New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-15
A BUMMER'.S EXCUSE.

The machile IS evidently much disturbed by
the resul. Of the town elections, and Is Offering
some curious explanations Of the Increase OF the
Democratic vote in many interior townships
before Overwhelmingly Republican. The fn-
vorite Platt device TO meet the situation Is re-
course to the old bogie of Bryanism scare
crow which Is brought out on al occasions. ana
is. indeed, about the only instrument of offence
or defence left in the machine armory. When
there is Il chance to beat Tammany In a local
fight the Plat people excuse themselves from
giving all to decent people against the robbers
on the ground that they must have practice
drill for a battle against Organism. Then,
when their course not only gives victory to the
Tammany Bryanltes, but so dlsgusts country
Republicans that the rural vote falls off a hun
dred thousand from that when Bryan was
really an issue, they say the trouble is not with
them but with country love of Organism. I'm
der pretence of attacking Organism they put
Bryanltes In power. and when their own fool
lsh leadership divides their forces they say
they are martyrs of a campaign against Bryan.
1t is a good scarecrow until people discover
that 1t Is nothing but rags Of deception, but
to bring It out too often is to make the fraud
apparent This latest cry. that the town re-
and so palpably unpatriotic as to stamp the
whole boosted devotion Of the machine to sound
money as mere pretence. They care not what
injury they do to the cause Of honest money.
All they care Is to make the honest money
sentiment serve their selfish purposes. The
falsity Of their excuse as to the town elections
is manifest on the merest review Of the facts.
In 1896 Organism was the real and vital issue.
Then rural New-York responded with no uncer
tain voice. Then there was no need to make
excuses about the farmers being saturated with
silver sentiment They were good enough gold
men to give an unprecedented Republican vic
tory. Since then they have shared the revival
Of prosperity. They are plainly as ready to-day
as in 1896 TO vote against reputation Of debts
and depreciation Of the currency. But they
vote for Supervisors and constables on per-
sOnal and local grounds. Nobody ever hears
OF the money question as an Issue Of town meet
ings. If the Republican candidates are identi-
fed with unpopular conduct Of the party, are the
creatures Of an Objectionable county boss, they
lose votes, for their neighbors know that they
can then rehuke the machine without leopard
izing party policies That has been the gen
eral tendency OF town elections. Hill man
aged to hold Democrats to the support Of his
State tickets when he could not get them TO
vote at local elections for the creatures who
ran caucuses for him.
And what sort Of devotion is It to sound
money which leads these machine men to try
to weaken the hold OF homes; principles on
the party? Every time they can succeed in
convincing a Republican that some party de-
feat really due to their foolishness or wicked
ness, is owing to the strength of Organism
they increase the number of men who favor a
shutting policy on the money question as good
party tactics. Every time that laundering into
a ditch, they snatch the standard Of sound
money and attempt to roll It with them in the
mud they stamp themselves as camp followers.
and not soldiers The brave man tries to pro-
tect his colors. 1t Is only the cowardly bum
mer who goes whining about asking peopl. to
pardon his worthlessness for the sake of his
uniform.