The times., 1899-08-24
MR.. PLATr AS A aoopoo.
Why the McKinieyites DO Not Re-
joice Over His Support

Wv toAA E>fttfiitS itct-J
IL silence Is ever eloquent there Is e
fine specimen for study in the way the
newspapers friendly to the President have
refused to "enthuse" over Senator Platt's
declaration in favor of his denomination.
Surely the seventy-two votes OF New Yo k
State in convention cannot seem less valu-
able now than a few weeks ago; We mus,
seek meaning rather, in the fact that
there has been time for thought. and that
the soberer leaders OF the Administration
party are now wondering whether the Sen
ator's advertised support is cause for un-
mixed Joy
Mr.. Piatt loomed into national proni-
nence in the spring Of 1851, when the Leg
islature of New York was casting abolt
for a man with a temperament elastic
enough TO endure a yokefeIloxship with
Roscoe Conkling in the Senate The sit
uation was peculiar. 1t did rot call for
q great man; indeed. it necessarily ex-
cIuded such one from consideration.
Whoever was to take the junior Senator
ship from New York must be plant,
smooth-tons sued. forbeaFiEg, ready 10
crouch at the wings when the who stage
was needed for a more heroic actor; one
who could put into few words an utter
ance of opinion Of policy which weuld bear
many interpretations. Such a comb n 4tioa
the Legislature believed it had foand in
Thomas C. Flat. He had been Ia Wash
ington less than a month when he showed
how little the men who had chosen him,
and the editors VINO had represented him
as the echo of his colleague, and the car
toonists who had pictured him as page
carrying Cenkiing's train, understood his
real character. The contents OF Garaeits
message nominating Robertson for CO.
lector OF Customs at New York mad not
yet been laid before the Senate when Pi4tt
announced to the Vice President and to
Senator Conkling his intention TO resign
There was nothing left for Conkling but
to resign also; and the staiwart wing OF
the Republican party lost its leader By
PIatt's first notable act His next step
was to help lure the unfortunate Colkling
to Albany and into a, campaign foF. re-eiec-
ton, which was one of the most huHiiiat-
ing chapters in the history of New York
politics; at a critical hour Platt suddenly
withdraw from the contest-"ran like 4
rabbit poor, prematurely ly tight
ened, creature as the Sun" described
his exit in bidding him goodby.
Mr.. Platt's retirement in this fashion
was supposed at the time to have ended his
political career. but in the interval between
that and the next Presidential campaign
he was gradually resuscitated. His first
task was to drum up votes fer the nomina-
ton of Arthur for President in 1854. He
failed and Blaine was nominated. He then
set to work to make up his differences with
the hostile wing of the party and this ne
did so efTectuaily that ne was called by
them into consultation with regard TO
Blaine's now historic stumping tour. IL
was his advice which so shaped that jour
ney as to bring the candidate to New York
city in time for the visit Of the COMMITTEES
of ministers headed by the Rev. DR.. Bur-
chard. with the sequel of giving to the
Democrats Rum. Romanism, and Rebel
lion as a war cry for their last charge
upon the Republican works.
When Warner Miiler's successor was 10
be chosen for the Senate, Levi P. Morton
was one OF the candidates, and had more
than a fair prospect of success till Mr.
Platt came out very conspicuously as an adj
voeate of his election. From that hour
ill-luck seemed to attend the Morton can
vass, ard Hiscock. who had wobbled un-
ceasingly between the factions bore OF the
prize In the Republican convention Of
1885, there was every Indication at the out
set that the nomination would go to the
West. With his fngrained habit, however,
of trading under any and all conditions,
Platt made victim OF his friend Depsw.
holding corpoTal's guard in support OF his
nomination for three ballots. and getting
over TO the right side after number OF the
smaller eontingents had rushed to cover.
and it had become plain that everything
was going Harrison's way. The same year
Miller IAN for Governor of New York From
the first he was Suspicious or the sincerity
OF Piatt's oveTtures Of friendship. Hill,
who was running against Miller, organized
foFf SN.aF-l
garded siiler's prohibition leanings with
alarm II was bot fight in both State and
nation. Harrison was victorious. but
Miller "fe!I outside the breastworks-" 1t
evidently did not appear 20 Harrison's Keen
political eye that Piatt had done the most
effective work for him, for he refused Piatt
the favor he most desired, an appointment
as Secretary OF the Treasury, naming Ia
his stead Mr. Window. who was no longer,
in the same sense with Piatt leader in
the party.
Platt nursed his vengeance for four years
ard then convincing Blaine that the time
had come to make last stand Tor the
Presidency induced him to take the field ia
convention against Harrison, mis- ofhclai
chief This was all that was required 70
complete Btaines ruin. He threw away ms
position at the head of the Cabinst, lost
the nomination under most ingloTiou5 con-
ditions. and retired to private life to die
l.
after few months.
Meanwhile there had been another exhi-
bition OF Platt's maleyolent influence in the
politics of his own State. The Republicans
met at Rochester il 1891 TO nominate a
candidate for Governor The people were
thoroughly tired of the Hill administration,
and the situation plainly called for the
choice of a man who should be as far as
possible the opposite of everything repre-
sented by Hill. Andrew d. White, our
present Minister to Germany. had been
sounded on the subject, and there was
general understanding that ne would run II
invited. Platt saw here the chance for an
other shrewd stroke He became very mucH
Interested in the White canvass. he
primcd the newspaper correspondents with
White material L. looked like toTegoAe
conclusion that White would carry on the
nomination.
Suddenly the convention swung around
to. Fassett rich and well-edueated young
man, with presence and style OF era
tory which had Wen him good deal or
following among the youth Of the in
terror CT the State. and who had, there
fore, shown signs enough OF Independence
to make Piatt a trife UncomfortaDie-
i Fassett was nominated, Piatt theatre
caIly bawing to the inevitable. Fas-
seft locked around fer an issue, and
chcss-of all things for State campaign
the dominance of TanInaEy Hail IN Ne"
York CITY. Platt chuckIed softly. Then
! Fassett having some command OF the
German language, went down into the
beer halls on the east side Of New York
and talked TO the GeTnans in their own
tongue; that was all Well enough till. in
order to prove that he was no aristocrat
hut plain man of the people, he threw
oiq his coat and did his speaking in MS
ehirt-sIeayes That settled him with the
Germans, who love sentiment, but despise