New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-21
TIE PRESIDENTS MISTAKE.

II the Federal offices which are commonly
spoken of as within the gift Of the President
were actually gifts, having no other significance
than as personal favOrs bestowed upon the re-
cipients out Of pure good nature, there could be
nothing but commentator for the action OF
President Mckinley In appointing to Office men
who not only have no claim upon his gratitude
but whose behavior toward him prior TO his
nomination was such as in ordinary minds would
arouse a feeling Of resentment 1t would be
unite admirable as an exhibition Of magnanim-
,ty and the manifestation Of an amiable DISPOSE
ton. In some OF his latest appointments he has
illustrated these qualities In very marked de-
gree. There is another view, to be sure. which
Is that the opportunities Of the applicants may
have wearied him. or that the persistence Of
their powerful friends may have intimidated
him. But it Is hardly to be believed that he
would make important appointments from sheer
WEAKNESS and desire to get them off his hands,
and less credible that he has been influenced by
fear Of consequences II he should give offence
10 men who exhausted their power Of effective
opposition in the virulent personal campaign
against his nomination. He was doubtless act'l-
ated nv two motives One, desire most natu-
raj in a man Of his amable temper, to give proof
that he harbored no resentments against the
men who had vlllfed him, and the other-no less
natural TO u man OF affairs and experienced
politcian-a desire to conciliatc factions and
harmonic differences in the party.
II Is in the latter Notwithstanding out all
other considerations the Presidents action
is liable 10 be viewed by great many earnest
Republicans ms a mistake. They will so con-
slider It. not because they are Of faction, and
the representatives Of a rival faction have been
favored. but rather because they are, above all
things. Republicans Republicans who believe
Republicanlsm In this city and State means dead
" hostility to the rule Of Tammany Democracy,
and who have been shocked beyond measure by
the declaration of the head and chief Of the fac
ton represented by these appointees that the
rule Of "a true Democrat, even Tammany Hall
Democrat" in this city would be better far than
the success OF q movement for good government
and honest administration IN municipal affairs
which would command as II diI in 1894, tho
support Of the mass Of Republican voters. This
Is what makes the Presidents action seem 10
many Republicans to he a mistake. For these
appointments are made solely in the interest Of
the Republican machine. of which Mr.. Edward
Lanterbach is the official head and authorized
mouthplece And. as everybody knows-for
there is no secret about IL, IL is openly pro
claimed-the machine managers have demanded
these Federal places for their own people, not
merely in payment for past services, but as a
surety that the patronage they control and the
subordinates whom they directly influence in
their political action will be used to carry out
the purposes Of the machine.
And what does that mean? Why, Just this:
Mr.. IAuterbach made It so plain that no one OF
ordinary intelligence could fail to understand it.
That IN the event Of there being three parties
10 the contest for control Of Greater New York
next November-to w.t. the Citizens Union. the
straight" Republican and the Tammany De-
rnocracy-all the influence, power and prestige
of the Federal Government as represented by
Its ofice-holders will be thrown for the Tammany
Democracy in preference to the Citizens Union.
Most probably there will be Just such uiangu-
Lar contest 1t is equally probable that ma
jorIty Of Republican voters will be enrolled In
the Citizens Union. and that the straight Re
publican ticket whatever It may be. will repre-
sent forlOrn hope. serving only as a diversion
In favor Of Tammany. That is precisely what