The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-24
The Stay-at-Homes.

70 ~ iohSS - Sbtp pAS 'N
tional contests than in municipal elections
held In off years." This Is a fact SO gen.
orally recognized and acknowledged hat
its correctness is practically undisputed.
This condition of affairs has generally been
ascribed in the past to the superior organiza-
ton and the superlative political discipline
of Tammany Hall, an establishment able
in every contest, be the battle for Presi-
dent, for Mayor, or for Aldermen, to bring
It's forces numerously to the polls, with
very little loss of votes by reason of luke
or abstention. The Republican
organization, on the other hand, until
n year ago, to a very considerable extent,
was conducted on what may be called n 60
as.you. please basis, appealing to the sup
port Of the Republican voters by the agen-
cies of literature and agitation, and by SEN
timental considerations rather than by the
hard, cold, matter-of.f fact, and thorough
system Of political campaigning which
made Tammany Hall the unifyinS and
conservative force in politics of this city
until in 1890 it deliberately determined to
abandon it's position Us such.
This year the leaders Of the Republican
organization are encouraged by the splendid
showing for MCKINLEY made in this city
in November last. and by the fact that in
the enlarged New York the percentage of
Republicans is relatively much higher than
it has been in the present city at any pre-
vious time. They have devoted accordingly
their best efforts and labors to broaden, to
strengthen and to make more truly repre-
sentative the Republican party in New
York by an increased enrolment and by
an improved system of party organization,
which, If not directly modelled upon the
system of Tammany, possesses, at least,
many of the features Of Tammany's plan
of campaigning. Their task is made easier,
perhaps, by the fact that the President, at
the head of the Federal Administration;
the Governor, at the head OF the State Adj
ministration, and the Mayor, at the head of
the municipal Administration, are all Re-
publicans, a condition of affairs which for
many years has not existed in this town. in
advance of n local election. Tammany Hall
being weaker as an organized political
force than it has been for many years, and
the Republican organization being stronger
than it has been at any previous time in
the history of New York, strengthened,
too. by the prestige of n majority of nearly
10000 in the enlarged New York territory
last November, n combat between the two
forces may be carried on under conditions
most favorable to the success of the Re-
publicans, aided by such citizens as have
been alienated from Tammany by its ON
initial to Organism.
The danger to Republican prospects in an
"off year" in New York always has been
the loss Of votes, not by the hostility OF Re-
publicans, but by their lukewarmness, in
difference to the result, and lack of concern
because no national ticket was in the field.
The practical paralysis Of the Republican
organization has turned over the direction
Of the canvass to the non. partisan political
reformers. such as the Peoples Municipal
League of 1890, the prototypes Of the pres.
ent Citizens Union. These reformers, am.
ateurs in the science of politics, seven years
ago had what may be called the oppor.
tunity of their lives. In that year, as in
this, there was no State ticket to be
elected, and only one nominee to be voted
for in the State at large, a Judge OF the
Court of Appeals, as is the case also this
year. Only the municipal and county of.
fees were to be filled, from Mayor down to
Aldermen. The leaders OF the Municipal
Reform Movement, as 1t was called, In
that year undertook to Subordinate poll.
tics to business In municipal matters,
and very poor business they made OF
1t. Deprived of the active support of the
local Republican organization, and with
out any practical programme of politi'
cal action, except hystcrical. misleading
and generally unjustiiable assaults upon
politicians and public officials generally,
regardless Of any question Of party or OF
party principles, the municipal non parti,
sans of that year found that they had
neither the agencies nor the res ources for
bringing the great body Of the Republicans
to the polls. As a consequence of their i'll,
advised and grotesque manmuvrcs, abou,
one-third of the total number of New York
city Republicans at that time, about thirty
thousand of tho ninety thousand Republi
cans, either preferred to stay Mt home on cleo,
tion day, or saw no good reason for support.
ing n ticket, the leading candidates upor
which were outspokcn in their hostility to
I Republicanism, though protesting to be,
for that occasion only, earnest non-partl
sans, indifferent to political adv antage.
} In the municipal election of 1894, Their,
| was n Governor OF the State to be elected
[ and the Republican organization, although
, not then by any means in as good fight
ing trim, or with so large a member
ship. as the present Republican organi
> cation, exerted itself vigorously. Tho re
suit was that there were very few stay-at
homes in that contest, which was deter
mined favorably by the success OF the Re
publicans in the election of WILLIAM L
) STRONG as Mayor.
The conditions under which the munic
ipal battle of 1897 in the enlarged New
York is to be fought and won, II the hghl
OF 1897 against Bryapism Is to be won, al
the fight of 1896 was, by a substantial ant
sufficient majority, resemble closely thosl