Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-25
SENATOR DANIEL ON HILL,
A Ringing Vindication Of a Great Demo
crat by the Distinguished Virginian.
From the Richmond Dispatch.l

A Ringing vindicstion Of a Great Demo
crat by the Distinguished virginian.
From the Richmond Dispatch.
To the Editor of the Dispatch
At the first opportunity I reply to
your specific request that 1 give my
opinion as to the extraordinary attacks
made on Senator David B. Hill. This
request has been reinforced by letters OF
similar nature from number of
my constituents. Ny Democratic
brethren are entitled to have my views
for what they may be worth, and l give
them candidly.
have no interest in the matter save
that of citizen who believes Demo-
cratic success necessary to the country s
welfare and the south safety. Nothing
but the conviction that the attacks on
Senator Hill are grossly unjust, that
the people are being misled by them,
and that they imperil our success could
induce me to take part to repel them.
They originate from Republican
sources. They are encouraged in New
York by boilers and others who would
rule or ruin. They are repeated by
those who are either infected by Repub-
lican publications or blinded by mo-
mentary zeal for other candidates.
About a year ago Senator Evarts of
New York was clamoring for the force
bill. Hill was in Albany begirt by foes,
but working to help US, and we in
Washington were begirt by foes, but
working for deliverance. The south
was trembling. The country was in
dread Today Evarts is gone; the force
bill is gone.
While the Democrats were be.
leaguered in Washington and Hill be-
leagured in Albany fighting the force
bill, where were the boilers? Led by
the Hon. G. S. Fairchlld, they were in
combination with Republ cans to over
turn New York Democracy and destroy
it's citadel.
They had no time to organize or make
proclamations against the force bill. And
yet they had full time to organize
against the Democracy OF New York city
and to organize in favor of the gold rings
of Wall street, and were so ill-timed and
selfish as to denounce the silver men,
constituting nine-tenths of the Demo-
Gratis in congress. at the crisis of their
battle against the force bill, when they
were rescuing the country from pande-
monium Are such men fit to be our
leaders?
1t is due in all fairness that We should
recall respecting Senator Hill-frst, that
his long public career and his private
life have been uncontaminated by any
charge of vice or corruption. He is a
clean man and stout fighter. Second,
that all outcries made against Senator
Hill now were made against him before
his own people in New York last fall
and repulsed and silenced by enor-
nous majorities. Third, Hill was
twice governor of New York; before
that lieutenant governor, assem- blyman,
and twice president of the New York
Bar association-a position open only to
learning, intellect and honor. He was
under fire for over a decade from
enemies who had every opportunity in
Republican legislature to Investigate
his every act, and his pluck, probity and
fidelity have been thoroughly vindicated
before his own state by succession of
honors such as it never before conferred
upon any Of it's great leaders. Fourth,
HilPs administration as governor was
wise, able and successful.
We should remember, also, that SEN
ator Hill has been opposed by ma
chine organization that had Wall street
for its purse. and the boundless chca-
neries of Davenport supervisors and Gus
tom house combines for it's weapons
that he crushed that machine, over
whelmed Platt and Fassett, contributed
to elect a Democratic governor, redeemed
New York from the clutches of Repub-
lican gerrymander, displaced Repub-
lican force bill senator OF the United
States and placed us in line for Demo-
cratic triumph. Hit at Hill? I would
as soon stab my general in the back
while the enemy was scattering before
his standards. do not love him for
the enemies he has made, but for the
enemies of Democracy he has conquered
The brutally false Republican outcry
that Hill cut Cleveland in 1888 is re-
peated. know the contrary l know
it from Hill. / know it also from
Cleveland himself, whom heard in his
office rebuke one who made such init
nation and at the same time declare
| Hill to be an honorable man and in
capable Of such treachery. l know it
from the fact that no man in the coun-
try had more interest in Cleveland 9
election than Hill, for it would have
smoothed his path to the presidency in
! 1892.
l chanced to be in Philadelphia on
JANUARY cIu, JdChsOu LAY, duuresS-
ing Democratic association. On that
day the conventions were held ranging
that great city for another candidate.
Were they announced as 'snap" con-
ventions? Were they derided as "too
early?" Are states that never gave the
Democrats an electoral vote to dictate
their nominee in early meetings, and is
the great state which held its conven-
tion six weeks later to be rebuked when
we must rely upon it to give us the vic
tory? The truth is, the boilers in New
York were themselves willing enough
for an early convention, but they cried
against it when they counted noses.
1t is evident that we must carry New
York to win. Hill is New York's over
whelming choice. The farmers are his
friends. The workingmen are his
friends. The masses cleave to him.
Will we consolidate our ranks by in
sulting the men who have just plucked
victory from defeat and upon whom we
must rely to preserve it? 1t is the game
of a marnlOt tn do IT, The countrv 10