New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-11
THE ORACEL4R OtIGf.


Mr. Quigg is just now very much in evidence
He occupies large space in the public press. il
not in the public mind Reporters wait in his
antc-roOm and newspapers print his opinions III
full-often under headlines. He says things
with an air of authority and tone of command
much as If he were absolute master of great
party instead of a deputy's deputy or boss
vcegerent, and as if when he had spoken de-
bate was closed and final Judgment rendered.
This is n serious mistake on his part. lie mag
nifes his Office and exaggerateS himself. Ihe
party for which he speaks with such dogma'ic
assurance and absolute confidence comprises IN
this Greater New York, which he seems 10 view
as his special domain, certainly more than one
hundred and probably over two hundred, thou-
sand voters. They have not yet been consulted
even through their representatives, upon the
question which Mr.. Quigg assumes to settle Tor
them offhand with an abrupt decisiveness that
entertains no appeal. The question whom these
hundreds of thousands of voters Will have as
their candidate for Chief Magistrate OF THIS
great city is one in which they have profound
personal interest and are entitled TO nave
voice There is no pretence that they have sur
rendered their right TO free choice or delegated
to Mr.. Quigg or any one else the authority 10
speak or act for them. And when the news
papers report Mr.. Quigg as saying that the Ke
publican party-that Is, these hundreds OF thou
sands of voters-will under no circumstances
accept Mr.. Seth Low as their candidate Tor
Mayor they begin to inquire with lifted eye
brows who this Divinely inspired leader is That
energies so suddenly at the head OF affairs ana
with wave of the hand commands everybody
else into silence while he issues orders ana does
all the talking. These voters have had some
experience heretofore with Bosses OF dlctatorlal
manners and arrogant pretcnsions. but for bra
zen effrOntery Quigg overtops them all
III ANYTHING could be more preposterous than
Qugg's Oracuar manner and authoritative ar
1t is the reason he gives why the Republicans "l
Greater New-York will not support Mr. Low
1t is because another organiZailon-the 'ltlZehs
Union. for which Quigg has the most whitening
contempt on account Of lis numerical inSlgnll
canoe and extravagant pretcnsionS- contu-
macoisly disregarded QuiggS cntreatlcS for
DELAY and Itself put Mr.. Low in nomination
without waiting for Quigg or anyb"dy else
And Ouigg saws that this action is an insult 10
the Republican party, which the party must re-
sent by refusing to nominate Mr.. Low under
any circumstances. No matter if Mr.. Low Is
the most available candidate, and entirely I'M
Objectionable on grounds OF fitness character
and capacity. No matter il public opinion has
already fixed upon him for the place. No mat
ter if his rejection by the Republicans will have
the effect 10 divide the opposition and turn
Greater New FORK over to Tammany for the
next four years. No matter for these or any
other considerations of prudence. forethought
and cOmmon-SpnSe The men who nominated
Low insulted Qugg by going ahead with their
nomination in spite of Quigg's entrcaiics that
they should wait for his conycnton and now
the whole Republican party. two hundred thou
sand voters more or less, are going to say TO the
Citizens Union: I'VE won't nominate Mr.. Low
because YOU have not treated our Mr.. Quigg
with sufficient consideration. and he feels in
Suited" What nonsense, Mr.. Quigg vastly
Overrates his own importance and equally I'M
derrates the intelligence Of NcwI0rk Repuh
leans If he thinks they going to throw
Greater New-York into Tammany hands just
because he thinks he has been insulted.
For a considerable time after Mr. QUiGg took
the office of president OF the County Committee
The Tribune had hopes that, by pursuing more
conservative course and exercising Sounder
Judgment than his predecessor, he might do
something toward healing factional differences
and uniting the party. But he seems TO have
lost his head entirely. On the whole, he Is do
ing worse than Lauterbach His leadership. II
followed, would be certain 10 turn the city over
to Tammany and go far toward returning the
Democrats TO power in the State But forlu
nately there is little reason to fear thai his lead
crshp will be followed. He is talking through
his hat. II is possible Nor New-iork Repub
licans to do queer things and follow queer lead
ers but when it comes to committing political
suicide from resentment and chagrin. because
somebody has insulted Quigg or Quigg thinks
somebody has insulted him, they will hesitate
a while and perhaps ask themselves whether
on the whole, Quigg is worth il.