New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-08
A CASE IN POINT.

Whom "The New-York SUM- in the last Presi-
dontlal campaicn. with the instinct Of the ro-
dent. abandoned the sinking ship Of Democracy
and brought to the Republican candidates the
questionable aid Of It's soed reputation ana
noisy clamor. It's coming was rather viewed
with resignation than welcomed with enthusi-
asn. It was not so easily forgotten tnat Only
few weeks before 1t began whoopnG II UP
for Mckinley and beslObbering Marx 1a'in'
with sickcnlng adulation it had been denounclns
Mckinley as dishonest man ana poi'ica' COW
ard and pouring out torrents of abuse upon me
head Of Mark Hanna. Nor was II 1orso''en 'ii'''
during the last twenty-five years the support
of this newspaper had been fatal to those whose
cause It espoused, while unusual success had
attended those whom 1t had honored by us nos
tiljty and decorated with It's relentless nate. 1t
could not but be remembered that Grover 'ie'e-
land whom for some fancied personal grievance
1t pursued for years with the most envchoHeu
malice. bounding him day after day, IN season
and out Of season. whether he was IN ONCE vi
out. was so built up thereby in the esteem Oh
his own party and Of the American people 'ha''
though not by any means great statesman
and very far from being popular poilucai
loader no was three times the Presidential can
dldate of his party and twice President OF the
United States. Thoughtful Republicans remen-
bering the unsavory record of The sum- 'he
fatality that followed It's favorites and the good
fortune that invariably waited on those whom
1t endowed with its opposition. shook their heads
over the new accession, fearing thar no good
would come Of ii.
There were Republicans, 10 be sure. oblivious
Of the record. or more charitable. perhaps, than
lust in their judgments, who looked upon 'he
apparent conversion as sincere, and were for the
moment disposed to manifest more Joy over the
one repentant sinner than over the thousands
who had been leading clean and upright lives
while the drab had been cOnsorting with the
vicious. hooking at virtue and promoting crime.
They overlooked the fact that the action OF the
silver wing Of the Democratic party had made
II impossible for THE Sum- to support It's can
didates without losing It's business and going
bankrupt. and that it could not 60 with the
gold Democrats, whom it hated because they
were for the most part supporters and followers
of It's archenemy Grover Cleveland. 1t came
over TO the Republicans for the same reason
that the old soaker gave his wife for coming
home at that time o night: "All the other
places were shut up" Except that 1t almost
llcan party owed its salvation to Thomas c.
Platt who had fairly compelled 1t TO adopt n
sound money platform when 1t wanted TO IN
dulge In a straddle or evade the question en-
tirely. 1t was not especially rank during the
campaign as a nuisance. 1t was tolerated. II
was a bed-fellow that decent Republicans did
not like, but it seemed important IN the political
crisis then imminent to suppress manifestations
Of dissatisfaction and disgust which might give
encouragement to the common enemy. The
amazing spectacle that now cOnfronts Repub-
Leans Of influence, character and standing IS
The Sun cavorting about as mouthpiece, or
gan. overseer. slave-drver Of what calls Itself
the regular Republican organization OF the city
of New-York, charging old and established Re
publican newspapers with treachery. and de-
nouncing half the Republicans Of the city as
traitors 10 the party. The wretchcd drab that
came as an unwelcome bedfelow IS kicking
everybody else ont Of bed.
1t will be remembered by older readers Of
The Tribune that at an early period in the late
war disreputabe person Of considerable noto-
rety as n representative and leader or the
criminal and vicious classes In this city an
nOunced his purpose OF recruiting for the Union
Army regiment TO be made mp Of thieves.
pickpockets burglars. thugs and the offscour-
lngs of society generally. The overwhelming
tide OF patriotism during that period submerged
considerations Of responsibility and proprcty.
Not only was no objection raised, but liberal
encouragement was offered by the constituted
authorities. The regiment was raised and mus
| tered in. Some persons said they would he
valuable reinforcement to the Army-they were
such bold lawlcss. desperate men. They were
sent to Santa Rosa Island, where they soon be-
came an unmitigated nuisance 10 the troops
| brigaded with them One night Confederate
| regiment landed on the island and attacked
them. In five minutes BILLY Wilson's Zouayes'
were on the dead run in a coward.y. ignomn
Gus retreat. They counted rs soldiers, but they
were only thieves and towards. 1t doesn't pay,
| cvcn in q crisis 10 muster in that Kind Of cattle