New-York tribune., 1901-11-02
HEWITT ANSWERS SHEPARD
CALLS THE CANDIDATES. REPLY To r.,,,
A TISSUE OF MEASUREMENTS


To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: 1 have read Shepards reply to NV co,
munication with increasing pain. II is am
sorry to say, tissue of misstatements 7 have
nowhere said that he had been 'seduced bv the
contagion of Office" but I urged him to decIin.
the Tammany nomination. because others. nor
l. would think that he had sold TO the enemy
have uniformly borne testimony to his sim
cerity. but hake never been able 10 explain his
action any theory which is consistent with
his previous life and record.
He reafiirms the statement that his acceptancs
Of the nomination and mine in 1886 are upon
parallel lines, ignoring altogether the difference
In the issue. which then was Henry George and
is Tammany Hall with its infamous record
He says that I was for years on terms Of
friendly and political association with Richard
Croker" If he means by this statement that
had any such intimate association with him as
1 have had with Shepard, it is entirely untrue
l knew Croker ward leader and when ne
wrongfully accused of murder I aided IN
his defence, but I was never on any terms OF
intimacy with him whatever. My acquaintance
with him ceased while l Mayor, before he
had made the malodorous record which tants
every organization with which he is connected
Shepard states that l chosen to Con-
gress upon Tammany Hall nominations and by
Tammany Hall votes" 1t is true that / had
the Tammany nomination, but always Dy way of
Endorsement of a previous County Democracy
nomination. No imputations made
upon me for taking the nomination. and I never
'repeled with ridicue and indignation attacks"
based on such nomination.
He states that my influence was destroyed by
imputatiOns upon my fellow citizens of Irish
and other foreign birth descent" This is
simply untrue and / challenge Mr. Shepard TO
state the language and the time and the place
where it uttered. II he T fers the Irish flag
incident, L respectfully ask him whether lie is
in favor of repeating the law which forbds the
raising of foreign flags upon public buildings.
and whether if repealed. and he be elected
Mayor, he will raise the Irish flag over the City
Hall.
He seeks to put in a position Of oppo5-
ing universal suffrage because I stated that
the verdict in this election will determine
whether manhood suffrage can be trusted
secure good government This election is
municipal and not general. and my statement
was limited TO the question of the govern
ment of large cities. II Shepard thinks that
universal suffrage is the best form of govern
ment for large aggrega ti0ns of men, he differs
with most statesmen and the best thinkers OF
the day. They all agree that municipal govern
nent is a matter Of business and not of general
politics. They think that ignorance should be
excluded from control. and that the city busi-
should be carried by trained experts
selected upon some other principle than popular
suffrage. In this view / concur
Finally Shepard seems to have discovered
that for years l have looked with complete dis
like and even contempt. upon the Democratic
party; only Tammany- Hall, but the entire
Democratic party, and an sorry to say. with
contempt upon the political virtues Of the great
mass OF his fellow citizens.
| think il is reasonable 10 ask Shepard 10 pro-
duce the evidence upon which he bases this
statement. 1t is absolutely untrue. Up TO the
time when Shepard went over 10 Bryan in the
last election there entire concurrence OF
opinion between US upon all the great issues OF
the day and, as to the Democratic party. cam
not remember the time when he has not CONF
mended such action l have been permitted
to take in Congress. in the national conventions
and elsewhere
His whole statement is unworthy or MIN as q
LAWYER and as a man. 1t goes TO show how rap
idly deterioration Of character takes place wnen
a spotIess man gets. by his own voHtlon, INTO
bad company ABRAA - hE-"1
New-YOrk, Nov. !, 1901.