The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-05
Mr.. HIPS Manifesto.

The speech which Governor HILL deliv-
cred yesterday at Emira will be read In
Washington to-day before the meeting of
the Democratic caucus to name the Speaker.
1t will be read with widely different emo
tions by those members OF the House who
are inclined to favor the Mugwump-CLEvE-
LAND programme Of q single issue. repre-
sented in the Speakership contest by the
free trade and income tax candidate. and
by those Democrats whose loyalty is for
their party and whose programme is vic
tory next year. We should say that II
there be any Democratic members OF the
Fifty-second Congress who are still waver-
ing between the MILLS or Mugwump idea
of party policy and the Democratic or anti
MILLS idea. the remarkable speech printed
on another page ought to afford them
good grounds for prompt and satisfactory
decision.
With the boldness Of political genius Gov
ernor HILL pushes directly to the front the
very issue which Mr.. MILLS and his Mug
wump hackers. and Mr.. CLEVELAND and his
Mugwump friends. are doing their utmost
to evade and suppress until after the next
Presidential election. Instead Of falling into
the assumption on which their whole can
vass for the Speakership and their proposed
canvass for the Presidential nomination
are based. namely. that Democratic unity
on the coinage question is an impos-
sibility and that the question must there
fore be lodged. Governor HILL shows
not only that the question cannot be
lodged. but that it cannot be made subor-
dinate to the tariff issue. and ought not to
be so subordinated 1T Is politics." he
says. "for babes and sucklings to preach
that the gold and silver question should be
kept out Of the Presidential election
More than this. the Governor proceeds
with the clearness and precision OF master
Of the art OF expression to show that the
Mugwump assumption that there is
no common ground for the Democrats OF the
East and West and South to take
as against the Republican position on silver
coinage Is the widest postulate Of folly. We
need not advise every Democrat to read
from beginning to end that part OF the FL
mira speech in which Governor HILL de-
velops his theory OF bimetallic free coinage
and his plan Of union. 1t Is political litera-
ture OF the sort that. once begun. fairly
reads itself. The indictment OF the single
issue faction is an indictment for idiotic
cowsrdice and cowardly selfshness. The
Governors one allusion to Mr.. CLEvELAND's
auti-Democratica attitude is worth repeating.
He has been speaking Of the conspiracy OF the
Republican leaders to separate the Demo-
Gratis Of New York and the East from their
brethren Of the West and South ON the
soinage question by getting up "in Eastern
cities. but not In Western. public meetings
to 60 into Ats Of fright over the conse-
quences Of free coinage. OF course" con-
tinues Governor HILL. they enticed few
unwary Democrats to appear AIS convul-
sionists at their scarecrow festivals. Other
wise the fraud would have been too pal
pable."
1t within bounds toaliirm that no docu-
ment since Mr.. CLEvELANDs tariff message
OF 1887. inviting the Democracy to disaster.
has been 90 deeply freishted with political
consequences - this speech in which Gov
sSpox HUI. on the eve Of his departure