New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-23
SAFETY ONLY IN REVOLUTION.

No nation contemplates Its own downfall In
its own constitution. II 1t is overthrown, 1t
must be by revolution. But Mr.. Quiggs or.
ganization prepares for Its own downfall in Its
constitution. and II 1t is preserved It must be
by revolution.
Mr.. Quigg has some $4,000 names on his
rolls He admits that $4,000 Of them are de-
fective, owing to the movements Of population,
which make any roll to some extent inaccurate
soon after it is made. That seems a large mar
gin for mistakes Of this character, but, taking
bis view Of the reasonableness Of that explana-
ton Of the 10000 missing there remain Il, 600
who, he says, are genuine living Republicans
no Democrats, dead men or dogs being in
cluded At the last election Mr. Qugg sue
ceeded in inducing less than $4,000 people In
this city to vote for General Tracy. At least
one-fourth of these must have been unenrolled
Republicans for large minority Of the votes
for a party ticket always come from outside
the organization. So that not much more than
$4,000 enrolled Republicans can have voted the
Republican city ticket. only about half the
enrolment claimed and only small fraction
Of the total Republican vote. Even Judge Wal
lace's vote did not equal the enrolment by
many thousands.
Now the organization constitution provides
that when the Republican vote Of an election
district at a general election shall be less than
''the number Of members borne upon the roll
"of the association" such association shall
thereby be dissolved. The Committee on Or
ganization frankly admit that almost every
district association In the city Is subject to
dissolution on that basis, and to avoid practical
disbanding Of the whole machine raise the
standard Of revolution against their own con-
stitution by suggesting that the election OF 1897
was not general election" There cannot be
the slightest doubt that in the meaning Of the
law 1t was general election" general
election" is distinguished from special cleo
ton called to fill some vacancy in a restricted
territory. 1t may be said that the term does
rot apply to an election In the whole State for
some extraordinary purpose held at some other
than the usual time, nor to one Of the spring
elections for local officers common In the coun-
try But the usual November election IL GER
tainly general election" In the common &C.
ceptance Of the term, no matter what officers
are voted for. But this year the people voted
for a Chief Judge Of the Court Of Appeals un-
der an article Of the Constitution that requires
the filling of the place "at the next general cleo
ton" after the incumbent reaches the age limit.
II this was not general election" then we
elected no Chief Judge. a proposition that Is on
its face absurd.
But the position Of the machine leaders In
pleading that this is not general election, after
having cried out for months that in II the vel
fare Of the Nation was at stake, and that they
could not admit tina: the voters could settle II
on purely local lines. IL even more absurd. II
they are to revolt against their own constitution
on such plea, what becomes Of their contention
that 1t was more than a local contest and that
the party lines had TO be kept for general
battle? 1t goes Just where every proclamation
Of the machine leaders from the beginning has
zone, into the limbo Of transparent pretence. II