New-York tribune., 1898-01-28
KINGS COTNTY REBELS.

The dinner given on Wednesday evening III
Albany by Lieutenant-Governor Ilinothy H.
Woodruff to some Of his Kings County brethren
was function Of deep importance TO those IN
attendance and not altogether without interest
TO others In the first place. we have no doun'
that 1t was good dinner. and the fact is uhdiS-
puted that Timothy paid for II. But that Is
comparntively trivial circumstance. Inc main
significance Of the affair lay not in the vlands
which were consumed at his expense but IN me
bold and far-reaching declaration of political
principles with which II wound up. and which,
Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, was
communicated 10 the press with such celerlty
that II was In pri1t long before the dinner was
digested Nevertheless. AZ The risk OF seeming
to disparage 4 performance winch must I'LL
every vlrtuous bosom with admiration. we feel
compelled TO point out several features OF II
which are likely 10 get Timothy into trouble
even though his guests should succeed in es
Gaping
II Is not unnatural that, having seconded with
great zeal and energy the political arrangements
whereby the government OF New-Iork was
turned over to Tammany Hall by the Kepuo-
lican machine. Timothy should now contemplate
with grief and indignation the depletion or his
pork barrel and the vanishing prospect of its
ever being reflled. But how can he fail to be
aware that in expressing his emotions ne IS
guilty of an INSTRUMENTATION which cerges close
on treason? Nobody has heard Thomas &. Platt
complain Of the way in which Richard Croker is
fulfilling the contract between them. and so long
as he is satisfied what business has Timothy TO
make a row? Then there IS our blessed charter.
for which the resolutions Of the Albany dinner
party imply profound contempt, apparently un-
mindful Of the fact that AT oil stages OF the jam
mlng-through process it was officially recognized
as perhaps the only perfect thing or its Kind N
existence Why. when the TANNERS heard that
Gladstone had declared the Constitution or the
United States to be the greatest work ever struck
off at a single blow by the mind and conscience
Of man they felt that he had made the mistake
Of his life in not reserving that majestic tribute
for the New-Yor Charter. They are not going
to think any better OF Timothy for sneering at
that instrument an1 plcdsing himself TO tinker
with II to the best Of his ability, especially IN
view Of the circumstance that Governor Black,
who has considerable influence with his own
administration has permitted It TO be under
stood that he is averse TO all such undertakings.
There was another little detail of the perform
ance in which the Lieutenant-Governor INDUCED
likely to cause remark and to be added TO the
list Of things which one would rather have put
differently After four rcsounding whereases, as
the record shows the dinner party resolved
"That we, the Republican representatives in the
"Iegislature of the State from the county Of
"Klngs," etc. and the first name signed to the
resolution is Timothy L. Woodruff. Now per-
sons Of an nqusitve turn Of mind are sure 70
ask how II happens that Timothy represents the
county Of Kings In the Legislature. 1t had al
ways been supposed that he represented the neo-
ple OF the State Of New-York In the Lieutenant
Governors office. and. during few hours on
five days of the week, in the chair OF the Senate
whence he dellveJa" a casting vote In case Of n
tie. II In reality /. represents the county OF
Kings in the Legislature we are glad to know
It, and only sorry that he did not publish the in
terestIng fact before. Still Il does not affect the
main proposion-namcly. that Timothy is tread
Ing on dangerous ground when be complains Of
n distribution Of patronage with which Plat and
Croker seem to be entirely satisfied and shows
dlsrespect for a charter so perfect that 1t would
have been a waste Of time TO lct the people say
wha; they thought OF II.