New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-30
the task Of preserving the government oil ->e"'
York 10 the people Of New-lorK
THE REPUBLICAN, OPPORTUNITY.

! That the death Of Henry George competeiy
ovprturns all the calculations upon whlch 'ne
>,,.orsorc ,,,ro managers of General TracyS cam
paign have based their hopes 4 700 obvious "
need pointing out. All their estimates anu ooii'
mutations have been based upon the l"eoi! '''s
the detection from Tammany, which cohSulu.,'
the bulk Of the George movement wouiu ui''"'
the forces heretofore united under Inc paNi'l
of Tommany so nearly equally that each would
,or,roli7a tho other and leave the field TO De
won by a plurality over either 1Dat Piui"i..'
of votes they reasoned. would DE cast io' -"
regular Republican candidate. 1t is hot neocS
sary now TO dwell upon the misleading cAi"i
acter OF the estimates by which they nave en-
deayored to support that contention or the iai'a
clos with which they reinforced II. Inc eI'ni
inaton Of the most important factor III ''c'i
calculations destroys the entire process I'u''
cally changes the outlook. and mperatNci! ue-
mands a reimbursement Of views and opinions.
Even IL there had been remote pOsslDll'!
tha+ the fraction of the Republican organization
which remained after the Withdrawn OF 50
many thousands would exceed In numbers not
only each wing Of the divided Democracy pul
the Citizens Union as well. that possibility Nus
NOW 10 An absolute certainty disappeared. Inc
Instrumentation Of the George movement ny the
death of It's leader must have the effect 10
strengthen: first the candidacy OF Seth Low 10
whom the bulk OF the George support Will natu-
rally 90 in accordance with the expressed prefer
ence Of the dead leader and, second. the ram
many candidate, to whom comparatively small
nortion of II will revert through the influence
of old associations. 1t Is not likely that in Inc
redistribution General Tracy will get COM
putable fraction Of Henry Georges followers
So much. It seems TO US. Is perfectly obvious 10
anv candid and unprecedented mind. IT, theh'
there has been any reasonable doubt heretofore
there can be none now that the leading candl-
dates will be Low and Van Wyck. between
those two citizens who wish 10 have their votes
count and not to throw them away, must make
their choice.
The conduct Of the campaign thus FAR mas, IN
fortunately, been characterized by extreme bit
terness and Il may he that there are RepuD-
leans who under the influence of anger or III
the heat Of passion have resolved to CAST 'nelr
votes for the organization candidate, Knowing
that there is no hope Of his election. But sup
nose we dismiss the question as to who is re-
snons,ble for stirring up bad blood and einOt-
tcrIng the spirit of faction. and consider the
whole situation in the light Of the new condl-
tions as Republicans and patriots. calmly ana
disnassionately Either Seth Low or Robert A
Van WICK will be the next Mayor Does any
Republican doubt that the election OF Seth Low
will be hailed by his party throughout the coun-
try as victory of Republican prlncipleS' or
that the election of Van Wyck will be seri-
ous blow to the party for which the leaders OF
the Republican organization will be held reSpon-
sible? The Tribune is well aware that thou-
sands of Republicans were ready, before the
death of Mr.. George changed the whole sltua-
ton. TO vote for General Tracy as the candidate
Of the party simply to sustain the organization
and vindicate It's leaders. In existing condI-
tons that consideration can have no weight. II
is now simply question whether they WILL by
throwing their votes sody for Seth Low. save
their own party from defeat and-what' per
hans. Is Of as much consequence TO some OF
them-save the machine managers themselves
from the sweeping condemnation which TAM
many victory would bring down upon them
from the whole country.
IT is only by the election Of Seth Low that the
political suicide Of Messrs. Plat and Quigg can
be prevented.