The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-05
VAN WYCNS POSITION TRUE DEMOCRACY

'eThis is not my triumph. 1t is
TIE triumph of the Democratic par =
ty of Greater New York"
Thus spoke Judge Van Wyck on the
night of his election. This is as modest
as it is sensible. No man is greater
than his party. There are some men
who can obtain votes outside OF the
strict party strength, but when the man
who receives this outside help begins to
show the Ego, as he is apt to do. the
day of his downfall is near at hand.
Judge Van Wyck is greatest when he
Is truest to the tenets of his party. lie
cannot illustrate civic virtue or official
station better than by making Jefferson.
Jackson and Tilden his models. They
were great because they were the best
opponents of Democracy.
There are many honest and honorable
men who stand aloof from political par
Ties. Sometimes they serve good pur-
pose in close contests, but as a rule
they have no useful place in American
politics. This is a government by par
ties and the men who make themselve
most felt for good government are the
strict party men who are true to the high
ideals of the party that stands for all
the people. Judge Van Wyck is such a
marty man. He has been cartooned as a
tool Of Croker's, as nobody, as candi-
date who must do the bidding Of "A boss
The man who denounced John Kelly in
Tammany Hall because he sold out Han
cock, and led the mob to hang Jay Gould,
Il necessary in 1884 to get the honest
election returns, is not made OF the stuff
20 do the bidding Of any boss. Here is
his statement made on Tuesday night:
II will stand faithfully by every
sentence of the platform adopted by
the Democratic convention which
nominated me, and l will faithfully
carry out every pledge which / made
On my letter of acceptance"
He will neither denounce political lead
ers nor be dictated to by them. He will
not rail at corporations, but will hold
them within the strict letter Of their
charter. He will carry out the party
pledge to secure municipal ownership Of
water. light and other public necessities.
He will hear and invite suggestions from
Democrats, not believing that he is the
only wise man in the party. He knows
that he best serves his party by giving
q clean, economical and honest govern
ment.
Judge Van Wyck will be a Democrat
every day of every year, standing true
to party platforms and party candidates
from the lowest to the highest.If we have
read him Alright, Judge Van Wyck is a
Democrat Of the order Of James C. Doh
bin. When a member Of the State Sen
ate OF North Carolina, Mr.. Dobbin had
a. his associate in the House of Com.
mons from Cumberland county the sim
gularly pure and gifted Strange. after.
wards Judge and United States Senator.
Mr.. Strange was then young man
and regarded Mr.. Dobbin with fiial
affection as well as the ideal political
leader. During the session of the Leg
islature, a question came up upon which
the Wings and Democrats took opposite
sides. Mr.. Strange was greatly trou-
bled. He became convinced that the
position of the Wings was right, and IN
his doubt as to his position called to see
Mr.. Dobbin, and confided to him his in
tention OF voting with the Wings upon
the question at issue. Mr.. Dobbin re-
piled quickly in effect:
"You have no right to do any such
thing. You were elected by Demo-
cratic voters who expect you to vote
with your colleagues upon all party
questions. If they had thought you
would prefer to follow your individ-
nal views rather than obey the
voice Of the united wisdom of the
marty you wonld not have been NOM
inated. Upon questions that are not
political. you must follow your hest
Judgment. Upon political questions,
Won must accept the action OF the par
ty and follow it whether it meets
your individual approval or not"
The yonng member followed the ad
vice Of Mr.. Dohbin. though stating a
the time that il his doctrine was COZ
rect. he would retire from politics. MI
Dobbin told him to reflect upon that