The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
rhe Proper Place for Their Activity

Certain Republican malcontents and mar.
plots are seeking to produce disqualification
in their party In this city and State under
b p~retence OF recognizing 1t.
The only reorganization requisite is the
reorganization of their own consciences,
30 that they shall be adjusted in harmony
with sound and honest party principle
and conviction. The trouble with tho
present party organization, SO far as
these few rebellious politicians are con.
cerned, is that they do not and cannot con-
troll IL for their purposes. At the last cleo.
tion they Joined with the Mugwump crew
to defeat their party, and because they sue
ceeded in their trcachery they now thrust
themselves forward as commissioned by
the people to take control of the organiza-
tion they betrayed. They boast of stabbing
their party as IL It was q brave and noble
deed, when actually 1t was of easy accom-
plishment. 1t is never difficult to beat n
party by organized treachery in its own
ranks, more especially in this State, so
mercurial in its politics, and at this time,
when thoroughly organized Organism gives
an impulse of fanaticism to the Democracy.
They had simply to d~isorganize the op-
posing forces by raising false issues.
ARepublican ticket, municipal and State,
was nominated in the usual way. In it's
composition it commanded the respect of
the Republican party and all parties. 1t
was unassailable. n was entitled to the
vote of every Republican, If ever a regular
ly nominated party ticket deserves the sup
port of it's party. The Republican candi-
dates represented the distinguishing prin-
ciples of their party.
OF course, every citizen was at liberty to
vote for them or against them, according to
his preference, but there was no reason
consistent with partisan fidelity justifying
any Republican Of principle in rejecting
them no more reason than he would nave
had last year in refusing to vote for
President MCKINLEY or Governor BLACK.
The candidates of last year were nomi-
mated by political machinery the same
in kind. Mr.. PLATT was "boss" last
year no less than this year, and the
Republican party of the Union as a whole
was under the /" bossism " of MI. HANNA.
II there had been in 1896 a Mugwump de-
mand for the nomination Of some candidate
picked out by themselves instead of Mr..
MCKINLEY or MIR. BLACK, there would
have been as much justification for the
Tribune to betray the Republican party in
his interest as there was for its treacherous
support of Mr.. Low in the late campaign.
On Mugwump principles such desertion
was defensible and laudable, for partisan
fidelity, according to the Mugwump stan
dard, is contemplate servility; but what
defence is there for it which is consistent
with loyalty to a party2
Moreover, what sort of party reorganiza-
tion could be brought about by men whose
teaching and practice are destructive of all
organization7 These plotters against the
integrity Of their party would deserve more
respect If they abandoned 1t formally and
wholly and became its open enemies. They
are In favor Of the Citizens Union. That
concern has resolved to keep up the appear
ance of life; let them join with it In the
p%retence of hostility to all party organi-
cation, while doing their best to get up a
rival organization of their own. That
would be better than pretending to desire
the reorganization Of the Republican party
when their real purpose is to disorganize
and destroy 1t.