The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-07
The Threatening Political Situation.

~NN eeS - sAN
commission Of a crime against the city Of
New York and against civilization itself.
This may seem to be the language of ex.
travagance and excitement, but it is the
cold and sober truth only. The very respec-
table but politically purblind gentlemen
who abetted his candidacy last night at the
Cooper Union are assuming a measure Of
responsibility for the catastrophe now so
threatening, which will give to their names
distinction as assistants In the fomenting
of social disturbance, of which the fore
warning is now so loud and distinct that
the deafest ears of Philistine stupidity will
soon hear ie.
The Low movement was worked up dur
ing the summer by artificial and theatrical
devices. 1t never reached the popular
heart or gave expression to its genuine i'm.
pulses. This was apparent to every one
accustomed to observing and sounding the
currents of popular feeling, and was espe-
cially obvious from the point of view Of a
newspaper reaching the public of all social
conditions and different phases of political
sentiment. The Low movement is a sur
face movement, superficial and artificial.
The George movement, rising and swell.
ing suddenly, pulsates with popular emo
tion. Its reality is obvious. The passion
which gives it motive force burns so holly
that it's heat will soon be felt even by the
respectable political stupidity which al
ways constitutes the gravest danger in a
time of social and political revolution like
this. The shortsightedress, the indiffer-
ence, the self-absorption, and the inability
to discover the course and force of currents
of popular sentiment M passion are
manifested most strikingly and deplor.
ably in the ranks of social conserve
tism and so-called responsibility. They do
not wake up to a consciousness of the COM
ing danger until it slaps them squarely in
the face and compels them to heed it. The
current goes on swelling until it becomes a
torrent SO loud in it's roar that it begins to
be heard in the markets, and then, their
pockets having been touched, their alarm
is all the greater, because it comes to them
SO suddenly and unexpectedly.
The George meeting at the Cooper Union
on Tuesday night was an ominous event in
the social and political history of New
York. No man of penetration can other
wise regard it. 1t was a manifestation of
deep-seated, intensely earnest, wholly sim
cere, and passionate feeling, which indi-
Gated Enthusiastically that the social revolu-
tion has entered into New York as never
before in the history of ar American COM
munity. 1t afforded convincing evidence
that the George movement will go on gather
ing force during the next four weeks under
the propulsion of a sentiment which is all
the more dangerous to society because Of
it's indubitable sincerity and earnestness.
Last year the Bryan forces in New York
were without inspiring leadership. Tam.
many Hall had accepted the Chicago plat
form as a necessity of Democratic regu-
larity. It's leaders generally were the more
half-hearted with regard to it because
it frightened away all the Tammany ele-
ment from which had come it's pecuniary
resources. But in spite of that GOODNESS
n timidity Organism took 80 strong a
hold on the great body of the Tammany
following that it was forced to conduct a
violent Tammany campaign, with the re-
suit that $4,000 votes were polled for
BRYAN. 1t was largely a spontaneous
movement, and no alf-heartedness in
Tammany could stop or resist it.
Tammany, this year, has undertaken to
play fast and loose with that passionate
sentiment, with the sole view of obtaining
the control Of the Greater New York by
hook or by crook. Its game Is to hoodwink
both sides, the Bryanites and the implaca.
BILE opposition to Organism coming from
the Democracy displaced by Organism.
However it may be with dull-witted re.
spectability, the game has failed utterly
with the Bryanites. They know what they
are after, and they will not be dissuaded
from their purpose by the diversion of pc.
litical jugglery.
Accordingly the George movement arises
spontaneously, for it had no previous
cultivation by political workers. His can.
didacy was not even a remote probability
in the minds of the Tammany leaders while
they were arranging their plans of cam'
paign trickery. Even their feeble ticket
was selected and nominated with no refer.
ence to the possibility of Mr.. GEORGES can,
didacy. The Tammany ticket was put out
but little more than a month before election
day, with the conviction that the running
of Low assured the division of the enemies
of Organism, and made inevitable the cleo
ton of any ticket Tammany might nomi
nate. If there had been a united opposition
or if there had been any indication thai
Low would exhibit decent public spirit by
withdrawing from the canvass, the Tam
many ticket would have been very differ
ent and of a much weightier quality. Will
Low obstinately in the field as a dividing
Ind disturbing candidate, Tammany fell
that it had a free hand.
The leaders did not dream of GEORGE!
candidacy. During the summer he had re
jeeted overtures to him made by the Bryan
men, saying that he would not run, his lit
erary occupations and engagements absorb
ing his time; and accordingly his follower
either wen into the Low movement O
bombarded Tammany with demands for thu
nomination Of GAYNoR. a full-hedged Bry