New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-13
THE RESPONSIBILITY.

The Tribune Is IN receipt OF several letters
from persons who say that they wish IN a Just
spirit to make up their minds as 10 the respon-
sibllity for the division OF the Republican vote
In the recent Mayoralty contest and ask for a
statement Of facts on which they can Judge
whether the Citizens Union or the Republican
organization was mainly TO blame for the Tam
many victory.
After q campaign in which hard feeling was
stirred up and In which both sides made mis-
takes, It is easy to lay stress upon single point
and say that there was all the trouble. The ma
chine leaders are particularly fond Of pointing
to the Citizens Unions refusal to attend Mr..
Quiggs September conferences as full justilca.
ton for their antagonism to Mr. Low And
they are the more ready to DO go because By
drawing attention 10 this failure to DO conciia-
tory on the part Of the Citizens they divert at
tention from their own previous and repeated
acts Of antagonism. The Tribune Is by no
means a champion Of Citizens Union methods
All through the spring and summer we urged
upon the Independents moderation and procras-
tnatlon, called upon them TO be more peril
nacious to promote union than 10 maintain alb
etract principles of non partisanship. We nd
vlsed that Mr.. Lows nomination be delayed un-
in n direction which would make It possible for
Independents to support the Republican nomina
tons had been exhausted. 1t was only when
circumstances forced the honest Republican to
decide whether he would refuse to desert his
party platform for his party machine, or help
elect the Tammany ticket by voting for Tracy
that we gave up work for harmony. Neverthe
less, while believing that the Citizens Union
took some false steps, The Tribune is certain
that review Of the attitude Of the Republican
machine on the Mayoralty question from the
beginning Of the discussion will convince any
unprejudiced person that their mistakes were
trivial as compared with the machines, and
also that most Of their mistakes were those into
which they were driven by the machine
The call for a Citizens Union was issued On
February %, 1897. 1t was not antagonistic to
tho Republican party, bat was issued in view
Of the declaration OF the Constitution and the
Republican State and city platforms in favor OF
municipal non-partisanship. 1t was hoped that
this organization might bring into harmony with
the Republican voters, who were in themselves
a minority, the large body Of Independent Demo
Gratis, who would not support a straight Repub-
licnn ticket, but whose votes were necessary to
defeat Tammany. Here was an organization
which Republican leaders might have met with
Cancellation and used to advantage Instead
they met It with abuse and ridicule. On April
10 Edward Lauterbach, president of the
County Committee, declared for "a partisan
ticket, even If we are to be defeated" and said:
Better have as May true Democrat even
"a Tammany man, than man responsible to
mo party" Then Senator Plat himself, who,
II is said, will make Qugg the scapegoat for
antagonzing the Low movement, came out with
statement on May 8, in which he made fun
OF the "best citizens and said: "The real issue
"to-day, whether in New-York or elsewhere, is
mot the best citizens's notion Of how to ad-
minister municipal affairs. 1t is the issue
switch twenty years Of Sociastic agitation has
gradually pushed to the front" Then he de-
cared: "rhe Republican vote is not to be en-
listed IN any more non-partisan enterprises"
Thus all Performers" were given to understand
that the Republican machine would not be en-
listed In ANY more non-partisan enterprises"
like that LED by Colonel Strong, that the "best