New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-13
THE DEMOCRATIC CONTENTION


The favorite son of the saloons scored an
easy victory at Buffalo yesterday. The con-
yention was merely so much clay in the hands
of David b. Hill. No other candidate except
Hill was presented for the Governorship. No
ones wishes except Hills were consulted by
the Platform Committee in the preparation OF
the leading resolutions. The weighty re-
monstrance against his nomination, signed by
leading Democrats representing the better ele-
ment-the progressive element-in the party,
at Hills dictaton was contemptuously disre-
garded. He was named for the greatest Office
within the gift of the people of this Common
wealth by reclamation.
To state these facts IS to show that New
York Democracy has earned-as 1t has so often
earned before-the condemnation of all intelll-
gent voters who 90 to the ballot-boX aiming to
secure the common advantage. Mr.. HIPS con-
spicuous unftness for the Executive chair is
notorious The u1vanished record Of his
course since he succeeded Mr.. Cleveland is the
campaign document which will defeat him.
He has steadily written himself down an I'M
scrupuous demagogue. He has prostituted his
position to serve his own and his party's mar
connection with the Aqueduct job is so dis
graceful as to recall the rottenest days OF the
Tweed era. His veto of the Saxton bill, like
his treatment of other measures providing Tor
ballot reform, proves that he is opposed to do
ing anything to protect the right OF suffrage
I which is calculated to curtail the power OF
Democratic bosses. His veto of the High
| License bills and of related legislation attests
that he is at once the slave and the darling OF
the rum power; that in the conflict of that
power with the aroused public sentiment of
the State he can be depended upon to betray
the peoples best interests, and fight for the
saloons from first to last. That is the can
ddate whom the Democracy has renomnated
by reclamation for Governor 1t has OF late
been a favoritc remark of the assistant Demo-
cratic newspapers that the Democratic party
was growing better. "The Evening Post ]"
| of this city went so far the other day as to
argue that "a Transformation of parties has
| been going on for four years, which changes
the political attitude of the intelligence and
morality of the Nation, and ranges the pre-
| ponderance of these ruling forces on the side
Of the Democratic party" How preposterous
all such talk seems in the light of HIPS as
tendency!
The platform matches the candidate. II is
! tricky and evaSive. 1t will not please honest
men, 1t endeavors to produce the impression
/ that Mr. Cleveland is not running as Free
Trader by quoting a sentence or two from his
| letter of acceptance, in which he makes pitt
full attempt to avoid the logical conclusions
| e L. of l1acomhQr
few patitudes in regard to the fisheries, i'm
ported contract labor and trusts which simply
serve 10 call attention 20 the fact that the
/ Democratic position on those points will not
bear examination. The liquor plank is the old
! familiar eve are opposed to sumptuary laws'
a form of words which Democratic conven-
/ tons are accustomed to use when they mean
! TO be understood as saying eve are not OPP
posed to unlimited Whiskey." The ballot-re-
form plank is another arrant piece of hypoc-
rsy, and will merely provoke derision. The
arraignment Of the Republican party for
persistently neglccting and refusing to pro
vide for an enumeration is an insult to the
I popular intelligence. A Republican Legisat-
ure faithfully performed that duty but the
constitutional Census bill which it passed was
vetoed by the Governor, on strictly partisan
grounds. "The moral Support' which such a
convention extends to MeSsrs. Gladstone and
Parnel cannot he of much service to those
leaders, nor to the cause they represent.
The two parties have now placed their tick
cts in the field and the issue is plain one
Warner Miller and the homes against David
b. Hill and the saloons; Warner Miller and the
4 Il.
caters; Warner Miller and the forces that make
for progress, good morals, genuine reform,
against David b. Hill and the forces that men
ace the public welfare. That is the issue,
and the Republicans welcome the fight.