The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-22

Roadway in his presidential canvass. Mr..
Hill has been, | must say. q very much
misrepresented man, and today he is very
much misunderstood. But the trouble
with him is that he is never able to rise
above common ward politics, and he has
not the charm of personal contact which
enables him to warm men up and attach
them to his Cause. Knowing Mr.. Hill as
do, can say that he is a far more socia-
bic man than he is generally understood
to be. His exterior Is absolutely cold, and
his manner always repellant until he ha,
come to know you and to trust you.
When you first meet Mr. Hill you can
realize that he has the feeling that per-
haps you have an Intention TO do him q
grievous wrong. His suspicious would in
dictate a man who had often misplaced
confidence, and had made up his mind not
to be betrayed again. After he has tested
you and found that you can preserve con-
fldence and that your friendship Is sim
cere there is no more open-hearted or con-
hdlng man In this commonwealth. A few
years ago met here the editor and pro-
prietor of Western Democratic news
paper Of cons .derable standing and influ-
ence, who had been hammering away at
Hill in his newspaper for some time.
found out by little deft questioning that
much of this hostility had been engen-
dered by Mr.. Hills failure to favorabIy
impress correspondent oi tulS west
ern newspaper who had visited him
in Albany with the best intentions.
He had reported at his newspaper
headquarters that Mr.. Hill had even been
ungracious when approached and the
amour propre of the newspaper had been
disturbed thereby. Realizing that the
governor had probably suspected that the
correspondent came to impose upon him
in some way, l could understand the bad
impression which the young man had
carried away from Albany. l explained
the situation as l understood it to the
editor and proprietor, and suggested to him
that ne call upon the governor himself some
day. l even went so far as to pave the way
tor pleasant meeting. The first effect of
this diplomacy was to cause cessation of
the attacks upon Mr.. Hill in the West
ern newspaper. Some months after
met the editorial proprietor again, and he
informed me that he had not long before
visited Albany and paid his respects to
the governor He had departed from the
capital with feeling that the governor
was cold, unresponsive, unapproachable,
suspicious man. Now here was a case in
which the governor certainly had good
cause to be affable, and have no doubt
that he tried his utmost to make pleas
ant impression upon his visitor. He SIM
ply could not do it. 1t was not in him.
Mr.. Hill has all the appurtenances which
belong to a man, but as Shakespeare
says of the elephant, who has knees,
"They are not made for Texture or
low bending" One thing, however, may
be said of Mr.. Hill, j am sure, and that is
that Notwithstanding his devious political
methods, his machine associations and all
that he is a man of absolute personal in.
tegrity. Despite the bitter warfare which
has been made upon him in this state for
the past six years, not single charge OF
corruption has been made to stand against
him. Partisanism may blind him and
friendship may warp him, but he will
never be found committing venal act for
personal gain.
1t would not surprise me if that wide
spreading chestnut of Democracy, Grow er
Cleveland, was feeling about this time
that the blast was getting pretty strong
for him. l say this. fully realizing that
Mr.. Cleveland is deep-rooted in the affec-
tions of the public; that he is censecrated
to the constitution of the United States,
the Declaration of Independence, Wash
ington's farewell address and the Demo-
cratic party, not to mention that he is
deadset as side issue upon reelection
to the presidency on a somewhat free
trade platform. l am moved to make
these observations by the wind
from Brooklyn. where primaries have
lately been held for the purpose
of choosing delegates to Mr.. Cleveland's
anti-snap convention billed for a one
night stand in Syracuse May 81. The re-
suit of these primaries is saddening. The
anti-snap people had been working up to
them ever since David Bennett Hills mid
winter convention in Albany, and it has
been freely predicted that the vote would
be roaring protest against Mr.. Hill and
show as plainly as figures can demonstrate
problem relating entirely to the human
affections how thoroughly Mr.. Cleveland 3
love for the people, his country and the
constitution is requited. But this wind
which blows over from Brooklyn as
! write bears painful tidings on
its wings. 1t whistles mournfully
in Park row, begging that the news be
broken gently to the country, and dies
away in the distance in low, SAD moan.
In a word, Mr.. Cleveland was turned down
in the Brooklyn primaries. In one ward,
eight votes were polled for him-count
'em, eighth another eleven, in another
thirteen, in another eight, in another four
wards in which the smallest numbers were
polled, but they ought to have polled nj ore
considering that it was Mr.. Cleveland
who was running for the presidency. In
the town Of Flatbush, which is grown-up
child of Brooklyn. now doing foI
Itself, but tWenty-three votes were cast.
And Flatbush is town trimming over
with Democracy both of the consecrated
and concentrated varieties, though my in.
formation and belief is that the latter pre-.
dominates to a considerable degree. AS to
Brooklyn. it is Democratic center OF
large importance, second only to the city
of New York itself. II Brooklyn takes
pride in anything outside of its churches
Prospect park, the Brooklyn bridge-con.
trolled from the New York end-Dr. Tai
mage and its air blown especially for il
direct from Coney Island, it is in its large
Democratic vote. And yet, in all this
town, the third largest in the United
States, only 1,166 souls turned out
to vote indirectly for Mr.. Cleve
land as a Democratic candidate fol
president and directly to rebuke Mr.. Hills
midwinter convention in Albany. l am
not so certain but this Is rebuke to Mr.
Cleveland. Anyhow, cannot regard it as
happy omen. 1t may not interfere with
his nomination at Chicago-that seems tc
be tixed--hut have a notion that it ha.
some bearing on the election in November
If Mr. Cleveland should be turned down
in November, as Brooklyn turned him dowr
in the primaries, would he rise again after
the third day and be ready and Respondent
for the fight in 1896? This is solemn
thought.
Af