New-York tribune., 1900-07-20
THE PLAZA HOTEL CONFERENCE.

The gentlemen who met at the Plaza Hotel on
Wednesday evening for the purpose of raising
an independent standard to which they can
repair when the political contest gets under
way talked intemperately for several hours,
issued a statement of prejudices and maze
arrangements to be represented at the confer
cnce of Gold Democrats in Indianapolis next
week. 1t is officially announced that they did
not select a candidate for President or even
mention the conqueror of Manila as a suitable
leader of the anti-expansion contingent. The
names of five or six Of those who were present
are generally known; the others are strange to
the public. though each is presumably dear to
many personal friends of the bearer. We do
not say this in disparagement Of the gathering,
but merely state the fact Indeed, we have
noted with pleasure the absence of more than
one person whose solictous participation in
such movements heretofore has been so sug-
gestive of a longing to attract observation by
the easiest means to provoke in newspaper
offices a strong inclination to drop the advance
copy of his remarks in the waste basket We
have no reason 10 doubt that nearly all of the
thirty or more Plaza cOnferrees were present
under a strong conviction that they had duty
to perform. and that in reviewing the proceed
lngs the only thing which any one of them
regrets is the interference of others with the
better plan Of operations which he had him
self carefully devised to meet the precise emer-
gency.
1t is likely to be said that such a gathering
OF men who are for the most part unknown,
and therefore possess no authority excepting
within the domestic circle, exponents of
civic virtue can have possible effect upon
the result of a conflict in which millions of
voters are preparing to take part without
shadow of uncertainty as to the issues involved
or of misgiving to the side they ought to
support. But we think it is a mistake to attrib
ute no importance whatsoever to an affair Of
this sort. 1t will be generally admitted that
the thoughts of those who engage in it are con-
fused and their moral sense is distorted, but
their proceedings tend powerfully to clarity
the minds and purify the consciences of a large
number of persons who commonly need some
assistance in discerning political truth or are
disposed not TO form an opinion until all varie-
ties of opinion have had hearing. Such cit-
zens-not the most admirable part of the com
munity but nevertheless an element to be
considered in the calculation of results-can
scarcely fail to reflect that a movement fit and
destined TO command respect and allegiance
could not originate in this manner The first
advocates of great causes have sometimes been
obscure and seemingly feeble but they have
never relied proclamations which were at
once untruthful and strident.
It is not improbable that a third ticket, osten-
sibly appealing to all the virtues. will be put in
the field, and that among those to whom it will
prove attractive exponents Of the vice of hypoc-
risy will be conspicuous. 1t will find some
supporters. no doubt of the kind represented at
Wednesday evenings conference-citizens who
sincerely mean to live up to their own definition
of patriotism. But thus far there is no reason
TO believe that it will be dangerous to the
credit and welfare of the country.