The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-16

for many years, was established In the cellar
of Cooper Union on Dec. 20, 1880. More than
this, the eminent Democrat SAMUEL j. I'LL
DEN selected, on Sept. 8, 1871. that same cellar
to inaugurate that brilliant campaign
against fraud, force, and corruption, which
eliminated In his election to the Presidency
OF the United States.
1t was in this Same cellar that, on Oct. s.,
1883, DAVID BENNETT HILL met the people
OF New York. in compliance with the in-
vtaton OF the labor organizations, ad-
dressed the workingmen upon the issues
OF that year 1t was In this cellar that
the Committee OF Seventy was organized in
1871; that ADRIAN S. HEWITT, who appointed
Col. VooRHIs to his present post, was nom
mated in 1886; that EDWARD COOPER, who
also appointed Col. VooRHIs to an Office,
was nominated in 1878; and 1t was In this
Same cellar that WILLIAM f. HAvEMEYER
was put up by the Republicans for Mayor OF
this town, ono of the first fruits OF his cleo
ton being the appointment to office OF Col.
VooRHIs, who had been asupporter OF that
Republican candidate.
SO far as Col. VooRuIS Is concerned.
good results may, therefore, DO said to
have attended not only cellar gatherings
but also cellar nominations. 1t Is quite I'M
likoly that he made the remark attributed
to him. As everybody ought to know, and
as every Democrat certainly does know,
there are two excellent reasons why cellar
or ground-noor gatherings are especially
popular In the first place, there Is more
room for tho assemblago and entertain
ment Of citizens down stairs than up stairs.
less risk Of danger, and less Alpine climb
Ing required. few cronies may meet In
an attic, but the rank and file OF great
party demands q big hall and gets 1t.
In the second place, it Is the theory OF real
Democracy to start on bed rock and build
upward. 1t is abhorrent aud distasteful to
every Democratic sentiment that such
thing us back-parlor policies should be
established. No man living In the present
generation, and enjoying contemporary and
not mortuary political friendships, could
imagine for a moment that the Democrats
Of New York would tolerate any back parlor
leadership while tho franchise Is free and
representative government endures.
1t must be evident, therefore, that Col.
VooRHIs did not use, and could not have
used, the expressions attributed to him; and
this view Is COrrODOTuIcu ny uuOIncl SLSuLA-
stance. Col VooRuIs Is by business stair
builder. AS matter OF trade, II not OF pol
itics, he might certainly like to see all
political meetings, and indeed all other
public transactions, held as far from ground
as possible, for if by some circumstance all
the business of life had to be done on the
fifth or sixth floor. boom In stair building
would result, and the stair builders would
soon rival the plumbers and icemen in
affluence. AS an individual Col. VooRH1s
might be glad to SEQ all business done
on housetops, and those housetops reached
by stairways of novel design and profit
able pattern; but that, speaking as
Democrat. he would wish to add to the
profits OF his business at the sacrifice OF
Jefrersonian ideas is incredible.
Col. VooRHIs is too good Democrat and
too experienced politician to be led into
any Incorporate or injudicious remark by
the excitement Of the moment; and 1t Is
probable that his reference to his fellow Dem.
ocrats has been incorrectly reported.