The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-29

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir: In q campaign
where there is q hobby like the Low canvass. Its sur
face indications are always shallow. snowy. m!slead.
ing. and un,rustworthy. 1t ia a new thing. a new
sensation. When the question Of the comparative
strength Of MIR. Low aud the Republican candidate
was estimated. the Low people Immediately pointed
TO the surface ndicat!ons-tho Low banners. the Low
meetings. the Low photographs. and the Low but
tons, and these outward manifestations Of Lows APP
parent strength. They forget that substantially the
entire strength OF Mr.. Low is thus shown on the sur.
face. All OF his followers are out to DO counted;
all OF his friends have his photographs and his but
tons on exhibition. and their numbers arc thus easily
estimated
Men who originally or recently concluded to vote
for Tracy do not feel II incumbent to write the word
Republican across their backs or put his photographs
IN their Windows. For instance, in a row OF hve
houses there is one Low picture. and on inquiry as to
the political complexion OF tho occupants or the
other four houses. 1t was ascertained that every one
of them Is for Tracy. hut does not think II ne "essary
to write Republican upon their foreheads or put tho
photograph of hs candidate in the window.
The surface Indications in all such hobby move.
mcu;s art practically the same. They were 80 for good
Old Gen. Woodward In 1855, when his friends hal
all the orators and all the money and all the banners
and photographs. Seth Low himself. with his entire
administration. was for him; Gen. Woodford. Minis.
ter to spain, and Judge Asa W. Tenncy: all the most
brilliant orators. all the sensational ministers, the
Young Republican club. and all the other brass bands
We're for him. and his election was as surely and rs hon.
cstly predicted uron alleged careful estimates as the
election Of Low is predicted. yet that grand man rc.
ceivcd only about II. 900 votes ont OF 100. 900, while
the regular Republican candidate received In round
numbers ~, 900 votes.
So II Is with the indications OF Lows campaign.
they are all on the surface, hut its promoters will
never strike oil. Dig a little below the surface and
you will mud no Low oil. His candidacy is a sham as
we'll IA a hobby. II Is not honest in n DOlitical sense
Low said last month that he was a Republican and
always expected to be. but on Saturday night he
undertook to tell his audience what was done when
he was a Republican" thus contradicting what he
said in his letter OF acceptance and indicating that
now he is not n Republican. OF course he is not a Re-
publican. and has not bcca since 1854. He says he
voted for Blaine. but he did not make that announce.
ment until after the election had taken place. Upon
the theory Of the old adagc that actions speak
louder than Words he was against the great Re.
publican %chieftain. He refused to speak for him or
to preside at a Blaine meeting. and the large majority
of his cabinet, and the employees directly responsi.
BILE to him. voted and worked against MIR. Blaine. His
private secretary. Franklin Allen. was n rampant,
Offensive. anti.BIaine man. and was supposed by
everybody to speak for his chief. When this conduct
is coupled with the admitted fact that the influence
and active participation OF Mr.. Low in behalf of Mr..
Blaine would have elected him. how is It possible for
him to declare himself a Republican In the presence
nnd hearing OF q friend OF James @. Blaine?
The very next year he worked and spoke and con-
trihutcd a large sum OF money for the independent
candidate for Mayor of Brooklyn. and thereby helped
to defeat the regular Republican candidate. In 1857
he repented. and in a speech delivered before the
Republican League. regretted his act. said that tho
Republican party had not been dealt by fairly, and
mmc that hereafter 1t and Its candidates
should he sustained. But the next year he forgot his
pledge and voted against Benjamin Harrison on the
tariff issue. and in the following Presidential ram.
paicn, lSO2. he again voted against him. Here are
four occasions that he practically opposed the Re.
publican party and Its candidates. and now he pro
claims in "A public speech he is no longer a Republican.
In truth. he never was a Republican.
II he had been n Republican when he was Mayor OF
BROOKLYN. he would not have undertaken in a brutal
and unmRnly way TO remove the younger Roebling.
who had been crippled for life in the city's service,
or our first citizen. Mr.. J. s. T. Stranahan. the father
Of the brooklyn park. whom Mr.. Low removed as
soon a. no could after his election. Tho memory Of
the treatment OF these great men and life. long Re.
puhlicans creates n chill and n shudder especially
when this same man is seeking to become Mayor Of
the Greater New York. Finally. In the face OF his
towering ingratitude to Gen. Tracy. who made II pos.
sIble for him to he Mayor OF Brooklyn. without which
once he never would have been thought Of as Mayor
of Greater New York. how can any Republican or any
generous partisan or non.partisan vote for him or
BRooKIYS. oct, %. JUSTICE