New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-24
AN OBJECT-JESSON

The behavior of Mayor Van Wyck the other
day, when the commander Of the Vzcaya was
presented to him by the Spanish Consul Gen
eral, hardly needs characterization. 1t was In
perfect keeping with that officials conduct ever
since he was indicted into the Mayoralty II
Is its own characterization. 1t may be said
however that it adds another 10 the many
illustrations now Of record Of the sagacity and
foresight Of Mr.. Richard Croker when he en-
Joined silence upon his candidate during last
falls campaign. Mr.. Van Wycks temper never
would have stood the strain OF personal con-
tact with the voters, and his manners would
certainly never have commended him to their
support. 1t was shrewd piece of political
tactics TO keep him out Of sight during the cam
paign. Now that he Is on show every day at
the City Hail. and the citizen who may have
business with him is exposed to a touch OF his
temper and taste of his manners, Mr.. Crol;er's
sagacious handling OF him during the campaign
is beginning to be appreciated.
But 1t would be hardly just or fair to give
Mr.. Croker the sole creditor dscredlt, which
whose ripening fruits we sec In the City Hall
and all about us to-day. Indeed, 1t would be
no more than truth to say that the Tammany
Plat than to Croker But for the tactics of the
Platt-Qugg machine and the division they Gre
ated N the interest of Tammany Van Wyck
would not have been Mayor and the city would
not have been under Tammany control. 1t
should not be forgotten that Cookers success in
keeping his candidate in the background and
out Of public sight was due almost entirely 70
the fact that Plat and Quigg and the machine
Republicans made no fight against him, but de-
voted all their energies to attacking the Citi-
zens Union and its candidate. Seth Low From
beginning 10 end OF that dsgraccful campaign
Plat and Quigg and their dsreputable organ.
THE New-York Sun" were 50 occupied with
attacks upon eminent Republicans connected
with the Citizens Union movement that they
had never a word in criticism or d!sapproval OF
Tammapy or its candidates. You may search
in vain through the speeches of the Platt-Quigg
orators on the stump or the columns Of the
Platt-Quigg organ for n single word Of disap-
prevail Of the Tammany candidate
Why, then, should that candidate come out
into the open and subject himself to the fire
Of the opposition when the executive body and
ttular head of that opposition, with an active
ana INSCRIPTIONS newspaper organ, were not
only doing him no harm, but actually helping
his cause by creating internal dissension In
their own ranks? 1t was Croker who enio,ned
silence upon Van Wyck, 10 be sure, but II WAS
Platt and Quigg who did his work much more
effectively In so conducting the Republican cam
palgn that there was neither proyocation nor
pretext Tor his breaking silence The war tho
machine was making on the Citizens Union and
It's candidate filled the public mind to the OK.
cusion Of the essential and vital Issue. which
was the defeat or triumph OF Tammanv DO
mocracy. Between the contending Republican
factions Mr. Van Wyck, unquestioned. obscure
and unknown, slid easily into the seat he today
occupies with so much distinction, and the Tam
many Democracy into the places OF which they
are proposing to make the most during the next
four years.
Nor was this any accident. Thousands Of