New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-31
THE NEW BACON CIPHER.

They numbered two thousand one hundred
and three. They made six hundred and
fOrty-frst Of the voters In the State OF New
York at the last election That Is what they
amounted to when they settled down and were
counted. But in the process Of swarmng they
darkened the air. shut out the light and made
as much noise with their buZzng as II they
were the whole 1,348,974 instead OF the 2.103.
They were tho whole election. They knew that
Theodore Roosevelt could not be Governor
without them At any rate. If he could be
Governor It would only be by making COM
pact with the devil and the exercise OF Internal
powers against which even angels like them
selves could not prevail. Nevertheless. Colonel
Roosevelt has already gone to Albany, and
as far as anybody can see the people OF New
York are pretty well satisfied to his honesty
and independence, in spite Of the doubts OF the
21O3.
The 21O3 still take themselves seriously and
send out circulars telling of the great things
they failed to do but hope In the future to per-
form. Their Nursery is still filed with child
ish prattlc. and they make believe that they
are in politics just like real grown-ups In that
sweet uncorsciousncss which goes with pretty
innocence. But. however distractlng their noise
may have been a while ago, other people will
not be inclined to attach much Importance 10
their doings after having seen how utterly in
capable they are OF any real work. The LOB
are nothing but ridiculous in the light Of their
prctentIons and demands. Last summer they
announced that they wanted Theodore Roosevelt
for Governor, and it happened that GGl,10I
other people wantel him for Governor also.
But because Colonel Roosevelt would not try TO
get elected by the 2.103 on ticket which would
have deprived him Of the greater part Of the
GGl. 7O7. the 21O3 said they would not have
anything to do with him, but did all they could
Ia elect Augustus Van Wyck. Then. while try
ing to elect Augustus Van Wyck 80 as to show
that it would DO fatal for the G61. 707 not to let
themselves be wagged by the 2.103. the 2.1O3
and their organs took ii upon themselves to
advise Colonel Roosevelt how he should CON
duct his campaign, Just rs If they were his
friends and supporters. When he made Il
speech mentioning expansion they shed tears
and told him il he wanted to be elected he must
talk only about things that pleased them. In
that case while their conscences would not let
them give him their 2.1O3 votes because there
were wicked men among the G6l ,7UI, yet they
would pray for him, and announce that 1t was
n pity that so good a man could not have their
support.
But Colonel Roosevelt, perhaps bearing In
mind n similar attempt Of some OF the same
children to be the whole thing In this city I'm
1895. went on his way regardless Of the 2,103
TO convince the GGl .707 that they wanted him
for Governor, and though Theodore Bacon and
the other 2102 said that Theodore Bacon was
the only candidate for honest and independent
men 10 support. and urged that Mt least enough
citizens should vote for him 10 give the 2.1O3
n place the official ballot, Colonel Roosevelt
was elected. and the 2.l03 can still have no
party column on the official ballot and must
continue with nursery games OF course the
2.1O3 arc proud Of their adventures. and still
refuse TO realize that their FRANKS have helped
10 make anything like Independent party action
difficult by irnpressing people OF reform sympa-
thies with the conviction that however much
they may disapprove Of an old party's action.
any attempt NJ effective independent work Is
almost SIRE TO be wrecked by the peitishness
and folly Of somebody who thinks that the
cranks and notions Of 1AAl Of the electoral
body ninst he acceded 10 even II the 64OG4l
are thereby deprived Of all the benefits Of the
contemplated reform. That Is the meaning Of
the new Bacon cipher. That IL the lesson of
the 2.103 II Is pity they had to teach II by
discreditins independence, but glad they