The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-15
PLAIN TALK FROM ONE CIT.
A "Low Republican" Putn the Responsible
whore 1t BelonEu,
From the Springfield Republican,

From the Springfield Republican,
Tho Republican was right in its article regard
Ing the mistake made by the Citizens Union in
the late contest for the Mayoralty of New York.
The result Of the election has shown beyond
doubt that a reform candidate for Mayor could
have been easily elected IL tho managers Of the
Citizens Union had not made a false start at the
very beginning Of the campaign by the nominal
tion Of Mr.. Low. for by this act they originated
a condition in the political contest for Mayor
which resulted in electing the Tammany candi-
date. The great object of this contest was not
80 much the defeat Of Mr.. Plat as the election
Of q reform Mayor for New York. The man.
ayers Of the Citizens Union know very we'll
that the reformers Of the various political
organizations would all rally to the support Of
Mr.. Low, and II the Republican party organize
tion could BIO brought to his support also the
victory was won; and had they used all their
energies to induce the various organizations op-
posed to Tammany to appoint committees to
consult together and agree upon some candidate
whom all would support, such a unanimous
pressure could rave been brought upon Mr..
Plat and the leaders of tho Republican organi.
cation az to induce them to accept Mr.. Low or
some other good reform candidate. 1t Is folly to
assert that this could not have been done, for
only a few years ago Just such a union was Of.
fected and Mayor Strong elected on q reform
non.paEtisan platform. But BY their mistaken
independent nomination Of Mr.. Low the Citi:
an apparent excuse to rally the Republican
organisation and 100. 1000 Republican voters
against him. and thus made his defeat certain.
OF course " 1t goes without saying" that Mr..
Plat ought to have Endorsed Mr.. Low, and no
made the great political mistake of his life by
not doing SO, and richly deserves the censure Of
every lover Of good government for his folly.
But NEVERTHELESS in these days of strong party
feeling 1t was against human nature and proba-
bility to suppose that Mr.. Plat and the leaders
Of the Republican organization, which must fur
nish at least $50. 900 votes, to elect Mr.. Low, or
any other reform candidate, could be induced or
forced to indorse any candidate whom they had
no hand in originating or nominating. The Citi-
gems Union took the great responsibility and
risk of forcing an Independent nomination,
which all other reform and political organiza-
tions must support to win. and by this false step
prevented o union of all the good citizens Of
New York against the common enemy. They
alone drew up the plan Of battle and must 40
cept the result of tho disastrous defeat.
1t was q terrible and almost objectionable
blunder for intelligent leaders of a great reform
movement to make. Had any modern General
commanding a great army on the eve of battle
made such an error and suffered a disastrous
defeat thereby, he would have been tried by
court-martial and dismissed from the army,
When, by good generalship, Q great reform VIC
tory could have ueen 30 easily won, 1t is q very
poor excuse to say the wicked Mr.. Platt ruined
us all. A Now York Republican who supported
Mr.. Low. D. p. CLAPP.
BELoHERrowN, Nov. IL.