New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-11
RETURN OF THE P.-Q.

The simultaneous return to this city OF Sen
ator Thomas G. Platt and Congressman Lemuel
Ely Quigg from the scene of their labors at
Washington Is an event which. though not OF
momentous import, deserves something more
than a passing notice. These two gentlemen
constitute what is known as the P.-Q. remnant
Of the late Republican organization or this coun-
ty, now defunct by the terms and under the
limitations Of its own constitution. 1t Is under
stood that they have come hither in obedience
to the call Of duty; the duty being TO devise
measures whereby enough Of their late organ
izatlon may be saved from the general wreck
and dissolution to constitute basis for what
they call reorganization Of the party; or II
not that, at least enough to be available Tor
trading purposes with the Tammany rulers
whom these two did so much to bring into
power They are expected to consult with each
other, and perhaps with statesmen Gruber ana
Gibbs, to-day and tomorrow, and to have
ready by tomorrow night-Sunday being day
of all the week the best" for P.-Q business
a complete and comprehensive scheme for ere
ating auspices"-as Quigg calls it-under which
the Republicans whom Plat and Qu!gg were
lately denouncing as traitors and dlsorganiZers
will flock back into the fold, recognize Platt as
Master and become ciphers to Quigg as
Unit" It Is supposed that the plan as drawn
up by Quigg will be promulgated by Plat and
published In Monday mornings papers
We have no means Of knowing what will be
the outcome Of the consultation. but, judging
from the gradual growth and development OF
mellow and conclllatory disposition on the
part Of these two leaders which has been OBJ
served Of late, we shall not be surprised II they
declare their willingness to yield everything for
the sake Of harmony When We say every
thing We mean everything except the organiza-
ton. the enrolment, the Mastery Of Plat and
the Unitship Of Quigg. These things Of course,
they cannot think Of giving up. 10 yield any
Of these points in Qu!ggs opinion. would be
simply political suicide. And then what would
become Of the Republican party in the State
and Nation? The whole country would become
Organized In the twinkling Of a sawmill. When
they announcer they do-that they are ready
to yield everything they will mean readiness
to let every body who votes the Republican ticket
come into their organization and vote for their
candidates and that they will refrain from call
ing them hard names for not having come IN
earlier. It will be very taking proposition.
But since the great majority Of the Republicans
Of this county have no confidence whatever in
Quigg, but have determined to abandon the
whole concern and start fresh with an entirely
new enrolment and organization We hardly
think the plan will succeed.
1t will then be left to the P-Q. remnant to
harmonic itself by a enrolment and reor
gan!zauon on its own account. To do that with
any degree Of success II Will find It necessary
to modify the methods adopted by Mr.. Quigg
In his last effort at unifcation In the late
campaign he seemed to take the conductor and
gripman Of the Broadway cable-car his mod
els It was: Hi, there. Get In and move up.
Get out Of the way or we'll run over YOU. The
public stands that sort Of thing from the brutal
tyrants who run the cablecars, but the voters
don't like to be ordered around IN that way by
the man Of political Master or the Intelligent
despot" Of a County Committee. They won't
have It. But II ne thinks his management OF
the last campaign was wise, we venture 10 sug
gest an enlargement and improvement upon It
on the same lines Let him have his headQuar-
tiers In a second-story room reached only by a
ladder Let him retain the ladder in his own keep
ing, and once or twice day walk down Broad
way with It on his shoulder, turning round
suddenly at every few steps to see II anybody
Is making fun Of him. II might not increase
his popularity, but II would not diminish It
much, and he would have dead sure thing on
the enrolment.