The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-26

Gn6 D0mOCFdblC party IHere. LIS oiiAO0
most powerful ones were the Hill OF reg
ular state Democracy, Tammany in the
city and the Mclaughlin Democrats OF
Brooklyn. If any one of these three
held aloof the state could not be carried.
The fourth element-the anti-Hill or
ganization-persisted in activity, and as
long as it endeavored to assert itself the
three organizations sat in their tents.
Few men believed that out of these con-
ditions victory could be organized. The
Republican managers did not believe it
could be done. But there does not ap-
pear to be an impossibility with W. G..
Whitney.
Quietly, slowly, without any fuss,
with no theatrical or violent measures,
he caused the anti-Hill organization to
wither and the three regular Democratic
machines to ''get together" and blossom
with common energy and enthusiasm.
No other man than w. G. Whitney
could have done this, and he did it in
such way that not until the election
was but three weeks away did the Re-
publican managers believe it had been
accomplished at all. Almost to the last
they were depending upon treachery in
the Democratic camp to help them carry
the state for MISUNDERSTANDING which
of course never showed itself, and which
Mr. Whitney knew was impossible.
However little we may like the result
OF this brilliant management, we must
greatly admire it, and an argument in
favor of my theory that fidelity, fair
play and friendship are more powerful
factors in politics than selishness is
found in the principle which guided Mr..
Whitney in his work and the methods
which he adopted. Peace was not
wrought in New York by Grades" or
bargains with the various factions, as
many think. The famous Victoria hotel
dinner, at which Mr.. Cleveland had as
guests the very men who at Chicago had
fought him like tigers and declared he
could never carry New York in the cleo
ton. was not the occasion of a ratifca-
ton of compact or treaty.
Mr.. Whitney had moved upon the as
sumption that all the leaders of these
factions or organizations were, first of
all, Democrats; that if they could be sat
isfed all the past was to be forgotten.
The states wiped clean and the future
to be what they might make it, ire
spective of all past differences, they
would be willing to assume responsible
ity, each in his section or city, for Dem
ocratic success. The Victoria hotel din
ner gave this assurance. Mr.. Cleveland
satisfied Croker, Murphy, Sheehan, Nc
Laughlin that their cause was COM
mon, and that in success all would
share.
This was the crisis of the campaign,
so far as New York state was concerned.
Immediately that followed which Whit
ney had foreseen. Responsibility was
accepted by each of the three organiza-
tions, and with this accomplished Whit
ney for the first time felt that the battle
was won. In his philosophy-and it is
this wholesome phase Of human nature
even in politics that am trying to lay
stress on-the chances are ninety mine out
of hundred that the man who accepts
responsibility will do his best to succeed
OACc al bliO D6tGlC iACil AOVCA 0CSClbs Ii
there are stragglers from the camp, if
there is treachery afoot, look for them
before the fight has begun or not at all.
A political campaign is much like
battle anyway. Get man in it with
saber or musket in his hand, and he
will fight, no matter with what reluc-
tance he may have entered. The more
he fights the better he likes fighting;
the more power in his arm the more in
tense his desire for victory. It was rec
ognition of this principle of human ma
ture which enabled Whitney to win
New York for Cleveland. When tho
Hill men and the Tammany men took
hold of the work of the campaign they
did not themselves believe they would
fight with SO much effectiveness.
At first they were somewhat perfume
tory in their efforts, indifferent. That
was seen by all. It was seen by Whit
ney of course But he did not lose his
head and go rushing about angering
people by punching them and prodding
them. He bided his time and did not
have long to wait. The enemy did more
in week to rouse them than he could
have done in ten years. The battle
warmed them up, and they charged to
win.
What is true in this respect of the
Democratic side in New York is true
also of the Republicans. There, too,
were factions holding aloof; danger of
indifference, even treachery. The Re-
publicans, again, had counterpart of
the Victoria hotel dinner in the meeting
of President Harrison with Mr.. Platt
and others at Ophir farm. Here was ac-
ceptance of responsibility which brought
loyalty and earnestness in its wake.
Selfshness is not the dominant motive
in politics. Throughout the country in
the recent campaign thousands of men
gave Of their time and money to the
party Of their choice through pure love
for that party, with no thought of tangi-
BILE reward. The illustration which I
have made in the case of Mr.. Whitney
would be equally true in untold number
Of other personal experiences. Worthy Of
special note is the case of Mr.. Clarkson,
who was denied a seat in the cabinet by