New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-02

| So. so. kX-PrcSidcnt Cleveland takes the
stump in Rhode Island tonight. For what >
! He is not brilliant orator: was never &c
counted rs such has rather diligently RETAINED
from public appearances in that character; in
deed has been 50 conSpcuou, by his absence
from the political platform since his retirement
| from the Presidency that the party managers
and leaders who have vainly urged him
| help them out have complained bitterly oi his
lack Of interest in their campaigns and openly
charged that his political conduct was gov
crncd by motives of pure sefShneSs. They
said he never exhibited any interest in a po-
litical canvass except when his personal fortunes
were directly or indirectly concerned in the re-
suit. During the last campaign in this state
he was prevailed upon to make a public ap-
pcarancc and one or two very brief speeches
in behalf Of his party because. Is was said, he
could not afford as possible candidate for the
Presidential nomination 10 let his rival, sen
ator Hill get away with all the credit for
carrying the state. II was rs Presidential
| candidate that he exhibited himself and made
his little speeches. lie contributed nothing
to the argument; said nothing that was either
eloquent or original. He was simply on cx-
hibtion. His audiences so understood it, and
his manner indicated that he was himself thor
oughly aware of II.
But when the Democrats succeeded in elect
ing their State ticket and Governor Hill fol
lowed up that success by stealing the senate
for them, Mr.. Cleveland fell entirely into the
background. Hill was at the top. At home
and at Washington, indeed throughout the
country he was the Democratic hero of the
hour He was the man who had never been
defeated who always got there ; no matter
how, he "got there" and that was enough
There began to he Hill movements in all the
states. Democrats who had been in favor of
Cleveland began to say that after all it would
be better to nominate man who had the pres
tIge of success than to run any risks with "A
candidate who had been once defeated The
Mugwumps were discouraged, and men like
Henry WattcrSon who had always been count
ed for Cleveland, but whose antipathies 10 Hill
were too strong to accept him rs the alterna-
tive, began casting about for IA Western can
didatc, some " dark horse in place of either
They said New-Iork was hopelcSsly divided
and that it would he disastrous to take can
didatc from this State. SO Cleveland was by
pretty general consent counted out. As be-
tween him and his rival Hill was ont Of sight
ahead of him in the race, and Cleveland him
self was Respondent.
This state of things continued till Hill, i'm
PEELED by the madness which presages destruc-
ton, went South to whoop it up for himself
Conveniently the Bar Association of this city
took up the Maynard charges which The
TRIBUNE's thorough exposure of the conspiracy
left them no excuse for ignoring. The fraudu-
lent Legislature began also to unfold and de-
velop itself in course of the most shameful
legislation ever known, emphasized by such
contempt for public opinion and arrogant dis
regard of the popular will as to alarm the more
discreet of the party managers. The tide
turned. More rapidly than he rose the am
bilious intriguing Senator fell.
Dropped from the zenith hike falling star"
With reviying hope and something like pre-