On
the contrary that New York election
may serve as the warning that is
needed to unity the champions of order
and of reasonableness.
Already it is recognized by very
large majority of the American people,
that under the administration of the
Republican party is the only way in
which the best and demonstrated prin-
ciples of wise government can be main
tanned for the present, at least. and
probably for the future. Men who are
old time Democrats know this; men
who do not know what it is to have
their enthusiasm stirred by the name
Republican. AS for those who do, they
have noted the success which has at
tended the courage Of a Republican
administration in dealing with the
tariff and with other questions of the
hour. and a growing strength in the
condolences of the people; and they
have an abiding faith that amounts al
most to assurance that such record
must and will receive the appreciation
of the voters. Is this faith to be weak
ened, this confidence to be shaken by
the results of wrangle, in many ways
petty, in some degree personal but in
slight degree nationally partisan, that
is now being waged in Greater New
York?