New-York tribune., 1898-10-29
CPOKER'S DUMB MAN.

| Two or three weeks ago, In the Judgment OF
careful observers. the Republican ticket IN New
! York was beaten. The same men are now III
yestinC rather largely OH their conviction mat
| Colonel Roosevelt Will he elected. That does
| not proye that he will be. But it does show
| that impressions which current events nave
| made on men peculiarly experienced In judging
| of publc opinion are wholly favorable 10 Colo-
mol Roosevelt His own vigorous canvass has
| done a great deal to arouse Republican voters
! and TO enlist a personal enthusiasm on his be
| bolf Rut there have been changes of still
larger influence, and possibly no other mas Teen
| moro potent thau the behavior of Croker him
| self One NAV share with his followers the
feeling that ex Senator Hill did his best to knife
| the Democratic ticket by advising Democrats TO
knock down officers Of the law who attempted 10
| arrest them for illegal voting That was. indeed
| blunder so glaring that It can hardly be e1-
| planed except on the theory that Mr.. Hill was
| willing to see the candidate of Mr.. Croker de-
| feateJ But there is much behind.
| The worst that has befallcn the Democratic
ticket in this State all things considered Is the
| exposure OF its persistent dishonesty In regard
| TO National questions. The silence or van
Wyck could be explained on the ground that
his rulers did not dare TO permit their candidate
TO say anything for which his whole party would
he responsible But candidate with the lockjdw
IS not an attractive object to Americans, VINO
expect that man who seeks their suffrage, II
he chooses to speak at all, will meet the ques
tions which are on their minds and lips. Far
greater applause was scored, for instance ny
the Democratic Senator who dared at one great
meeting to name Bryan than the candidate for
Governor has been able to get by his most
labored efforts.
The silver ghost will not down. All the time
|: is here, day and night, confounding all cacu-
latiOns Nobody can tell how many silver men
will refuse TO vote for candidate who has not
the pluck to avow his convictions. Also. no.
body can tell how many Democrats will refuse
TO vote for a candidate who Is known To have
supported Bryan zealously, but does not admit
IT, The silver men are expected to be com
.forted by the conviction that the candidate, II
dumb still dishonesty conceals his position Tor
| their purposes. The hard-money Democrats are
expected to be placated by the claim that this
same man, whatever his personal preferences
NAV be- is willing to take his opinions ready
made from Mr.. Croker and TO express none un-
less he has authority from the Tammany
leader.
1t is not the American way Of doing business
The people of this country do not Ike to vote
for man who dares not have any opinion OF
his own or who is ready TO sell any opinions he
has FOR nomination by boss who has none or
wishes TO conceal his purpose. The average
American Jumps quickly To the thought mat
such candidate must be unworthy ana ,hat
the man who runs him must be trying to cheat
somebody. If any other Inference is possible
the average American has not yet found 1t out
He hates nothing else 50 much rs the attempt
10 cheat him in the exercise of his sovereign
right of self government. Possibly Mr.. Croker
himself may find ont. before all is done. that
even his Democrats in Tammany Hall are not
all ready 10 take as their own n candidate VINO
conspicu0uslv shows that he is trying 10 de-
cejvn somebody. whether under Mr.. Croker $
orders or not.