New-York tribune., 1897-01-25
THE ELECTION OF Mr.. PLATT
A REPUBLICAN PROTEST AGAINST THE
RULE OF THE BOSS.


DRIFT OF POLITICS IN THIS AND OTHER
STATES MENACE TO DEMO
CRATIC GOVERNMENT
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have just read your editorial on The nomha-
ton of Thomas c. Platt for Senator from the state
OF New-York. An ardent admlrer Of The Tribune ana
OF its in public affairs these many years. 1t
has been with much regret and disappointment thdt
! have noticed the seeming lack of earnesness mani
tested by in support OF Mr. Choates candidacy Tor
this office and In resisting with its accustomed vgor.
Mr.. Platt In this his latest imposition OF himself
upon ong-sufferng people. can Imagine nothhg
more humiating to the people OF this state or more
Indicative OF the abject submission and slavery OF our
representatives to the Boss than the vote In the
Legislature on this question reveals. Can any man
of intelligence believe that in fifty Of the legs-
lators voted in accordance with his convictions! IL
is incredible that he did. l would not insult the in
teligence OF the members by asserting that they did
With a choice between Joseph H. Choate and
Thomas G. Platt for representative of this great
State in the Senate OF the United States, heretofore.
and justly. regarded of the most learned and
dgn!hed legislative bodies In the world. the spectacle
OF the Legislature choosing the latter is enough to
bring the blush of shame the cheek OF every citi-
zen who has particle OF seifrespect and patriotism
y,
in FOR the soothing OF the political conscience
In such cases. is not applicable here, for no one
at least no one who has not deliberately shut his
eyes to the factsquesons the loyalty OF Mr.. Choae
10 the party. 1t a Of abject and unmitgated
submission TO the will of the machine Boss. and
unwarranted. judged from the low standpoint Of
party necessity.
think am well within the truth when say that
more than threefourths OF the respectable Republi
cans in New-York State to-day. unconnected with
the machine feel sense Of shame and utter disgust
that, after accomplishing a victory signal and
overwhelming as this last and significant on
the part OF the people of desire for better and purer
politics. the Republican party OF Empire State.
with such record as 1t has for OF ability and
character sent 10 the United States Senate In the
past can offer nothing better TO that BODY. now 40
sadly In need of able and conscientious men, than a
commonplace wire-puler and boss. 1t is nothing
less than disgrace TO the party and the State, and
an insult TO its people.
In this state and doubt not in other States as well.
there Is believe. deep undercurrent OF feeling
riS II, supJeSt OF ming the United States Senate with
education and brains Mr. Plat. SO far as am able
make him fit represensSe 4 Of this state In the e
senate sen, In the editorial before me you credit him
kind Boss Croker is typical Of B" sS is there
sane Republican who will for moment contend that
at a time like this that Thomas c. Patt measures
up In single particular to the stature Of the sena.
Lou Payn would, so far as fitness goes, be equally
eligible with Mr.. Plat. and either a disgrace to the
senate to hasten that state OF contempt the part
Of the people into which in the opinion of many.
anything show more clearly the invasion already
made r OF the civil rights Of he people than ,hs action
electing Mr. Patt Senator in defiance of the WELL
party? Perhaps never before have the people real
ized 50 fully their utter impotency In directing a
cratic power conferred by the machine on its Boss"
am not politician. but mingle little
spirit of dscontent-to which the politicians seem
oblivious-"ith machine methods such this
fcst itself in some form at no distant day. in
siTance ,., to them trust this spirit may be direct
our country. put who among us can insure such
IN view OF ths recent action Of the
OF the intelligence and purity OF the Nation as 1t
sending such men AS Penrose and Plat to the
United States Senate and its apparent purpose
tive from another. can it be called extravagant on
the part of the editor of one OF the most infiuen-
in commenting this. he declares that III is not
an assuring prospect for the continuance OF demo-
it is not inconceivabc that the people may, in the
Application to political and pecuniary corrnption q
have never before had occasion to criticise The
bosssm in politics has been most encomragng to
those desirons OF good government. and has won 1t
fight with undated vieor The editorial before
me lacks the aforetime ring OF The Tribune article.
o. desire on the part Of the editor to let him Mr.
hat The Tribune contempes truce "V With ff the
kind Of politics Mr. ralt is SO pre,sminentiy rep
single reason for the hope it expresses that Mr.
Plau will recognize his opportunity to make for
sighted poiitician. and even a statesmam''. Does
The Tribune believe that there is a regenerative
Senate capable of transforming Tom the Trick
ster" into Tom the Talented and True? Or that
hare is yu pnr hIo Df
changing confirmed and conscenceIess wirepuller
allegations made by The Tribune concerning this
man In the past be true or tenth part Of them
MIR he nDpf n Sc It's % % be- is @ utterly
same TON" Patt in the United States Senate
York ne have arenay seem en- What
, Of man he is al Senator and h that he
iimcnv Of many of his own party at the time con-
sderaby dSce1 h,. Shadow for his col
was certainly n man OF ability and possessed OF
qualities commanding the respect of all men. of all
How. much longer must the people submit to the
being :? represented @ in the highest legislative body
Of the Nation by Murphys and Hills and Platts?
Of 4ns ns b%ns tn last viii h' b WE
That the remedy rests largely with the intelligent
has the Boss become behind the party machinery,
and thoroughly is the average politician mbued
chine first requisite Of success. that it seems
If nohG a sS wdg H'H for Tscr great of
I believe this much more serious and pressing
question than our leaders credit il with being
Democratic government is on trial in this country
as before with the rest OF the world looking
on anxiously. Not few already pronounce II a
failure. No greater foe 10 it has arisen than the
political boss. For It's defence against this foe ii
needs the best efforts and support OF papers like
The Tribune. which are absolutely and unccmpro-
mlsngly opposed to the one-man power. With
monv Others OF its readers ! would bespeak that
attitude toward this question on the part Of The
tribune. that government of the people. ny the
people for the people, perish not from the earth
JOHN &. WHITEFORD.
Cooperstown. " Y. Jan. 90 1897.