New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-19
DE WITT.

For several weeks there has been talk. OF
and on in Brooklyn about booming the Hon.
William c. De Witt for Chief Judge of the
Court of Appeals. 1.-THE Brooklyn Eagle" has
not committed itself to De Witt, intimating, on
the contrary, that Judge Peckham Is the right
man for the Democrats to nominate, but all the
same it has shown a tender side for Dc Witt, and
plainly thinks that from certain points OF view
he is "iley man." 1t has printed several
letters from admirers Of the exCorporation
Counsel who strongly urge that he is pre-
cmnently fitted to adorn the bench OF our
highest court. and it has said that, if he were
nominated and elected. De Witt would make
good Chief Judge" That is not precisely
an Endorsement. In fact. an Endorsement Is
hardly to be looked for from this source. con-
siderng the attitude which Mr.. De Witt as
sumed at Chicago toward the nomination Of
Mr. Cleveland.
Who eau deny, however, that De Witt is
entitled to something? Certainly no one can
who remembers his recent valuable services TO
the party with which he has long been con-
ncctcd. Two pictures readily present them
selves to the minds eye. Look first AZ Dc Witt
at Saratoga on the 10th Of last September put
lllp AllIfu " NH"sil H'ibib"''H ''' '"N
office of Governor and hcaping rcproaches loud
and bitter upon tho "hamboyant millionaire I"
whom other members Of the convention Pre-
ferrcd for that honor II was an impressive and
memorable spectacle Mr.. De Witt in his most
eloquent manner declared that "thc jackass,
when he got the lions skin, did not thereby
become lion" and in thunder tones he called
upon the Democratic party OF the state OF New
York to set " face Of iron toward the money
power" No one who heard his whitening words.
had any doubt as 10 their meaning and appl!ca-
ton. In conclusion, it will he remembered
De Witt said that Il the wishes OF Brooklyn in
the matter Of candidate were not Needed
eve will retire with that Sullcn and surly tenn
per which will not like the action of the con-
vcntionn Well, Mr.. Chaplin was not nominated
and the man whom De Witt "pitchcd into
was and Brooklyn proceeded to give him a
larger plurality than Hill had received there
three years before.
The second picture discloses Chicago on the
22d Of June. 1892. The tiny Is too recent and
the circumstances are too fresh in the public
mind TO make it necessary TO dwell long on this
scene. Suffice it to say that Mr.. De Witt was
put forward by the NewYork delegation to
present the name of David B. Hill and to as
sure the convention. as it had been assured re-
pcatcdly already that Mr.. Cleveland could
never, never, never carry Now-York State. if
nominated. The result Is historic. Mr.. Do
Wits eloqucnce was all in vain. The fate OF
his man at Chicago was the same as the fate
of his man at Saratoga. But surely De Wits
services to his party have been eminent. lie
has not done what be set out to accomplish, II
is true But he has meant well. lie has done
the best he knew Does he not deserve recog
milton? We do not say necessarily the nom
nation for Chief Judge-but something, surely.
One of De Wits Brooklyn admirers affirmed OF
De Wits speech at Chicago that i'll comparison
with that of Bourkc Cochran it "was like the
ripping of flowing water to the grating sound
of buzz saw That Is praise indeed, and we
respectfully invite d. B. HIPS attention to It.
The man who has nominated two eminent Dem
ocrats for high Offices only to see the nomina-
ton given to somebody else is entitled to rccog-
milton of some sort. if only as a consolation
prize. De Witt must not be overlooked.