Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-17
GOVERNOR HILL AND THE PRESIDENCY.

GOVERNOR HILL AND THE PRESIDENCY.
There has been no more marked in
justice done to Democratic statesman
in our politics than the persevering at
tempts to detract from the worth and
services of Governor David Bennett Hill
to his party and to the people of his
state. The efforts of Mr.. Henry ]. Wat
terson to whistle Mr.. Hill down the
wind, begun last year, have been re-
sumed this year. 1t is difficult to re-
lieve Mr.. Watterson from the idea that
he is the dictator OF the Democratic party.
Having made up his mind that New
York's brilliant governor shall not be
the next Democratic nominee for presi-
dent, the editor of the Louisville Courier
Journal intermits no labor to place that
gentleman in false position.
If the Democratic party shall this fall
carry Ohio and Iowa the necessity for a
standard-bearer from the potent state OF
New York will no longer exist. great
national contest is unfolding in Ohio.
Should Gov. Campbell defeat Mckinley
in the notable canvass that is now under
way he will at once become formidable
candidate for president. The silver
plank of the Ohio Democratic platform
will please the masses of all sections :
and, should congress at its coming ses-
sion fail to pass free coinage measure,
it will be leading issue in the next
presidential election. On the other hand,
should Mckinley carry Ohio and the
Democrats elect their ticket in Pennsyl-
vania, Governor Pattison, of the Key
stone state, would loom up as very
attractive candidate for the first Office in
the gilt of the people. 1t is true that
the election in Pennsylvania will this
year turn upon minor offices, but Patti
son has been the heart and soul of the
anti-boss movement in that state, and
he has been twice elected its governor.
Should the Democrats fail, however,
both in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa,
the overshadowing Importance of New
York would again be outlined as dis
tinctively as it really was in 1876, if the
will of the people had been respected;
and as it has been in every presi-
Dental year since. OF course, any
Democrat who supposes that man OF
bad personal or political character could
be elected ieutenant-governor and twice
governor OF that great state is an ass.
1t is not worth while wasting any time
with him. There are many Republi-
cans, however, who will pretend to be-
lieve. and who will vociferously assert.
that Governor Hill is a weak and bad
man. They realize that he is an excep-
tionally strong candidate, they know he
can be elected and they want to talk the
Democrats out of nominating him, and
very naturally.
A mere statementof the later political
career Of David Bennett Hill is sufficient
to show his overwhelming popularity.
When Grover Cleveland was elected
governor of New York by 1872, 900, Hill
was elected lieutenant-governor by 1877
600 plurality. When Mr.. Cleveland ran
for president in 1884, and Mr.. Hill ran
for governor, the former carried the
Empire state by HOO plurality, and the
latter by 1900. When both ran again
for the same offices in 1888, Mr.. Cleve-
land failed to carry New York by about
$4,000, and Mr.. Hill carried it by about
1900.
Perhaps there never has been anything
so absolutely ridiculous as the claim that
Governor Hill and his friends were un-
faithful to President Cleveland. There
is no doubt whatever but that Mr..
Cleveland's Mugwump friends were hos
tile to Governor Hill. Their hostility,
and that of many OF Mr.. Cleveland q
Democratic friends, was so open that the
friends OF the governor, without his con-
sent or knowledge, called upon the
president to write letter indorsing Mr..
Hills candidacy for the governorship.
This he declined to do, Notwithstanding
the fact that, in the previous year, he
had written letter endorsing Col.
Fellows for district attorney of the city
and county of New York. Every Mug
wump paper which supported Cleve-
land for president, including Harper's
Weekly and the New York Times, at
tackled Hill with singular ferocity. All
the newspapers that supported Governor
Hill, without a single exception, sup
ported Mr.. Cleveland Loyalty and enthu-
siastically, and yet the result was that
Hill was proven to be the popular favor
ite overwhelmingly.
In the middle Of the campaign for the
governorship Mr.. Hill exhibited a
knightly chivalry worthy of the days ol
Bayard. He said to the leaders Of the
party in New York, "Pay no attention
to me. am already elected. Concen-
trate your efforts ON the national ticket.
1t is in danger" He dropped his own
fight and hurried off to Ohio and Indi-
ana to make speeches for Cleveland.
Why should not Governor Hill be
rightfully in the line of promotion? Is
the presidency chained to the chariot
wheels of one man, however worthy
Watterson, with the perversion OF the
facts ungenerous in an opponent, un-
pardonable in fellow partizan, says