The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-12-02
"BELSHAZZAR's FEAST"

DNAOAA 81 a II - II IN o.
"Webb" writes from Washington to
the Boston journal on the political situa-
ton as follows: "The purpose of the
President-elect is plain enough. He does
not desire to have two such power
full and vindictive opponents in the Sen
ate from his own State as Hill and his
political shadow, Murphy, will be sure
to be. 1t is understood here that Mr.
Whitney would be willing, if not pleased,
to come to the United States Senate, as
it would be forum from which he could
conduct his political manipulation for
1896 and not to be altogether lost from
public view. But Mr. Whitney does not
care to enter into the contest which has
already begun between Tammany and
Mr.. Cleveland upon this subject
''SenatOr Hill had come out already
from his retirement, and is beginning to
talk very freely of those who are endeav-
oring to keep alive the anti-snapper
movement, and who seem to be conduct
ing Mr.. Cleveland's post-election cam
paign. Mr.. Hill is known within two
days to have sneered at the the reports
to which the an,i-snappers are giving
circulation as to the alleged Victoria
Hotel compact. IIr. Hills understand
ing of the Victoria Hotel dinner is this:
That Cleveland declined personally to
make any specific pledges, but that he
gave Croker and Murphy to understand
that he should recognized the regular
Democracy and that he should recog-
nize Mr.. Whitney as the medium of
communication with it. One specific
pledge he did give, and it has been re-
ferred to in none of the recent reports of
what took place at this mysterious din-
ner. He did promise Mr.. Croker that
the anti-snappers' third ticket move
ment should be suppressed, and having
made that promise, within ten days he
fulfilled it,
"Mr Hill, moreover, speaks in severe
terms of the Belshazzar feast which has
been the most conspicuous feature of Mr..
CleVeland's public career since the elec-
ton, the speech which is addressed to
Mr.. Willard being the most striking
utterance since Nov. Sth. Hill believes
that hostilities are sure to break out, and
they might as well be met now as at any,
time. He speaks in sarcasm of the
elfusive fawning of rich men who have
been identified with trusts around Cleve-
land, and asks what kind of an idea the
masses of the Democratic party are going
to get of the man whom they have elect
ed when they see him entertained with
princely luXuriance by a number of men
whose possessions aggregate many mil
lions of dollars, and every one of them is
interested in some of those corporations
and trusts which the Democratic party
profess to regard as unhealthy growths.
Mr.. Hill expects to return to the Senate,
waving no flag of trace, but as vigilant,
patient and possibly vindictiye opponent
of Cleveland in that body.
1.-The criticisms which Senator Hill is
making upon this extraordinary banquet
are indorsed by a great many of the
Democratic leaders. Some of the latter
have privately had courage enough to
suggest that this banquet from Henry
Willard is to be compared with the
famous Belshazzar feast which did so
great an injury to the Republican cause
some years ago, Senator Hill is deter
mined that Ed. 'IIurphy shall be chosen
as his colleague, and he is advising his
friends to make resistance in case the
elect shall attempt to interfere
in the State contest Mr.. Hill has al
ready taken the field as the manager of
Mr.. Murphy's canvass. He is bound
that Murphy shall be elected, and is in
no agreeable mood. He has been wholly
ignored in every one of the festivities of
there has been no COM
between him and Mr.. Cleve-
land; he has heard that dozen members
of the Reform Club threatened to resign
if he was invited to the dinner which
was rendered to Mr.. Cleveland, and he
suspects that Cleveland will so make use
Of the patronage as to develop the
strength of his anti-snapper friends, be-
lieving that Cleveland had perfect un-
with them at the time he
asked them to abandon their local con-
test"