New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-11
TIE TOWN ELECTIONS.

The town elections Just held in many counties
only repeat the lesson Of last November. The
handwriting Is on the wall, but the machine
leaders are too blind or too stupid TO read II.
Still they go laundering on, defyng popular
sentiment. shutting with the reform measures
they profess Willingness 10 enact. and talking
harmony while they devise schemes for making
Independents powerless. II they could learn
nothing from the loss Of one hundred thousand
votes In the rural counties In one year, they
cannot be expected TO learn anything from a
repetition Of the warning now. But their folly
only makes 1t more imperative for those who
can face facts to take hold while there is yet
time and force these stubborn blunderers to free
the party from bondage before It is too late
The old Platt cry that the dissatisfaction with
his methods is purely local and confined to this
city is still heard. and there are some persons
who think that they can serve the Republican
party Of the State by trying to patch up some
sort Of a truce in this city by which Mr.. Plat
shall continue to run things after making few
concessions to his critics. The town elections
must open their eyes TO the fact that they have
made wrong diagnosis The Ills Of the party
are not local and are not to be treated with any
salye OF conference. The disease is widespread.
It is acute here only because circumstances
have forced the outbreak But symptoms which
tell Of serious condition seen every time
and in every place that the party strength IS
tested. Instead of treating local symptoms per
sons who have the welfare Of the party at heart
should 60 to the root of the trouble, depose the
men who are leading Il astray and robbing il
Of strength. and enable 1t again TO be true to its
own principles and represent the desires Of the
great body Of honest Republicans.
The spring elections are an almost unfailing
index Of the popular feeling concerning political
parties When David b. Hill was flushed with
the full success OF his reckless defiance of the
moral sentiment OF the State. his downfall was
foretold by the vote for Supervisors. Tuesdays
elections in sixteen counties are significant OF
what the rural Republican thinks of Plat. and
they give warning against the folly OF cam
pagn for Governor and Congressman weighed
down with the dlscredt Of Platt's population
OF party principles and enthronement Of Tam
many Hall In these sixteen counties the Re
publicans lost thirty three Supervisors from the
spring election OF 1896 and the Democrats lost
one. thus making the Republican net loss thirty
two. Nor IS this complete index TO the ex
tent OF Republican dlsaffcctlon. Reduced plural
ties were frequent In towns which were too
strongly Republican for any Democrat TO have
chance OF election. Clean elected the first
Democratic Mayor in its history. Town after
town showed that the falling off Of Republican
plurality in the country districts last November
was not Que 10 the weather or to the candidates
OF the moment, but 10 settled distrust OF the
present tendencies OF party leadership. which
| must be changed II Republican supremacy II
not to suffer the fate Of the Democracy under
| Hill II Is not safe to play with the subject Of