The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-16
Senator platt's Defense.

Senator Platts statement on the
Greater New York fight, a very made
quate summary of which was publish
ed in yesterdays Tribune, makes inter-
Csting reading. As a defense of the
Republican position in that memorable
struggle it sufiices to satisfy every man
who approaches the matter judicially
and without bias.
The senator narrates in detail how
repeated overtures by the Republican
organization to the Low managers for
a union of forces against Tammany
were repeatedly rejected and how the
Citizens Union platform Of non-parti-
sanship was supplied by these manag-
crs with the new Interpretation that
The Republican party had no rights in
the enlarged city of New York which
an -Tammany candidate for mayor
of that city ought to be willing to
agree to respect. Continuing, the sem
ator says:
The Republican leaders met this inso-
lent challenge without bitterness or re-
sentiment. They found no fault with the
candidate whom the Citizens Union
picked out as the expression of its pur-
pose and ideas. They do not now deny
that they then regarded MIN as precisely
the sort of man he has turned out to
bc-a vaiu-glCriOus sclf-seckcr, masquc-
radinE as a Republican but willing at any
time to wreck the Republican ship on
the ledge of his own gmbitOns, The Rc-
publican leaders do not now deny tnat
they were then opposed to the candidacy
of Seth Low; but they allowed their Op-
position to take no definite or irritat-
cd ,,t,1,. It Tod a.
Republican party did have a just and
inevitable relation to municipal affairs;
that iC did have the right to nominate
and that it must exercise that right;
that the views and wlsneS OF its adher-
ents were entitled to consideration, and
that there ought to be IA union between
the Citizens organization and the RepIb-
liCan party, but that it ought to be an
honorable, friendly, equitable union, un-
der the terms of which both should nave
Il voice in choosing candidates and in de-
lining policies. This was the exact state
of things up TO the time when the Re-
publican county committee adopted COM
missioner Coils resolution inviting all an
ti-Tammany organizations into a confer
cnCc, in order that day might be iiXed
when they should all hold their nominat-
ing conventions, so that ready conference
and harmonious action might be assured.
The Citizens union refused to participate
in this conference, frankly assigning as
its reason the fact that it was committed
TO the "go-it-alone' policy. Can any hon
est man, in the face Of that fact, charge
the responsibility for dsunion upon TIE
Republican party? Does not every hon
est man know that if the Citizens Union
had gone into the proposed conference,
united action would have been inevitable?
Is it not plain enough that the Ropubli-
cans could not possibly have broken up,
or have allowed to be broken up, con-
ference which they themselves had orig
mated?
Up to this point Senator Platt keeps
calm; but beyond it he shows natural
if not altogether polite temper, con-
tinuing;
If it be said that Notwithstanding all
this il was still the supreme duty of the
Republican convention to do anything to
avoid the unrpcakabc calamity of the
success of TammaEy Han and that 1t
was the part Of duty and patriotism 10
overlook both the insolencc of the Citi-
ZcnS' Union and the malice Of the Re
publican factiomsts who were prompting
ANA encouraging it, the answer is that
there is one calamity worse than the sue
cess of the Democratic party in the city
Of New York and that is its success in
III" state and tie nation Mr.. Low, as
mayor of Brooklyn, Rad already defeat
a
dent. He did it by destroying the Re
publican organization rot less than by his
personal trcaonory to the candidate. He
proposed to create here an absolute dcs-
pOtism, unhindored by any ConsIraint of
party responsibility. None the less, as
every one knows, the voters would have
held the Republican party directly re-
spOnsiblc for his every act. It's organizl-
1iOn would have been disrupted, and II
would have gone into the next national
Camaign loaded down with popular pref
uliccs, only to find the mayor whom its
votes had elected, the author of its mis-
fortunes, himself cOnspring, as he had
done twice before. to complete its ruin
hy the election of a Democratic president.
No party should be false to its principles.
The fact that Mr.. Low was not the man
for whom the Republican party could
afford to be responsible was shown by his
personal COnduCt throughout the canvass,
1t was shown wnen, after saying that he
would not allow himself to become the
instrument Of disruption, he made himself
the leader i'm the crime of preventing a
union. 1t was shown in his shameful
abuse Of General Tracy, the man who
gave him his first opportunities by gen.
crously retiring from the field several
years ago; and it was shown when, after
the two nominations had been made, he
refused, or his managers refused for him
oven to consider the proposition of retir-
ing jointly with the Republican candidate
and substituting some suCn man as Sec
Tctary Cornelius N Bliss or eXMayOI
Frederick 4. Schroeder, either one OF
whom could have been made the leader
Of a united, harmonious, and victorious
host. The fact thct he is the sort of man
who is capable of this enormity is Of Itself
complete justification of the Republican
rarty's refusal to have anything to dc
with him.
In conclusion the senator says: "ThC
Republican defeat in New York city
was a local defeat. It had its cause il
local controversies In the state, above
the Harlem river, the Republican ma,
jorities were all that could be desired
The elections throughout the country
proved hat Republican principles haC
lost no part Of the strong hold upoI
the peoph of which the victory of 1885,
gave magnificent evidence. The Re
publican trganization in New York
and in thecity OF New York, no les,
than in the country districts, is still
powerful, earnest, and devoted. In the
menace Of antther Bryanite campaign
factional controversies will soon be
forgotten and Republicans will be Re
publicans again" But it is eviden
from Mr.. Platt's letter that no quar-
ter VIII be shown to the prime movers
in the Low campaign who used the
conceited president of Columbia as
pawn in game to Anhorse Platt Tn,
redoubtable Thomas\c, is a fighter o
the knock,dovn and\ drag-out order
Either he or his. .foes.TSpst be whipped