Carl Schurz

“ Any step calculated to shake their confidence would be destructive of its real strength and of its chances. For it the most honest and most courageous policy will, therefore, also be the safest — in fact, the only safe one. ”

“ At any rate, Boss Platt has concluded that the “best citizens” of the Citizens' Union are, after all, not beneath his notice, and that if they will accept from his hands a Mayor of Greater New York satisfactory to him, he may be willing to consider what they may petition him for as to some of the other offices. In other words, the Republican machine under Mr. Platt's orders has manœuvered itself into a position in which it is open to a dicker. ”

“ The different forces that are to fight the battle of next November for the control of the Greater New York, the Citizens' Union, Tammany Hall, and the Republican machine, are busily engaged in manœuvering for position. Until recently the two organizations of spoilsmen, under the leadership of Boss Sheehan and of Boss Platt respectively, affected to look down upon the Citizens' Union as a loose gathering of childish enthusiasts who should not be taken seriously. ”

“ Such a Democrat will doubtless conclude that if, after a campaign like that of last year, the money question is to drop out of the municipal contest, a mere question of party label will certainly have no place in it, and that it will be his duty to join the side where he may find simply the most and best friends of good government, which will surely not be the side of Tammany Hall. ”

“ While the two spoils organizations are thus laboring to hold their own forces and to win outside adherents by striking conciliatory attitudes, the Citizens' Union has arrived at a critical period in its career. ”

“ Ellery Anderson fitly portrayed the logical consistency as well as the moral principle of the movement. “as a gold man,” he said, “I am ready to say to all silver men, 'You may be right, and you have enough Democracy for me to shake hands with you as Democrats.' The silver issue will not come up again for three years. ”

“ In its latest development the Platt machine has approached Tammany so closely as to all the characteristic elements of wickedness and arrogance that there are many good citizens, even Republicans, who would hesitate to make a choice between the two. ”

“ Ellery Anderson, being now a gold man, does not know whether he will not be a silver man three years hence, does he know whether, calling himself now a Democrat, he will not three years hence be a Republican? There is just as much chance for the one as for the other ”

“ In this way it has not increased the prestige of independent movements, but rather created a certain distrust with regard to them. It is therefore by no means unnatural that many citizens should wish to know the men to be voted for before identifying themselves with this enterprise. ”