New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-23
THE OTIGG ULTIMATE VI.

Ouico still holds out the much talkcd-of olive
b-,ncb Holds II OUT butt end first and waves
It merrily. The results Of the Republican pGi-
ma.les have added more power to his elbow'
"The Republicans of New-York." he says. VIII
present an unbroken front in the City Conven'
.tion for William NJ *. Olcot.' The same
sort of an "unbroken 'front.'" we presume, that
they presented year and a half ago for Lew
+. Norton Very pretty In print as rhetorical
figure and somewhat impressive on dress pa
rode. but before Mr. Olcott leads them into
action he will do well to inquire of Ex-Governor
Morton. who has now retired from public Efe'
what the 'unbroken 'front.' costs. and whether
on the whole. 1t Is worth II. lie KNOWS MT
Olcott should not permit himself to be nfaiu-
ated for single moment with inc notoh 'i'h'
the "unbroken front" Is unbreakab'e IL Is KEEP
unbroken purely for trading purposes. IL VIII
be broken or faced the other way without prcah-
ing for reasonable consideration. Tha' u
what the "unbroken 'front.' Is for. MI. Olcou
has no more chance OF being Mayor ihan Mt
Morton had Of being President Even no"
Ouigg does not hesitate to say that he Is ready
TO trade off Olcott and the ''unbroken front II
the conditions he lays down are accepted by the
Citizens Union. We say conditions: as mai
ter Of fact he lays down but one. That Is MS
ultimatum, and Is. rs he doubtless knows, I'M
possible.
All that Quigg asks is-and the dear poy
makes the proposition with the same self-poise
and ingenious candor with which MS new
member he named to Speaker Reed the com
mttee chairmanships 10 which he thought ne
was entitled-all he asks is that the CITIZENS
Union withdraw upon his demand the cannl-
date whom they have nominated by authority
and under the instructions Of over l2o.oOO VOTERS
If the Citizens Union will do this he Will lef
them confer with him. and perhaps permit them
TO vote for the straight Republican candidate
whom he will select later Just withdraw your
candidate" he says. land we will give you n
hearing before nominating our own. AS nm
utimatum II has the merit Of being about as
ultimate and extreme as could we'll be imagined.
Ouigg's original objection to Low was not on
the latter's own account personally. but because
inexperienced and irresponsible persons had
nominated him without comforting with Quige
about It. Since Lows acceptance OF the nom
nation Quigg has discovered that ne IS an
"egotist' and "self seeker" and that ne has
"ylolated his word of honor" All Of which is
very shocking to Quigg. II Qugg ever men
toned his own name for Mayor It was not az an
egotist, but because he loved his fellOw-men;
nor as a self. seeker. but because he knew the
office needed him and was looking for him, and
he didn't want the search to be long or fruitess.
AS 10 his sense OF honor his word Is so well
known to be as good as his bond that II his
offer the other day to bet a horse against
fence-rail had been taken by any one who knew
him he never would have been asked TO put up
the horse.
1t seems pity about Quigg. pity that
egotism and self seeking should he so shocking
TO him; q pity that his sense OF honor should
be so abnormally acute that he considers Mr..
Low. who never passed a word with him In his
life guilty of breach OF faith In accepting the
hear from Qulgg, and a great pity that he will
hear TO nothing except the absolute elimination
of Low from the political situation. Quigg Is
Just a trihe too sweeping and bit peremptory.
II Mr.. Low will take himself out Of the way
Oulgg SAYS he will see what can be done about
effecting genuine union OF all the opponents
Of Tammany Oh. Will he? Since when has
Ouicg been so heavily endowed with authority
and power? II was not long ago that he was
talking in a most gushing and effusiye way
about some one else as Master" Has Senator
Plat abdicated? And has Quigg been en-
throned in place OF him? Or are these demon
STATIONS the airs and posturlngs Of a fresh drum
major who, finding himself in front, thinks he
Is not only n major general. but the whole line
of battle? Ultimatum indeed. oh, Quigg. come
of. You're getting to be ridiculous.