New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-30
THE HILL PUZZLE.

THE HILL PCZZLH.
Another remarkable utterance by Governor
HIPS personal organ is interpreted by friends
and foes az a notification that the much-betited
Governor Senator is not yet ready to let 60 his
! hold upon any Office that he may possibly want
| in the future. Whether he wants to be Sen
ator at all or not though he has been elected
he either does not know or does not want his
friends to know. Whether he wants to be
| Governor again. he does not know, or at all
| events wishes Others not to know. III he can
get nomination for the Presidency, that might
| influence his mind as to either OF the other
olaces. a consideration which he obviously
wishes all aspirants to bear in mind.
Sinbad the Sailor had Governor Hill Of his
| own according to Arabian story anu oeo""io
very tired of him. The New-York Democracy
is more patient and long-enduring, but one
would suppose that even this most patient OF
all known beasts of burden must ultimately eeO
weary of having Governor Hill try TO ABSORB all
the offices, State and National. 10 the average
outsider it looks as 1t he were playing game
not easily distinguishable from polltlcal DlacR-
mail. If candidates for Governor want to get
him out of the way they must first see MN
sunnlied with whatever other office he may de-
sire Or if any candidate for the Senate wants
a clear field, he must first give the all-devouring
(,overnor what he wants. The party approaches
Presidential election, land wants to succeed,
but it finds in the path this political footpad,
CRYING "Stand and deliver" and whether he
is going to make his own nomination Tor the
Presidency the price to be paid for fair chance
Ia win the vote of Newly Ork, or will demand
from any other candidate control OF all sorts OF
places for himself and his friends, the party
anxiously desires to know.
Some Democrats, it is already clear, are will
ing 10 surrender the Presidential nomination to
MIR. Hill, or anything else he may desire, so
greatly do they long for a victory which, with
out New-York and his support in New York,
thew do not hope to win. These doubtless con-
slider that no price can be too much to pay for
q Democratic victory, and that if the party has
to barter away half the offices in the country
still half loaf would be better than no bread.
| good many Democrats also have discovered
| in Mr.. Hill a man after their own heart-one
who troubles himself not particle about prin-
ciples, platforms or professions, despises public
opinion takes unhesitatngly the indecent or
the dishonest way to win if no other will serve,
and cares for nothing but the winning and the
spoils TO Democrats of that pattern it Is easy
to see thai Governor Hill appears the ideal can
didate.
But there are others who, whether they would
sacrifice 80 much for success or not have no
faith whatever in the methods of Governor Hill
on National stage, and believe that he would
be ANONYMOUSLY beaten. They reason that his
greatest strength in this State, the liquor in-
terest would have nothing whatever to gain
by making him President, and in such struggle
would be Indifferent while his identification
with that interest would hurt him in other
States intellectually. They add that ne has
more active and determined enemies in this very
State than any other candidate, and that this
would make his success here exceedingly CUES
tionable. His whole policy has been to seek
no strength from sincere adherents OF National
principles, whether Free-Trade or Free Coinage
men, and he would have no real strength with
either.
The men who reason in this way include, per-
haps, as many opponents as friends of ex-Pres-
ident Cleveland. 1t is with them question of
tactics. If Governor Hill is not the surest card
to play, they do not want him, and it appears
to them more doubtful every day whether he
is safe card at all. Among intelligent Demo
Gratis the remark is now often heard that the
party cannot expect to succeed until it ceases
to depend upon NewYork factions. They
point to the fact that ever since 1860 candidates
have been nominated by New-York influence,
and because of supposed strength in New-York,
and that Mr. Cleveland when strongest won
only by so scanty and narrow margin that
there is small encouragement to try him again.
The present temper of these Democrats is to 20
away from New-York at last for a candidate,
and in that event Governor Hill wants to know
several things before he decides which office
he will fill.