Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-20
.1rFspAy. JAnrARy 30. 1901.
GOVERNOR HILL AND THE PRESIDENCY

GOVERNOR HILL AND THE PRESIDENCY
AS it is quite possible and even prob
able that Governor David Bennett Hill,
of New York, will be the next Demo-
cratic nominee for the presidency, it is
important that Democrats and the peo-
pie generally should be made acquainted
with certain facts in that gentleman's
political career as to which there is a
general misapprehension. The other
day the Atlanta Constitution, whose
editor has been on to New York city
lately, says that Governor Hill can carry
New York, New Jersey and Connecti-
cut, and that with Ex-Governor Gray on
the ticket for vice-president he can most
surely carry Indiana. This is true, and
no Democrat should forget for moment
that the party needs man who can
surely carry those states. Filagree specu-
Iation as to our ability to carry such states
as Illinois and Iowa and Ohio in pres
idential year may as we'll be dismissed
by sensible people. If we should man
age to do so, we'll and good. But we
should keep our eye on practical poll
tics, and play the same game.
A great many Democrats have an idea
that Governor Hill and his friends were
not loyal to Mr.. Cleveland during the
last presidential contest. There is abso-
lutely no foundation for this notion. 1t
is the more absurd because the truth of
the matter is that many of President
'Cleveland's friends, particularly the
Nugwump newspapers, were engaged
pouring hot shot into Governor Hill
every day Of the campaign. Mr.. Stein
way, the great piano manufacturer, and
aigentleman high in the councils of the
Democratic party, has said that Mr..
Cleveland, at a formal dinner at the
white house, acknowledged to him Gov.
ernor Hills great services in the contest
of1SS8. As Mr.. Steinway is very close
friend of both of those distinguished
Democrats, that ought to settle the
question forever. But the facts speak
for themselves. Early in that campaign
Governor Hill said to the Democratic
managers, Pay no attention to
"me. 1 am willing to take my
i'chances, and 1 believe that I
1.shall surely he elected. But the
=tnational ticket is in danger. Concen-
-'trate all your energies on that" He
mot only made every imaginable effort to
pull Cleveland through in the empire
state, but he abandoned his own can
vass and went off to Indiana and Ohio,
and to other points, to do yeoman's SER
vice for the national Democracy. 1t is
. noteworthy circumstance that at all
points where Governor Hill appeared
the Democratic vote was largely in
creased.
And when we come to look at it, this
is very natural All that is needed to
assure the success of Democratic men
and measures, for the United States is
overwhelmingly Democratic on a fair
poll, is that typical Democrat should
appear to rally them. Governor Hills
watchword, 81 am Democrat" had an
electrical effect. lie was very particu-
lar to add that he thought there were
enough Democrats of intelligence and
business capacity to fill the offices. No
man ever carried on a campaign on
sauarer basis than did Governor Hill
in 1883. Walking down to the edge of
the platform, from which he spoke, New
York's model governor looked the Mug
wumps in the eye, and told them that
he did not want their votes. He said.
repeatedly, that if there were not enough
Democrats, and men who had embraced
Democratic principles, to elect him, he
did not wish to be elected.
If ever there was politician imbued
with q knightly sense of honor, it is cer-
tainly Governor Hill. In no phase of
his personal or political career can there
be discovered the slightest trace of a
'ssneak" game. His conduct of the
affairs of the great state of New York at
tained the highest notch of statesman
shin possible in uneventful times. OF |
course he is no favorite with Republican
journals, and for very good reason-he |
is a sure winner. With disaffected |
Democratic journals and the whole Mug
wump variety Of journalists, from George
William Curtis in Harper's Weekly |
down, hanging on his hanks, he always
reaches the winning post hands down.
The louder their outcries the surer he
is of success. The only thing to do with
an opponent like Hill is to hate him and
slander him, and to hope that his own
party may be stupid enough to drop him
for somebody that can be beaten.
The running qualities OF the governor
Of New York have been demonstrated in
too many contests to bequestioned now.
When Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Hill ran
together for governor and lieutenant
voyernor of New York. in 1882, Cleve-
and was elected governor by $4,000
while Mr.. Hill was elected
acknowledgements by 1917 900 plurality.
When Cleveland ran for president in
684, Mr.. Cleveland carried the empire !