The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-21

We know what tho State Government
Is doing by v hat We road, also. We do not see It;
more ncariy Tho people. Wo soc it; we feel It in
our homes, In our business. We cannot leave
our house and step into the streets but what we
VIC are able to smell it. We do now. Laughter
1t is undoubtedly true that there should be a
greater independence OF voting on a matter
touching a Government that appeals 80 directly
know about than there can be in regard to n
Government that is far away. And undoubt-
eddy there IL, and rightfully is. u feeling of
greater independence touching the city than
there is touching tho State or tho nation, but
Then what is the true Office OF an independent
voter in tho city ! Heretofore, always until
this year. it has been supposed that independent
voters organized into a committee of citizens or
in any way they saw ut to o~rSanizc. were n COM
mittce prepared to hold the balance of power be-
tween the two great political parties, and to say
! to them: You put up good tickets and we will
support thcm; yOu nominate bad candidates and
we will oppose them.
TIKI REPUBLICAN rARTY ALWAYS FOR GOOD
GOVERN ENT.
in his city and in the city OF Brooklyn, across
the East River, for moro than twenty-five years
the Republican organization has held its posi-.
ton prepared and ready to cooperate with any
body OF Independent voters who were willing 10
piausc.i You cannot point to a single instance
whore The Republican party has ever refused
such cooperation. Applause. Cries of That's
So That cooperation began, ladies ana
gentlemen in Brooklyn-l speak, of that
of parties in Brooklyn than | have in New
York-that policy began moro than twenty
fvo years ago. Then the Republican party, CO
operating with an independent body OF voters
IN 1871, elected Frederick. A. Schroeder to the
office OF Comptroller. He left that office to go
two yea sit It's. Mayor. TTihcn began in brooklyn
the problem OF municipal reform, ten years be-
fore my friend Seth Low was ever heard OF as a
In 1851 the citizens of Brooklyn, some OF them.
started a movement. precisely, such AS they have
and nominated my friend ripley Ropes as Their
candidate for Mayor, The Republican party.
such nomination as that, and it put in nomma-
ton its own ticket. Then came the problem in
what ARRANGEMENT can lie mad, to unite tho
forces that should be united in the support OF n
single cnndidotci Negotiations were had. and
1t resulted in the nomination of Seth Low ms tho
Republican candidate Tor Mayor, supported by
the Citizens committee.
lows ACTION IN 1881.
Did Mr.. Low refuse to accept. that nomination
organization I Did n-pRrtisanship prevent
him from becoming the candidate of a polittcai!
party No! | have his letter of acceptance Of
the Republican nomination made in the city Of
Brooklyn in 1851. Here it is:
Me,sr,. n. p TRACY, Anert na09ett, William $.
Goodrich, A. J. FERRY. and Others.
GENTLEMEN. BY a communication Just now re-
ceived, I learn Cor the FIRST time officially that cir.
myself have made me the RcpubllcaA candidate for
Mayor In the election now close q; hand. Tho hon.
should read your inst choios ~ am told has
commencing me himself to the consideration Gt
the convention which named him. This unusual and
courteous thing he did in order to reuuite influences
and interests which belong together. In obedience to
in appreciation OF the spirit which controlled the
convention in their choosing me for their candidate,
to carry the nag which with cnivalrous courtesy
has been placed in my hands.
t>ppriipg a. my rnuIsppIipn- tho Mayor pf prppE.
iyn should he man who. never forgetting that ma
ui,i xa lsS rcai,Is a that the honor n w OF y ,hs 'Sysa " n y
which names him for its candidate is deeply con.
ministers his trust. Such a Mayor. II elected, | will
strive to be. deriving inspiration /" he worthy of the
whose name is associated with great achievement.
Didn't Seth Low then find an inspiration in
the support Of this great party for high achieve
ulert in the Office To which he had been nOmi-
natedi And did he not say that the honor of
that party was deeply involved in his admins.
the great party which named him rs It's candi-
date is deeply concerned in the manner in which,
Mr.. Seth Low could accept the keTpin6lic@n
nomination in lsSl. Why docs he SCOT at it
publican party has ever been faithful to its
Cries of " He don't know any, better; he's TOO
from Mr.. Low, calling him as my. witness.
from 9 speech made by him in 1857;
by the Republican party and reelected in
1883. His office expired in 1885. Then. for the
failed to agree upon the candidate. Mr.. Low
insisted upon a citizens nomination, and with
all the power of his Observation-Disclosures been
in office for four years-they nominated one OF
the most estimahl men who ever lived in
Brooklyn as a citizens candidate. And the Re-
publican party nominated its candidate also.
Low RUNNING IN SPOTS.
What was the result of that electioni Why.
ladies and gentlemen, IL you had been in Brook.
Ign through that c9mpaign,, es | was. you
words for it, that their candidate, the citizens
candidate, was to be triumphantly elected. But
men who were not born yesterday and who had
been through moro than ono political campaign
in 1850, and who had seen many of these in
their strength Were, not moved by their boast
ing. We knew well enough that t counting
of the votes would undeceivc these gentlemen,
who Thought they were capturing the whole
support of their ticket. When they came
date had $4,000. the Republican candidate
had $1,000, and, the independent candidate
had $4,000. IApplause.l They ran then just as
Mr.. Low is running now-in spots. Here and
there were a block and n ncighDOrhood where
he would get votes. But they took those blocks
OF brownstone houses as an index and an indi,
cation OF the will of the whole population
through the Icngthand breadth OF tho city: But
when they came to count those votes they found
whole wards in which Mr.. Woodward, the can
didate. received only a scattered vote.
LOWS CONFESSION.
Then two years after that, at n dinner given
by the Citizens League OF Brooklyn. Mr.. Low
made a speech. and he made a confession ms well
az a speech. And ] desire TO call your attention
to that confession and to the certificate which
he gave to the fidelity of the Republican party
He said:
Then came the mistake referring, to III.
Woodward contest two years before, "of unfair
treatment of the Republican party, which had
stood so Loyalty by you before. IL we are to sue
coed. the first essential condition OF success il
unity, We cannot carry an election by sur
have that by REMEMBERING that the Hcpublicai
party has worked with you with wonderful
ldolity."
THE RESULT OF Low's TREACHERY.
That was in 1897. The result of that dis
%astrous campaign, led by Mayor Low with al
the influence OF his administration, was to turn
the city of Brooklyn, which had been ltcpubli
can for years. over to the Democratic party, Hnt
itstayed in their hands for eight long Years. Ant
IL was never rescued from them until, in 1893
the Republicans ana the citizens again uniteC
in. support OF a ticket and elected Mayo
Schieren. And in 1895 the Republicans wer
able TO carry the city upon a pure and simpl'
Republican nomination, ana they elected Mayo
Wurster. lAppiause.I
Now. fellow citizens, why has Mr.. Low do
parted from the practice that resulted in his
elevation TO the MayorAlty of HrOOklyn IA