New-York tribune., 1901-10-23
THE SHEPARD OF SHALOTT.

| lodging the Devery issue. He has practically
| retired the constitutional theory that he bor
| rowed from Peter McNulty-no lesser constitu-
| tional authority would do for great lawyer
| like Mr.. Shepard. The McNulty doctrine that
candidate could not tell the people what his
| policy would be on questions which interested
| them but that they must go into blind pool
when choosing their officials, was good enough
| Morgan to get Mr.. Shepard through the speech
| which 1t is said he intended TO make on the
| lines Of the suppressed Kings County anti-Tam-
many campaign pamphlet, but at the last minute
had TO recast. 1t would not stand even friendly
scrutiny. however and was On ali sides pro-
nounced nothing less than absurd. So Mr..
Shepard has hunted up a new reason for the
evasion he is compelled to practise If he is TO
| get the Croker vote to empower him to destroy
| Crokerism. And he has indeed hit upon most
| interesting precedent, which he quotes IN these
words:
Now, three years ago this very month. curiously
enough, this same question arose. and was
treated by a very distinguished man. then and
| now Republican IN politics You will remember
that IN the campaign OF 1898 the Democrats made
what they believed to be a very complete indict-
ment Of the Republican State administration OF
canals under Mr.. Aldridge. That disgraceful
episode was brlited from end OF the State
TO the other. 1t seemed IL popular indigna-
ton would seat the Democratic nominee for
Governor. The Republican candidate in 1895
who, whatever other accusation could be
| brought against him. never accused OF
being tirnid dishonest-was asked in public
TO give pledge Of what he would do with Mr..
| Aldrdge and with others II he became Governor.
Theodore Roosevelt faced the same question.
| He, too, told that II was necessary that
some explicit pledge should be given: He wanted
| to be elected, doubt. He stood up for the
people and said In substance that when he
| became Governor and had taken his oath OF
/ Office he would deal rightly with those charges
against those officials.
A very interesting precedent indeed! Now,
three years ago this very month. curiously
| enough, this question Of the attitude of Theo-
| dore Roosevelt toward the evildoers of the pre-
vious State administration was treated by a
very distinguished man, namely, Edward NJ.
| Shepard And naturally enough-for such incon-
sistences are his daily habit now-Mr. Shepard,
the Van Wyck spellbinder. did not take the
| same view OF the subject that Mr.. Shepard, the
| Croker candidate, does. He denounced Colonel
| Roosevelts acceptance Of the Republican plat
form indorsing the Black administration, and
| condemned his failure to cut loose from the
party which nominated him and speak against
| Aldridge He painted in darkest colors the
conduct Of the Republican party. which, he
| said, was, ostrchlike. dismissing one leader and
| taking up another in the hope of preventing the
| operation OF the wholesome custom of turning
| out a party guilty Of wrongdoing. At the
| Brooklyn Academy Of Music on October 13,
1898, Mr.. Shepard. referring TO Mr.. Roosevelts
declaration that the Republican partys record
showed that ii could be safely trusted, said
What does this mean. If Colonel Roosevelt be
| sincere, and have declared my belief in his
| sincerity? What does 1T mean except this: That
| he approves or forgives the iniquities which
| have outraged the people OF this State. and asks
4 their votes upon the understanding, as / have
| just said, that vote for him shall be counted
vote approving the Republican administration
4 fr6n
pendent, afford to give that kind of approval?
Now, opinions may differ about Colonel Roose-
velt's course In 1898 That is not the point at
| issue Mr.. Shepard in 1898 condemned 1t. In
| 1901 he refers to 1t as noble and quotes 1t
| precedent to justify him for doing what he then
| condemned. He is running as the Tammany
candidate, indorsing the Van Wyck administra-
| ton, with Van Wyck as one of his fellow can
didates. He sneered at Colonel Roosevelt for
| having in Mr. Woodruff, fellow candidate
who stood for the previous administrators
| faults. He refuses to speak against Devery or
! to cut loose from the corrupt organization which
has nominated him, and which seeks, ostrich
like, 10 prevent the operation of the wholesome
| custom OF turning out party guilty OF wrong
| doing What does this mean, II Mr.. Shepard
be sincere, and we have declared belief in his
sincerity? What does II mean except this: That
| he approves or forgives the iniquties which
have outraged the people Of this city. and asks
their votes upon the understanding that a vote
for him shall be counted a vote approving the
Tammany administration in this city2 Can the
good citizens Of this city. whether Democratic,
| Republican or independent, afford to give this
F, kind OF approval?
Was ever man so fated TO trip himself on his
| own moral standards and condemn himself out
Of his own mouth? He runs as the Tammany
4 candidate His ciatioos ofT To rtco
| to confront him He runs away from the issue