New-York tribune., 1897-11-04
in Congressional elections next year in that
section
THE WORST POINT.
section.

While Tuesdays work In general was not
gratifying to Republicans, IT was not, save in
one State. altogether bad Generally speaking,
the Republican party suffered what has long
been the usual fate of the domlnan; party in
the contest next following a Presidential clcc-
ton 1t was d.scouraglng TO have Ohio 20 so
nearly to the Democratic side. TO have Ken
lucky RELAPSE TO have Maryland in doubt. and
to have the splendid majority in New-Jcrsey
cut down to narrow margin. Yet 1t must
be borne in mind that the majoritles Of last
year with which these results are coniastcd.
were altogether phenomenal. Disappointing as
the results cited may appear. not one OF them
is to be regarded as disastrous; while. on the
other hand old-time majorities In MasSachu-
sets and Pennsylvania complete redemption of
South Dakota and substantial gains In Kansas
and Nebraska give agreeable relief to the scene.
There is, in fact. only one point in the whole
line Of battle that has been smitten with actual
disaster There is only one State in which the
Republican party has met with Overwhelming
reyerses. That Is the State Of Ncw-lork. II
Is not merely that this city is surrendered TO
Tammany. That IS local matter, with which
State and National partsanship has. or should
have small concern out Of that the local
Republican party, the true Republican party,
which stood for it's principles and pledges. VIII
emerge with present honor and the potency OF
future triumph But what IS most Of all dis
heartcning, or perhaps cxasperatinS. Is the
disaster that has befalen the mislcd Rcpubli-
can party all over the State. from Lake Erie 10
Montauk Point Leave this city out of ac-
count for the present. Look at the State at
did the party fare? There were losses in al
most every county. Republican majoriiles III
such former strongholds MS Allcgany. Broomc,
Chautauqua Clinton, Erie, Monroe, Saratoga
and even st. Lawrence were greatly reduced, II
not altogether destroyed Members of Assem-
bly, were lost all over the State. If the pervcr-
sity of New-York and Brooklyn Republicans
in standing by party principles and pledges
rather than bowling to the will or usllrplhg
boss Is responsible for losses here, TO what are
the proportionately greater losses elsewhere In
the State to be attributed?
There IS one answer and only one. The tyr
amy. msrule and laundering of Platt are re-
sponsible for the disaster. That "lcadcr' has
had more complete control OF the party ma
chincry throughout the State than any other
for many years. He has had every opportunity
and assistance to make his leadership effective
for the continued welfare Of the party. Ana
last Tuesday showed the result He has mis-
used his opportunities. He has demoralizcd the
party and led It to defeat. He has pillorird
himself as the most incompetent. unworthy
and unsucc ,ssful political manager OF this gen
Grafton. A political boss" who wins victories
for his party may he forgiven for being n
boss" for the sake OF those victories. But this
one practlses bossism in It's most offensive
FORM and offers nothing to atone for II but dis
honor and defeat For such onc there should
be at the hands Of an outraged party only one
ossilc fate