Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-31
SATURDAY, MAY 81, 1890.
THE ROAD TO DEMOCRATIC VICTORY


There is road to Democratic victory
in the United States just now that is so
clearly indicated that ordinary land
: marks are blotted out. Governor David
Bennett Hill so decisively outlines a
sagacious programme that his president
ial advent would be like a blazing bea-
con through the woods such as so often
Z marked the progress of the old Mohican
tribe of Indians through the primeval
forests of New York.
Governor Hill has really been a chiv-
alrous Democrat. When, in 1880, Presi-
dent Arthur peremptorily dictated the
selection of Judge Folger, his secretary
of the treasury, as the Republican can
didate for governor, the question arose
as to whether the federal govern
ment should be the dictator in all
concerns, state and national. The
interposition of the president in
this special development of state
politics naturally created a tremen-
dous excitement, and the outrage was
intensified and made specially peculiar
by the fact that Judge Folger was one of
the most popular men in the empire
state, his conspicuous defeat thus be-
coming monumental.
In that election Mr.. Cleveland was
chosen governor by the largest majority
ever received by candidate for chief
magistrate of any state. Under the
eclat of such tremendous victory the
fact was overlooked that while that gen.
tleman was elected by $4,000 majority,
Mr.. Hill was chosen as lieutenant-gov-
ernor by 1877 900 majority. This large
vote was remarkable testimony to the
popularity of Governor Hill.
If that fact had not conspicuously
demonstrated the exceptional strength
of the present governor of New York,
later events would have put it beyond
peradventure. Mr.. Cleveland was a
notably popular man, and deserved his
high standing in the Democratic party.
Yet while Mr.. Cleveland was only elected
over Mr.. Blaine in 1884 by eleven hun
dred majority, Mr.. Hill was elected gov
ernor the next fall by eleven thousand
majority over Republican politician of
exceptional sagacity, experience and
popularity.
That there was nothing unusual in
Mr.. Hills run in the empire state when
he was associated with Cleveland was
shown by the tremendous vote he re-
ceived in 1888. While Mr.. Cleveland
was beaten by considerable vote, Gov
ernor Hill was elected by very hand
some margin. There has probably never
been so entirely cruel misrepresenta-
ton as that which assumed that Cover
nor Hill was unfaithful to Mr.. Cleve-
land. On the contrary, he was devoted
to his great chief with something like
the ardor which characterized the rela-
tions of David and Jonathan. He was
not only kindly to Mr.. Cleveland, but
he tried to rouse the Democracy
of the empire state to the
danger that encompassed the national
ticket. In some respects he differed in
opinion with Mr.. Cleveland. The Mug
wump journals and politicians that
efusively supported Mr.. Cleveland
hated and vilifed Governor Hill. But
at all times Mr.. Hill was loyal and cor
dial to his chief.
That Governor Hill can carry
the state of New York goes
without saying. Whether the ad-
mirable ex-president could or no
is an open question, because he has a
of
are such men as ex-Mayors Cooper
Grace and Hewitt, and he has been
beaten once. The reappointment of
Mr.. Pearson as postmaster OF New
York, with over four thousand Repub-
lican employees continued in office, has
created resentments in the empire state
that cannot be ignored.
There has never been an instance in
the political history of the United
States in which man who has been
once defeated for president was ever
elected again. The American people
have a fashion of ratifying their own
judgments, right or wrong, and even so
popular man as Henry Clay could not
modify the fashion. Under such cir
cumstances it would seem that the GER
tain road to victory lies in the nomina-
tion of Hill.
As goes New York so goes the union.
That distinction once belonged TO Penn
sylvania, as an incident of her October
elections. The keystone state voluntar-
lily relinquished this invidious dis
tinction. New York has succeeded to
the perilous honor.
Probably in 1896 New York will not
determine the result of the presidential
election, but in 1892 she undoubtedly
will. Hill can carry this pivotal state.
His selection as the Democratic stand
ard-bearer would therefore not only
seem wise but exigent.