The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-26
GOV. HILLS NARROW ESCAPE.
He Forgot His Speech but Gained Time
to Recall 1t.
From the Netc York TIrilttn

From the Ne,c York Tribune
ALBANY, Jan. 14-It is related of Lord
Jeffrey, the famous editor of the Edinburgh
RerieW, that he was once so overwhelmed
by the physical bullliness and pOmposity of
manner of Mayor Of Edinburgh of giant
stature who was going through the cere-
mony of presenting the freedom of the
Scottish capital to Jeffrey that he, being a
small man, could not speak word in reply
the words that came so easily at the tip
of his pen sticking in his throat-and he
had to dumbly look his thanks for the
honor. This must have been what the
actors term ''stage fright" | heard the
other day that Gov. Hill, who is
usually credited with possessing a rarely
cool head, once suffered from this same
''stage fright" and was struck dumb as JEFF
FREY was-but rescued himself as Jeffrey
did not. And it was critical point in his
career, when he was candidate for Gov
elnor, when failure of such an embarrass-
inc kind as that of "stage fright would
have worked disastrously. The phrase
which rescued him was one which will prob
ablV ALWAYS be mentioned when his pOliti-
cal career is related: 81 am a Democrat"
Mr.. Hill had come to Brooklyn to make
speech as the Democratic candidate for
Governor and il was to he delivered at the
Academy of Music. The floor, the two
great galleries and the stage of the Acade-
nv were packed with jealous Democrats
When Gov Hill was brought forward at a
dramatically fitting moment to be intro
duced and the band struck up Hail to the
Chief" the audience "rose at him" in an
luexampled manner. Never was such
cheering given or enthusiasm manifested in
Brooklyn, said a prominent Democrat after
ward. There were peculiar reasons for the
party zeal displayed. 1t was in the height
of the campaign Election day was fast APP
proaching, and it then looked rather doubt
ful if Mr.. Hill would be elected. 1t was
thus in the faces of about 1000 intensely in
terested partisans that Mr.. Hill looked as he
stood at the edge Of the platform trying to
begin his speech. He was appalled, by the
volume Of the cheering and the frenzy of it,
All ewes were directed upon him in the vast
audience the beginning OF his care
fully prepared speech went out OF his head:
He could not think a word of 1t. The hall
had become almost silent and most of the
audience we're listening intently to hear the
first word the Governor would utter. Stlll
he could not remember his speech. 10
gain time he impulsively said: II am
Democrat II was wholly impromptu; the
Governor anticipated only a moments
respite for himself from it. But the phrase
acted like stroke of lightning upon the
minds of the fervent Democrats present.
There was an explosion of cheers in response
TO the Governor which almost broke tne
windows. Cheer followed cheer until IL
seemed as il the audience never would sIop
their throats The Governor found it inn
possible 10 continue his speech for ten min
mes even il he had desired 70 do 80.
But the phrase had been "happy thought
10 him. While the cheering was going on
he had time TO think, the points q his
eneech came 20 him. and be was saved from
de consequences OF his stage ffi9nh