New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-11
THE "DUMFOUNDING" QUIGG.

Great things impend. Under the scare-heads
"Ouigg VIII Visit Black: the bare Announce
'ment Dumfounds Mugwumps and Republican
''Disturbers" the Platt-Quigg organ has an
nounced that president Quigg of the KepuD-
lican County Committee" was about TO Jour
'ney to Albany and discuss with Governor
BLACK the proposed new primary law and
"other matters concerning Republican affairs.
At this announcement the organ said II was
predicted that "a lot Of chaps In the Mugwump
and anti Republican camps will turn red,
white and blue" and AL who talked about
president Ouigg's prospective visit were quite
confident that the Mugwumps and Dsturbers
would regard his trip as the Crime of '9S."
Precisely why these people should turn red,
white and blue at the announcement that Quigg
Is about to visit Governor Black we do not
clearly make out If they were only to turn
red we might think that ouigg was about to
do something to provoke general blush; II
only white. 1t might be accounted for upon the
theory that they had turned pale with terror;
or IL only blue, that they were utterly dis
couraged and had taken on the hue of despair.
Eut why these Mugwumps and DisturDers
should perform the chameleon act over Qulggs
visit to the Governor stumps us. Nor do we
understand why the Mugwumps and Disturb
ers In doing the chameleon act neglect TO turn
green with envy, yellow with Jealousy and
black with malignant hate. Why should any
of the coors Of the rainbow be sighted in this
demonstration? In combining their changes to
red, white and blue are these Mugwumps and
Disturbers playing a low-down trick on the
patriotic impulses of the mob? Do they reckon
upon the applause Of the thoughtless multitude,
who, seeing their colors, Will break out with
Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue?
Perhaps SO. Who knows?
Nor do we understand precisely why Quiggs
visit to the Governor should be regarded, In It's
lnclpiency at least, as "the Crime Of '0S" We
can understand, Of course. why Crime" in
this relation should be spelled with a capital
c: whatever Qugg does calls for capitals:
lower-case type Is so wretchedly inadequate to
describe his achievements But what really
does Quigg contemplate doing to the Governor?
The information as to the visit was OF course,
communicated to the organ by Quigg himself.
and though we dislike to subject any Of the acts
of that statesman TO criticism, much less cen
sure. we do feel called upon to say that in our
judgment when he gave out that he WAS going
TO visit the Governor, and that the announce
ment would "dumfound" Mugwumps and Dis
turbcrs. who would turn red, white and blue
and regard his trip aS the Crime Of 9S," he
was not treating the general public fairly in
Withholding the blood-curdling particulars. We
assume, of course, that Quigg knows what he
is going to do, and that whatever it is whether
Crime" or Oratory or Prophecy, or What Not.
1t will be something that begins with a capital
letter, and he will do 1t In his favorite role OF
Unit" 1t was very handsome. and even chi
valric, In him to give the Governor notice by
this publication that he was coming and was
about to do something that would "dumfound"
the Mugwumps and Disturbers, who would
turn red, white and blue and call the perform
ance 'the Crime Of '9S" That puts the Gov
ernor on his guard, so that, If necessary, he
can order out the militia. But the public has
been left In suspense. and that It seems 10 us.
is hardly fair.
Let us hope, though, that we shall not have
long to wait. Quigg is advertised to see the
Governor to-day or tomorrow. Let us possess
our souls in patience. We shall know all about
It now within a few hours. 1t may be that he
Will plant himself in front Of the Governor and
fire his index finger at him. Or It may be that
he will grind him 10 powder" as he has
Speaker Reed. Or possibly read him out Of the
party as he has Lou" Payn and John Raines
Nobody knows. All that anybody knows IS
tl.at it's going to be a Crime" with a large c.
ard that 1t will "dumfound' some folks and
make them turn red, white and blue Would
that II were all over and the suspense ended