Huntsville gazette., 1892-04-09
The BALL OPENED.
Bcginring of HostIlities Between the
Cleveland and Hill Factions.

EegfnrfEg OIL bOStuittes Between tho
Cleveland and Hill Factions.
The fight for the democratic nomina-
ton has begun in good shape. Sena-
tor Hill is running his canvass for all
that he is worth. 1t is trifle unusual
for a gentleman who wants the nomi-
nation to leave his place in the senate
and make tour of electioneering
through the country, making speeches
at every center and receiving delega-
tons at every station as if he were al
ready the chief magistrate of the peo-
pie. But Mr.. Hill has his own way of
doing things. He has set out to win
the presidency precisely as man plans
to make a patent medicine a success
by plenty of advertising, judiciously
timed humbug, and no small scruples
about honest dealing with the public.
And his invasion of the south means a
proba BILE Hill delegation from Georgia,
and possible delegates from other
states in that section. 1t is pity that
ne did not take with him in special
car the delegates from New York, who
represent a career of successful polit-
ical crime, and would contribute great
~ to the instructiveness of the occa-
zion. N
SIR Hill and his friends have al.o
''smolsed out" Mr.. Cleveland. 1t has
taken this gentleman several years, ap-
parently, to realize the fact that he
would not be the unanimous nominee
of his party; that his grasp upon it,
never very strong except when he was
thought necessary to its success is
weakening, and that his friends would
have to get to work if he desired to be
so much as named in the convention.
Ills first position was that of the fav-
orite of his party whose coyness can
not be overcome, who intends to yield
gracefully to unanimous solicitation,
but who would on no account display
the least anxiety for what he publicly
mentions as distasteful honor, ac-
cepted only at the bchest of duty.
When it was found that this would not
work, the next report was that Mr..
Cleveland would write letter abso-
lutely declining nomination, since it
appeared that he could not be chosen
unanimously. And then, as nobody
seemed to take much account of it,
and Hill went on gathering in dele
gates; and other 'favorite sons began
to move about more bris<ly, Mr.. Cleve
land saw that in about three weeks
more of this business he would be out
of the question altogether. So he has
written letter which even those who
respect him cannot read without in
;ct
ally solemn and lugubriously willing.
The gist of it is, however, that although
Mr.. Cleveland would of course, much
prefer to remain in private life, 1.-The
world forgetting, by the world forgot"
he is ready to make sacrifice if no
shall become convinced that this is his
duty. And the occasion is improved
in Mr.. Cleyeland's best manner to get
in a vicious fling at people who try to
get themselves nominated for presi-
dent by personal strife and active
self-assertion.
There are at least two entries, then,
for the race; and these two will be
leaders, whatever the friends of Cor
man and Palmer and Boies and Carlisle
and Russell may think about it. The
first battle royal is between Hill and
Cleveland, and it is not as unequal as
it might be. For, while Hill has bagged
the delegates from his own state, and
put his rival at this disadvantage, he
has also proved at the same time by an
almost mathematical demonstration
that the democratic party will prob
ably lose New York this fall with any
candidate, and that they are certain to
lose it if Hill is their leader. Repub-
licans will watch the opening of the
ball with feeling of confidence and
light-hearted amusement which seemed
impossible to them little more than a
year ago What Hill has done in New
York, the party has done at Washing
ton. Almost every intelligent and
candid democrat who discusses politics
in these days begins his argument as
Mr.. Breckenridge began his article in
defense of democracy last month in
one of the magazines, with question
whether the party has not already
thrown away the election by its course
in congress. 1t il an empty honor for
which Hill and Cleveland are contend
ing.-St. Paul Pioneer Press.