New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-29
THE REPUBLICAN, POSITION.

There is little reason for surprise at the HhaI
outcome of the fusion movement. 1he Signs ol
dissolution have been obvious for some unle'
and there would have been. in our oplhion' ho
particular advantage in further Efforts 10 post
pone the inevitable. Several causes may nave
contributed to the unfortunate hasco' put we
feel hound TO saw that the attitude and proceed
ings of the Citizens Union were the chleI GU
stacle to combination of andTammany forces
If Mr.. Cutting as anxious TINS year as lie
has been heretofore to bring about working
alliance in support of the principle OF ef1clent
and non-partisan municipal government ne was
strangely at fault in the methods he employed.
If we assume that, so far as he hlmseH was
concerned. appearances were deceptive, the IacI
remains that many of his nominal followers
have very clearly indicated a strong diSincllna-
ton TO contribute zealously to the defeat OF
Mavor Mcclellan. and there is little risk in say
ing that at the present moment they are secIeuS
pleased that circumstances have relieved them
from the necessity of taking course IN the
campaign which would have been contrary TO
their real preferences
Efforts will of course. be made in various
ouarters-they are indeed, being made already
to show that the fault lies with Mr.. Halpln ana
his Republican advisers. but we hardly think
they will succeed The record is perfectly clear
that the Republican leaders were honestly de-
sirous OF bringing about a genuine, earnest ana
effective combination against Iammany. Ihey
were careful 10 avoid in everything they SAID
and did dictatorial attitude. They announced
their belief that the candidate against Mr.. Nc
Clellan ought TO be a Democrat rather than
Republican. At a later stage, when Mr.. Cut
ting's inconsistent and futile actions had com
PEELED them to take the initiative to some extent
they persistently endeavored TO secure Justice
Gaynors consent to run, thereby furnishing
conclusive evidence that they wanted candi
date fitted by natural capacity, by strong per
sOnality and by public spirit 10 command the
confidence of the public, to secure majority of
the votes and te administer the office OF Mayor
on the highest plane. They maintained through
out position favorable to disinterested con
sultation and it was only when complete proofs
appeared that, by no fault of their own, the
process of conference had broken down and the
hope of an honest union OF the conferrees had
disappeared that they resolved to put an end 10
conditions which had become chaotic and ride
ulous.
The Republican organization will now proceed
with the task Of making an anti-Tammany
ticket presumably with a Republican at its
head. It should be- and we are encouraged to
believe that it viii be. essentially a non-partisan
ticket If the Republican leaders succeed in
giving the people chance to vote for high
minded man who is known to be earnestly com
mitted TO the principle Of non-partisanship in
municipal government which the party has en-
phatically and repeatedly asserted standing on
q platform which, without making any conces-
sion to wild theories. clearly expresses the pre-
vailing aversion to Tammany's system of deal
ing with the corporations, they will commend
more and more to general favor the course
which an unhappy train of circumstances virtu-
ally compelled them 10 adopt