Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-12
lSENA TOR HILLS LETTER.

The letter of the Hon. Benjamin Hill,
United States Senator from Georgia, to Rep
resentative Chittenden, of New York, furn-
ishes another one of those political idiosyn-
crasies for which this distinguished gentle
man has rendered himself SO conspicuous
MIR. Chittenden has, for several years, been
one of the leading Republicans of the popu-
lar branch of Congress During his several
terms, his course has been one of intense
hatred to the South and almost every speech
that he has made has been saturated with
the most violent and damning abuse of
the Democratic party. There are, perhaps,
but few members in the Republican ranks,
who has rendered themselves more obnox-
ious because Of their bitter partisan speeches
than Mr.. Chittenden. Notwithstanding all
this, Senator Hill hastens to write Mr.. Chit
tenden a private letter of coincidence on his
recent defeat. When we come to remem-
Der that it was the State of New York which
lost us the election of General Hancock, and
that in all probability Mr.. Chittenden aided
e"7 AiuSh 90 AhJ OIhOl lNCpuDllcdh
in that State to bring about this result, this
letter certainly comes with bad grace from
from one who holds the relation which Sen
ator Hill does towards the South and to the
Democratic party which has elevated him
to the position he now occupies.
But this racy piece of political literature
does not stop at the expression of his condo
lence but goes on to say: "The Democratic
ought to be disbanded. The Republican
party is hated at the South and, therefore,
it ought to be disbanded. Whether this
hatred is just or not makes no difference.
l would be glad to see a great National
Union party organized, for l believe that
the government formed by the Constitution
is a Nation" The Baltimore Gazette in
speaking of this clause of Senator Hills let
ter, says:
No one knows better than Mr. Hill that
the fundamental ideas for which the two
parties commended had their origin with the
birth of the Republic, and that they must,
under the peculiar conditions of our national
existence, continue to be the subject of par
tisan discussion for many years to come.
Even if Mr.. Hill could persuade consider
able number of persons to join him in the
effort to disband the Democracy he would
find the task beyond the power of any hui
man agency. Democratic principles must
continue to be indestructible so long as the
U Mon lasts, and the defeat of November Cd
only provides an additional and more urgent
reason for their perpetuity as the only pos
sible barrier to the encroachments Of cen
tralization and Republican lust of power.
The most sublimely interesting and touch
ing portion of this letter, is that part in
which Senator Hill takes occasion to give
expression of his admiration for General
Garfield. 1t is so mild, so frank, he is evil
IDENTIFY unmoved by any of the crumbs of
Executive patronage, it evidently comes
gushing from the heart, as streams from the
hillside
really like Garfield lido sincerely hope
he will have a successful administration n.
lie has the ability for the crisis. Garfield
has no idea how / feel towards him, and
how anXiously | wish for his success, and |
suppose if he did know he, like Mr.. Hayes,
would be afraid that it would injure him
with his party.
What apparent cnnging! what fawing at
the footstool of patronage! But we are not
surprised at any movement that Senator
Hill may make on the political chess-board.
1t was owing as much to his course of action
as any other man in Congress, that Hayes
was fraudulently installed into Office, and
the movement was made from interested
motives. Want of space prevents us from a
more extended criticism