New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-04
4 WISE SOLICITUDE.

The report that Republican leaders in Wash
ington are beginning to feel considerable anxiety
about New York is not without interest, whether
true or false Nor is it entirely unwelcome. In
deed we hope it has enough truth in 1t to justify
the party in believing that its managers are not
intending TO proceed Oh the assumption that the
margin of safety is large in this State ana can
be drawn on recklesSly. Before the end or the
campaign that hypothesis may possibly be de-
monstrable, but at the present time the situa-
ton is such as to suggest prudent husbandry
Of whatever advantages the party may possess.
1t would be folly to deny that the conditions are
not wholly satisfactory. Even those who are
personally indisposed to find fault with the Re
publican leadership in NewYork must admit
that it has not thus far welded into compact
and aggressive force the various elements which
compose the Republican party when 1t is strong.
Two years ago Colonel Roosevelt, Just returned
from Cuba with claim to admiration and
with his earlier reputation for moral courage and
independence unimpaired. was elected Governor
by majority that was none too large for COM
fort and that would have been at least con-
siderably smaller If the Democrats had not
made some costly blunders. If he is renomi-
mated this year the military distinction which
played an important part in his first campaign
cannot reasonably be expected to serve the same
constrained to fear that in the general opinion
of those whose enthusiasm was his strongest
resource in 1898 his political value aggres-
sive reformer has been somewhat diminished
since that time. 1t is at least significant that,
having recently gone to Washington under the
impression that he might find it hard to beg off
from running on the National ticket and thus
contributing his own strength to that of the
Administration. he had little or no difficulty in
securing release, the opinion of Republican
leaders at the National capital seeming to be
that he was fortunate in the prospect of being
permitted 10 stand for reelection to the Gov
ernorship in a Presidential year.
Now, this divergence Of views, which was
rather amusing at the time, is not without its
serious aspect especially inasmuch as since his
return from Washington Governor Roosevelt's
side of the case has, to say the least, not been
weakened In comparison with the other side
He. for example. is not in the slightest degree
responsible for the Notifying scandals In the
Cuban postal service, nor If the nomination of
Hazel to a Federal Judgeship is confirmed will
any part of the discredit be fastened on him.
We would not attribute undue Importance to
the report emanating from Chicago that Repub-
lican politicians IN the confidence of the Admin
istration are seriously worried over the State of
New-Yo rk, which, beginning In the sixties has
ever since given It's electoral vote alternately to
the two parties without an exception, and must
break a remarkable series If it is going to fur
nish Republican majority this year; but the
foregoing considerations and others of similar
import, Enthusiastically suggest the reflection that
the party has no chances to throw away in this
State, and therefore afford to make no more
mistakes at the instance of discredited organ-
zation Such degree of anxiety as would natu-
rally serve to dictate scrupulous regard for
enlightened public opinion and prudent use Of
the partys moral capital is not foolish, but COM
mendabe and encouraging.