The sun., 1891-01-21
Politics OF THE D.fY.


POLITICS OF THE DiE,
An Appeal to David Bennett Hni
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr: since the
adoption Of tho present Constitution OF tho
state, on Nov 8. 1876, thlce Governors oil New
York. and three only have been sent to the
United States Senate by vote OF the LecisR-
ture after having occupied the Office of Gov
ernor by the direct vote OF the people.
Tho first OF these was Hamilton Fish. at that
time conspicuous and aspiring party lender.
who had been elected Governor on Nov. Z. 1s4s,
for the two years term beginning on the lst
OF January. 1s49 and expiring on the 1st Of
January, 1851. He was elected United States
| Senator on March 10. 1851. after hard con.
| test. and that ended his political career for he
was not reelected. and it was not until 1869, q
dozen years later. that he was appointed Sec-
retary Of State by President Grant. Ho was
never atterward chosen to IN elective post. So
far as the people were concerned. his election
to the Senate closed his relation with them.
The second Governor to be elected Senator
was Edwin d. Morgan. whose second term ex-
pired on Jan. l. 1868. and who was. on Feb g.
1868. one month later. elected United States
Senator. That closed his political career and
though candidate. no was defeated for re.
election to the Senate in 1862 Tho war Gov.
ernor Of the Empire State. Mr.. Morsan's pas
sage to the Sena.orshlp terminated his politi-
cal prospects. and when. seven years later lie
was candidate for the office of Governor he
| was defeated by majority OF 10000 by Lucius
Robinson. who had been one Of his subordi-
mates In the State Administration. Mr. Morgan
never ran tc- an Office aiterward. His political
| career was a. an end.
| The third Governor OF New York to become
a United States Senator was Reuben Z. Fen
| ton, whose term as Governor ex pircd on Jauu-
ary. 1869, and who. three weeks later. on jauu-
ary. 1869, was chosen Senator. During his two
terms as Governor-he was elected in 1894 and
again In 1s66-he was the leader OF the Repub-
lican party in New York. and skilful loader
hs proved to be: and when it became neces-
sary. in 1868 to nominate Vice-Presdeu1 on
the Republican ticket. which nomination
meant certain election, Mr.. Fenton was the
choice OF the New York Republicans Colfax
defeated him. When. some months later. Mr..
Fenton was chosen Senator. his career rs a po-
litical leader was brought to a close. Before
his term was half over his power had
waned. and he had left the Republican
party and Joined tho Liberals in the Greeley
movement. After having been tho leader of
the Republican party in New York. he went out
In obscurty. He was never afterward chosen
to an elective Office and the last post to be
held BY this now almost forgotten chieftain
was that OF n delegate in u mon etary Congress
by appointment OF r. u. Hayes. Fcnton was
succeeded the Senate by Francis Herman. q
Democrat OF influence and popularity. who was
up TO tho present time tho only Democratic
Senator chosen from New York in twenty-five
years. He never amounted to much aftcrward:
that ended his political career Mr.. KerIGan is
now. believe residing in Utica, unknown to
the great majority OF his follow citizens and,
by many. supposed to be dead. Yet as IL csndi-
dot f,rC hn~
irages OF nearly 4O0,' 20 electors. In tho Sem
atorial caucus OF ,75 he was the unanimous
choice OF tho Democratic legislators.
In the light OF SO much experience. and in
contemplation OF the preccdents thus estab-
lished. l ask, what does David Bennett Hill.
the favorte of tho Democratic masses OF New
York, want In tho Cnitsl States Senate
Why should tho Democratic party. which in
the Presidential ccatest OF 1892 will ncou in the
critical and decisive State Of New York his
mastery and approved leadership. make such
asacrince Of its prospects and aspirations Is us his
choice 10 tho Senate must entnilt
Out OF line and touch with pcople, not nllcd
and not Intended by the framors OF tho Consti-
tuition to bo filled through their direct vote. tho
Senate OF tho United Statos has becn the bull
wari and barrier against ephcmeral. unwise
and intermittent policies. a breakwater of con-
scrvntism md q dividing line belwecn tho en-
crOnonmentS oil the executive and occasional
passions reflected In tho popular W. m aljnc
branch Of tho Go"ernment. The people OF tho
country are not accustomed to seok within tho
Senate for their Presidential candidates
! look upon the idea Of Lisut.-Gov. Jones
that citiZon can be at one and tho same time
Senator AMI Governor as entirey un sound: yet.
should II prevail and be accepted by the Demo-
cratic members OF the Legislature Is u guioe in
their delil erations would Jones sufrcr tlink
not. Tho man who pays the lroisht would soon
I'll a large place in the public mind and become
tho ideal OF many Democrats, In these days
OF Farmers Alliances tho man who, in u thou
sand towns and hamlers, has sold tho machine
which measures the farmers crops would be-
come as he approached the Capitol political
parsonage of importance. and would bar the
way, with the New York delegates Of any
Presidential candidate like Cleveland, whose
sympathies, record. and utterances wero not
with the people. He might not. 1t ia true. and
probably would not, become n Presidential
possibility himself, but, like tie hayseed IA |
vorite OF tho Buckeyes. Thurman. in the Dem- |
ocratic National Convention OF 1880 he would |
divide tho delegation from his own State. |
should the aspirant opposed to him stand. as |
Payne did. for currency contraction. corporate |
influence. and Republican alliance.
Gov. Hill should stay wherc he is. or despite |,
his praisewo-hy and patriotic int eniiuns lie |
may bo the means OF making tho Democracy !
stay whore 1t is. out OF power In the naiouaI |
Government! ALWAYS A DEMoCIAr.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20. .