New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-19
H1RNONY TALk.


The reports which come from Albany TO the
effect that Governor Black is beginning 10 man
lfest considerable interest in the efforts said to
be in progress in various quarters to unity the
Republican party in this city and throughout
the State are doubtless well founded. There is
no reason why he should not be Interested and
even anxious. concerning a matter in which his
own political future as well as that OF the
Marty is obviously at stake. He is drawing
near the expiration of his official term. If he
IS TO be n candidate for reelection he must
naturally be solicitOus to have behind him a
united party Even if he is not candidate a
reasonable regard for his own reputation as a
successful political leader, to say nothing Of
LOYALTY to his party would be most natural
Indictment TO eXerliOn on his part TO bring about
such a condition Of affairs that it could not be
said that his administration had been source
of weakness or a cause of disaster to his party.
We have no doubt that the Governor Is sin
cerely anxious TO promote harmony, and, in
current phrase. unity the party. We hope also
that the report il true that the vote in NOvem-
ber-especially in this cty-cleared his vision
and enlightened his judgment somewhat as to
the conditions under which harmony and unfit
cation may be made possible If he continues
20 be of the opinion which he publicly expressed
before the last election, that 10000 voters were
guilty OF "treachery," while only 100000 re-
NAMED LOYAL, we have no hesitation in saying
that his unifying efforts will be frutless If he
still thinks that the leadership which packed to-
cether the enormous patronage Of all these
cities and boroughs and outlying sections and
tossed II into Mr.. CrOker's lap should be vlndi-
Gated and sustained, and his efforts for har-
mony are on that line. can assure him now
that they are beyond all question doomed to
failure.
If there had been any doubt before, the events
of the last two months have made 1t indubita
bly, plain, not only that the tanning through
Of the charter by the last Legislature under
Platts dctatOn-and. Of course, with Governor
Blacks active co-operaton-was the most stu
pendous blunder ever committed by pgheaded
politicians but that the management Of the
campaign by these same blunderers was DELHI
erately dishonest and treacherous from the very
start. That majority Of the 100000 voters
who followed Plat and Quigg We're deceived
we have no doubt. We believe that most of
them now and deplore their error. The
'jamming through was laundering folly. pure
and simple, and as such might be forgiven
though even then its authors should have had
the grace to withdraw from public sight. The
campaign management was worse; 1t was Grim
inal and malignant treachery Thai, to be sure,
IS now past mending. But we take leave to
remind Governor Black that a large majority
Of the Republican voters Of this city and State
have not forgotten the disasters that flowed
from that laundering. criminal and treacherous
management, nor the leadership that was re-
sponsible for It. They will insist upon an abso-
lutte change Of leaders and Of party policy as a
condition precedent to any steps toward bar
mony or unifcation. Their reason for this is
that the leaders are dishonest and their policy
at war with the principles Of the Republican
party. And-what to the practical politician
concludes argument-ther continuance insures
defeat and disaster
1t IS whispered with more or less mystery
that a movement is on foot 10 bring about some
sort OF understanding by which the 10000
voters who refused last November 70 bow the
knee 10 Baal Will DO placated or conclliated or
hypnotizsd by some sort Of legislation on the