New-York tribune., 1888-04-13
GOVERNOR HILLS "CREDIT.n

Governor Hill has made an explanation oil
the appearance of his name upon certain pieces
of queer politico- commercial paper But the
only effect of the explanation in intelligent
circles will be to make the notes bearing his
signature look qucerer than before Listen to
the Governor:
Near The close of the campaign Of 1885 the Demo
cratic State Committee short OF funds, and ap-
pealed TO me to help them. ! consented to lend
them my credit, and, together with Judge Alton b.
Parker and Judge W. J. Muller, the chairman and
secretary of the Executive Committee, ! signed a
note with them Joint makers for $1,000, which
Mr. John Keenan,, Of New-fork, also member OF
the State Committee, and a prominent County De
mocracy man, then OF excellent reputation. cashed
for the committee, which received and used the
avails In the canvass. also, upon Ike request,
signed another note for $4,000 which was Endorsed
by my friend Judge Muller, the secretary, and also
(as / subsequently, learncd by Mr.. John OBrien, the
chairman OF the state Committee, who procured 1t
to be discounted at his bank, and the committee
used tho avails in the legitimate expenses OF the
campaign. Aside from my own contribution this
was all | had personally to do with the finances Of
the committee.
Now the reader will observe that what the
Governor did was to loan the Democratic Com
mittee his Credit" and that the "crediV'
which he thus placed at its disposal was some
thing "aside from my own personal contrbu-
tion.o What nonsense is this David Is. Hill
has never figured among the men of the De-
mocracy of this State whose "credit' could be
banked on Ii it was "credi0 which the Dem
ocratic Committee was after-fnancial credit
it might have turned to Roswell p Flower
Of this city, or to Erastus Corning, of Albany.
But it certainly would not have resored to
,r-oYI1 baUa bpQn their
man if they wanted caucus manipulated or
a convention packed, but his credit'-bah.
What the committee was after was the politi-
cal influence, present and prospective Of this
Governor of New York And Hill must have
realized that fact when he signed those notes,
one Of which was cashcd by q Democratic
statesman now residing in Montreal for cause,
and the other discounted by the bank at which
Contractor OBrien, of aqueduct fame, does
business. What induced John keenan,, what
induced Contractor O'Bren TO be thus gen
crouS? Did it never occur to Mr.. Hill that a
lively sense of future favors," favors to be re-
ceved from the Governor of the State, had
anything to do with their conduct in relation
TO his "credit'? Did it never occur to Mr.
Hill that it was grossly improper for the chief
public official Of New-York 10 be engaged in
such transaction? Or does he hold that he
has the right to employ the Goyernorship as
the tender of the Democratic machine during
a political canvass?
The Governors assertion at the end of his
explanation, that "the aqueduct legislation of
the next year had nothing whatever to do with
these matters" will not be accepted as cOnclu-
sive. The present occupant Of the Executive
chair has made record for narrow and un-
scrupulous partsanship which fully warrants
the public in believing that if this note scandal
could be probed to the bottom Hill would be
covered with confusion.