Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-29
HE WOULD NOT STAND YELITTLING
lFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

really means. Governor Hill is not man
who can be snubbed. He has too large
constituency among the Democrats OF this
State, if not among those throughout the
whole country, to be belittled by any act of
a clique of Mugwumps. Perhaps this is
NOT so well understood outside of New York
as it is here. There is an organization
known as the Tariff Reform Club. This
club has been giving dinner, at which Ex-
President Grover Cleveland was an honored
guest Other prominent Democrats from
various sections of the country were invited
and put in ar appearance to answer the
toasts set out for them.
The intention was to have the Hon.
David B. Hill at the dinner, but owing to a
concerted action on the part of a considera-
bic body of members of the club forming
committee of invitation, Hill refused to at
tend. 1t was not, as has been already al
legged, because Cleveland was to deliver
the address for the Reform Democracy of
New York. Hill is above such littleness,
whatever other faults he may possess. 1t so
happened that TO get general expression of
political sentiment from the representatives
of other sections of the country, it became
necessary to limit the addresses from New
York Democrats to one, and certain it is
that no one Democrat of the State of New
York can so well represent the tariff reform
element as can Grover Cleveland.
Hill Perfectly Understood 1t.
There was no question in the minds of the
committee as to this. There is no question
in the minds of the Democracy of the entire
land as to the wisdom of the committees
choice. Governor Hill understood this
tyan bafora hiS invitation vas
by the mugwumps OF the club. Far above
such petty jealouSies, the Governor was per-
fecJiy willing TO accept whatever place was
assigned him at the festive board of the re-
formed Democracy, and to eat what was set
before him. and to listen with others to
what was said on the occasion, asking no
questions for conscience's sake.
The truth of the whole affair is that the
men who sought TO raise this disturbance in
the household are not Democrats and never
were Democrats. They belong to the genus
Mugwump. and are liable at any national
election to vote the Republican ticket In
this light the whole matter should be
viewed. These men belong to a sort of
swallow-tail crowd of political idiots, for
whom the world is not good enough unless
they can engineer, or think they are en-
giueering, its diurnal course around the
sun. There is a very considerable body,
perhaps, Of this sort of people throughout
the United States who will be in sympathy
with them in any political movement In
the matter of tariff reform, they form the
tail OF the Cleveland forces and are not con-
tent to do all the wagging, but are aggres-
slvely intent upon waggiug the entire body.
Unfortunate Thing for Cleveland.
1t is perhaps unfortunate for Cleveland in
his aspiration for 4 Presidential renomina-
4l,44 Il, ! =
most in defining his position and assuming
10 form the body OF his support, when they
are in reality but the tip end OF the tail, 1t
Is this clique here in New York that raises
the principal part of the racket as to the
hostility between the forces OF David D.
Hill aud Grover Cleveland. This cannot be
100 well understood by the Democracy of
the country. 1 know as a matter OF TACT
that this alleged irreconcilable position OF
the Cleveland and Hill elements so lar as
this State is concerned is largely imaginary.
1t Is true that there are differences of a
nature TO be regretted by every Democrat
But what l mean to say is that these differ
ences are exaggerated by the Mugwump
press of this city, and by those who are
personal enemies of Cleveland or personal
enemies of Hill. The loaves and fishes are
behind It. In graspIng after these there are
always politicians Of a certain stamp who
VIII leave no stone unturned to rule or
ruin.
All this is on the presumption that the
coming general election will hinge upon
what New York does. 1t is altogether a
violent assumption. Considering her
metropolitan importance, New York
furnishes more political idiots than can be
found in any other part of the country.
Your political idiot always forces himself to
the front, and is ALWAYS nimbly climbing
IN the front bars of mis- cage, where he can
be seen at the greatest disadvantage by the
gaping public. Ii is true there are many
undeniably sound political thinkers in this
State as well as elsewhere, who have de-
cided views upon the relative merits of
Cleveland and Hill as prospective Presi-
dental candidates. Their opinions on the
one hand are based upon the fact that
majority Of the Democracy of tie country
is IN favor OF tariff reform and favorable to
the immediate repeal of the Mckinley act.
Sound Reasons for Differences.
They fear Grover Cleveland because he
represents in a large measure more distinctly
the tariff reform idea than any other man OF
prominence who has a record US runner be-
fore the people. On the other hand, the
supporters of David B. Hill believe in that
gentleman as not only good runner in this
STATE, but as a Democratic leader who is
supposed to stand in the shoes of that other
eminent Democrat of the past, Samuel j.
Tilden. Unquestionably there are sound
reasons for the believers on both sides. The
question of party policy is always fair and
open one, but it should be settled in fair
and open manner
In this sense the differences between the
two elements above mentioned are not ire
concilable. If the Democratic party stands
aside and permits few silk-stockiup Mug
wumps TO dictate the course of the partv,
either as to its principles or its candidates,
1t is not the Democratic party of the past,
and is wholly unworthy of the suffrages OF
the people. Contrast the position of David
=. Hill on these political differences with
that of the people who have attempted in
petty spite to InflIct blow upon his political
prospects by refusing him an invitation to
the Democratic lovefeast That he can rise
above such small things is fully evidenced
by his honorable course during the last
Presidential campaign, and later in the CAM
paign which resulted in such a sweeping
victory Tor the general Democracy.
Radicals on Both sides.
1t is one Of the miSfortunes attending
Cleveland's present political movement that
these political idiots happen to think as he
does upon a single important issue now be-
fore the people. He is by no means to
blame for that If lot of political trick
sters and spoilsmen are behind Governor
HIll it does not indicate that he is in sympa-
thy with them. 1t is therefore just to Cleve-
land TO give him credit for an independence
OF the FOOLS who are blowing horns as his
footmen and outriders.
In this connection it NAV be safely as
serted that the rabid utterances of the chief