The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-27
A Blind Leader OF the Blind.

Do Lows followers realize whittier they
are ledf
Such of Mr.. Lows supporters as have
been, in the past, loyal to the Republican
party undoubtedly supposed when they
signed the petition inviting him to become
a candidate for Mayor that he would unity
and consolidate all the forces which a year
ago were enlisted in the cause of Republi-
canism and sound money. Mr.. Low him
self hoped at the outset that such might
be his function for he was at pains to pro-
claim his opposition to the free coinage Of
silver, and to announce that, after some ex-
cursions, he had returned to the Republican
fold. Assuredly he did not foresee that his
Unsuitable desire of Office, and the fatal mis-
direction consequent upon a first false step,
would impel him to shabby compromises
and disgraceful coalitions. the inevitable
outcome of which. in the event Of his per-
sonal success, would be disastrous to the
| cause of Republication and sound money,
| not only in the new imperial city, but in
the State and throughout the Union. Much
less can those well-meaning men, who orig
inally subscribed their names to the Low
petition. nave realized that they would be
lhNOlNCu III olc ~ ChtuhBlCllChU
another, until they were ultimately drawn
into a position the opposite of that which
they expected to take, a position of active
and avowed completely in the triumph of
free silver and Organism.
Such, however, are the unpleasant facts.
Mr.. Low himself may dimly comprehend
the extent of his divergence from the stand.
point occupied by him at the beginning of
the canvass, for. whereas, in his letter &C.
cepting the nomination Of the Citizens
Union, he said, 81 I'm a Republican," he
now refers reminiscently to a time past and
gone, "When I was a Republican" The
day is, indeed, far distant when SETH
Low could be counted as a sturdy
%upholder or even a ~listless well-wisher
of Republican principles and aims. Not
only has his Republication evaporated
amid the heat of his struggle for personal
advancement, but, concerning sound money
also, he has maintained a sinister reticence
since the exigencies OF the contest tempted
him to seek for Democratic help. There Is
not now even q pretence on the part of Mr..
Low himself, or of his chief l~ieutenants,
that his elevation to the Office of Mayor
would inure to the benefit of sound money
or of Republication.
The wheeling movement, by which Mr..
Low has gradually effected a conversion of
his political position, began when he ac-
copied the Endorsement of the Purroy
Democracy, which, more than any other or.
ganized body in the Greater New York, had
been loud-mouthed and emphatic in Its
professions of devotion to the free coinage
of silver and all the other planks of the
Chicago platform. From that moment Mr..
Low was estopped from u~ttering a word
concerning the momentous issues which
were at stake a year ago. A further ster
toward the disavowal of the principles
which he, at first, announced, and toward
al irrevocable divorce from his former
Republican friends, was taken when hi
insisted upon putting in the field candidate.
not only for the three metropolitan posts
but also for county offices, together with
} nominees for all the seats in the Assembl,
belonging to the boroughs of Manhattan
and the Bronx. 1t being obvious hat non,
OF the Low nominees for the Assembl,
could be elected II they relied solely upon
fraction Of the Republican vote in thei
respective districts, Mr.. Low sanctioned
the bargain whereby the support of Mr.
GEORGES followers was secured.
Thenceforth, IL became doubly impossible,
for Mr.. Low, the alleged Republican o
| two months ago, t~odenounce, or even depre
cate, the free coinage of silver. or any othe
/, plank of the Chicago platform. TIT sub
= sequent acceptance Of the Endorsement o
( Mr.. Low by the Ship Democracy, which
, on the very same evening, Endorsed tn
county ticket of Tammany Hall, COMMITTEES
b the Citizens Union still moro thorough