New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-08
UR. U.4ZETS DEFEiT.

1t was Mr. Mazcts misfortune or his fault
that he made his campaign for reelection TO the
Assembly handicapped by Crokcrs question,
.Why don't you call plaitT The result Is
vote which in no sense expresses satisfaction
with Tammany government. but only diSSaus-
faction with the failure of an Investigating com
mittec pledged 10 impartial probing 10 do lis
work when brought face 10 face with questions
embarrassing 10 its master The fact that
Judge Blanchard carried this Assembly district
for the Republicans shows that the vote for
ASScmblyman was not Tammany vote, but
was controlled by special causes.
Mr. Maze, made gallant fight in his district,
hut he had 50 opened himself - the IN quoque
argument that he could make little Roadway
among independent citizens. whose votes were
the deciding factor in the contest. These voters
had no doubt of the corruption Of Tammany.
They knew perfectly well that Mr. Croker used
his power in politics to enrich himself his fam
lily and his friends They did not doubt that
The police blacLmailcd vice and that crime
houri>hcd under official patronage. But such
is the constitution Of the average voter that
when he is asked to vote against some party
TO rebule some particular fault he always
looks with particularly t. know if the man
who asks his suffrage is entirely free from
the same fault. Nothing 50 quickly alienateS
The Independent as a suspicion that virtue
paraded before him is a pose, ard Mr. Platt in
sisted on leaving Mr.. Mazct vicariously open
10 that suspicion by his failure 10 clear him
self from the charges Of aiding. through poll
tics private business the same charge that
Mr. Mazct 50 successfully but 50 unavailingly
for himself brought home to Mr. Croker.
Perhaps If Mr. Mazet had possessed differ
cnt temperament than he does he might have
rescued himself from this difficult position. He
was warned Of his danger and directed 10 his
opportunity He might have called Mr. Platt
though unwilling. TO the witness stand and
cleared the Republican party Of the reproach
Of RamapO Of the suspicion Of a Tammany
deal in the Blackwcls Island Bridge fran
chise scheme of the blame for the protection
Of the telephone monopoly through the co-opcra-
ton Of the Legislature and the Tammany au-
thoritlcs under the auspices Of Mr.. Lauter
bach All these matters. which bad an ugly
look from the apparent haste of the Mazct
Committee TO steer away from them. should
have been probed 10 Tie bottom. If Mr.. Platt
and his associates were innocent. proof Of the
fact would have strengthened The party greatly
IN ills city and undoubtedly have given Mr.
| Mazet a reelection Mr. TlattS refusal To re-
] spond 10 the needs Of his party. and Mr. Mazct'~
failure Of himself 10 rise 10 tie occasion. gave
The Democrats the one chance they had 10 break
the force II the revelations against them.
OF course. Tammany will make much boast
of Mr.. Mazct's defeat. but il will really deceive
nobody. True. II win have IFS revenge Oh the
man whose nam was the symbol Of much an
noyanoe 10 It's leaders. but il has gained moth
ing substantial by its victory It's own corrup-
ton is Oh record as much rs ever. 30 man be-
licves I'm il any more than before on account ~
The vote in The NINth District. and whatever
there was Of real value rs pointing tie way TO
better city government IN the testimony gath
cred 10y Mr. Moss IL Stl available for thc pur-
poses Of honest legislators Moreover Mr.
! Stewart is Citizens Union man who Will D."
Of no use for any Tammany schemes IN Al
! bany 50 much consolation Republicans may
derive from the result IN default Of the com
pete victory which Mr. Plat deprived them ~
by his silence and for the absence Of which he
is responsible Mr. Mazets is one more name
added TO the list Of sacrifices to Mr. Patt's per
sOnal ends