The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-23
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY. SEP. 2s.
WHY FAssETr WILL BE ELECTED.

The condition of the political parties IN
New York is of exceptional interest this
year. The result has hitherto been that
New York state is Republican in presI-
Dental year, but Democratic in all others.
The Democrats claim it as one OF their
states, but 1t is difficult TO explain the
periodical detection except on the ground
that they trade off their votes on national
for political offices. If that be the explana-
tion-and it is only courtesy to question
it instead of asserting 1.-THE election OF
J. SIoat Fassett is assured, and he VIII
enter upon his term with the prestige OF
having been the first Republican governor
since the featherhead. Alonzo b. Corneii,
benefited by Kelly's revolt against the
main body Of the party.
The positive points in Fassett's favor
are that his nomination Is the result OF
completely united action Of the Platt and
Warner Miller influences, and that he
unites in himself ali the long warning ele-
ments of the Republican party, in addi-
ton to his own strong personal popu-
larity.
advance his cause by weakening that Of
the enemy are more complicated. Flow
er's success will be no advantage to Hill.
lie was not the choice of Hills friends;
he has always been Cleveland man when
he was not a Flower man. There is no
patronage in the power of the in
coming governor which cannot be
limited by a legislative majority.
Hill is safe for six years in the United
States Senate, and if he cannot secure the
Democratic nomination for the presidency
next year, he is left with fighting chance
four years later. The selection OF Sheehan
for lieutenant governor against HILLS
wishes is not calculated to strengthen his
interest in success; but above all, Hill
wants no such impression over the United
States as that any man, except himself, can
carry New York state for the Democracy.
His personal prominence in the Demo-
cratic party in his state is the sole claim
he has for consideration before the national
convention, and if it be shown by Flowers
success at the polls in November that any
Democrat, Cleveland the reformer, Hill
the politician, or Flower the type of cor
porate influence, can carry the state, it
passes out of the range of doubt and is
worthy of less consideration from party
standpoint than Connecticut. 1t is not
invariably loyal states which secure the
most homage from conventions, or Vir-
gnia would be still the mother of presi-
dents; and it is not the great swelling ma
jorities which command honor, or Texas
would lead in political Importance.
Hill and Tammany are hand in glove.
They can together call the turn in New
York city. The indications are that Fas-
sett will be governor, the legislature will
be an open fight, but the city offices will
nearly all go to Tammany and make that
organization all powerful hereafter on
Manhattan. Tammany needs the aid of
the machine politicians of New York city.
The County Democracy was shut out from
Saratoga by her Vaccinations but the day
of reckoning comes at the polls and unless
Tammany has an understanding with the
Republicans the ballots of the County
Democrats added TO those of the Repub-
licans would wipe out the Tammany vote
and elect the entire Republican ticket.
This is the condition at the present mo-
ment; it does not seem possible that any
modification can he made in time to affect
the result. Flower has sought the nomi-
nation for long time and he viii now
find it barren honor, and Sheehan will
regret that he did not take Hills advice.
1t is pretty old story. Sheehan has at
tanned his eminence with the speed of a
rocket and now imagines himself one of
the fixed stars Hill builds his strength
on kelly's lines and they require
that whenever a man imagines himself
bigger than the chief he must be ruthlessly
disciplined. Hill can magnify his own
importance and diminish that of rival as
pirants by defeating Flower, and he can
accomplish it by holding back the few
thousand votes necessary to diminish the
majority against Fassett south of the Har
lem river. He can do it with Croker's
help, and all Croker wants is control of the
city offices.
Senator Fassett's own brilliant record
insures him a favorable reception any
where in the state outside of strict party
lines; but in the city. which is hopelessIy
Democratic, mems merits count as moth
ing, and ali calculations must be based
upon the motives of the political wire
pullers.