New-York tribune., 1900-06-24
"THE DRTVELLER FROM NEW-YORK."

Lemuel E Quigg's denial which does not deny
the important feature of General Charles H.
Grosvenors accusation about the suppression
from the platform of a plank declaring the Re
publican doctrine of the power of Congress over
territory is so grotesquely egOustlcal and self
sufficient that the first impulse is TO pass it by
as an ordinary specimen of Quiggery. But the
colossal impudence of this young mans eXpla-
nation Of the great reasons Of state which led
him in the regular performance of his duties as
platform reviser to blue pencil the work of in
significant and inexperienced men like Senator
Foraker, General Grosvenor, the members of
the Presidents Cabinet, and even the President
himself excites wonder when time is allowed
for it to sink into the consciousness. He says
he did not unfairly and surreptitiously,' as
General Grosvenor charges. cut out this plank
from the platform But be considered that the
plank was much too long and too much re-
sembed a political essay" He thought it
neither advisable nor necessary TO make
declaration on the question. AS an act of con-
descension in writing the platform he employed
the language Of Senator Foraker so far as it
was consistent with true craftsmanship and he
is sure that in whatever he did he had the sup
port of the subcommittee and everything was
regular
Possibly he is technically correct great
juggler with words like the gifted Quigg might
have got the subcommittee to agree to his
changes without fully realizing what it did He
who holds men spellbound by his glttering eye
and outstretched Iorefnger can easily hypnotic
a committee into deep sleep. But the fact re-
mains that the platform. TO everybody's aston
ishment, contains no word with reference to
one OF the most important questions on which
the Republican party has been called upon to
act. And the explanation of it is that Quigg
overruled the President. General Grosvenor de-
clares that the missing plank was prepared
under the eye Of the President himself and 1t
might well have been. for it is an admira BILE
expression Of the principle which the Republi-
can party in Congress followed in legislating
for the welfare Of our new possessions. while
avoiding the dangers of trying TO rule them
under laws made for our own local conditions.
Il is piece of work which would have done
the President credit if he had written It him
self and by all considerations of consistency.
straightforward dealing and public education it
should have found its place in the Republican
platform. The suppressed words. which Gen
eral GrosvenOr asserts, on the authority of Sen
ator Foraker, were understood by the commit
tee 10 be part OF the platform read as follows.
We reassert the principle which was the watch
word OF the Republican party in its first great
battle. OF which Abraham Lincoln was the illus
trtous champion. and which he was elected
President, that Congress has full egisla tive
power over territory belonging 10 the United
States, subject only 70 the fundamental safe
guards OF liberty. Justice and personal rights
General GrosvenOr says that this plank.
straightforward intelligent and written in
good English. agreed upon first by the Presi-