Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-13
1T LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE HILL.

from Mr.. w. s. Creighton. He writes
with intelligence and spirit of fair
play, although we think that he is
scarcely just to Senator Hill, or ap-
praises that gentleman's strength at
its true figure. Mr.. Hills availability
has grown in the last three weeks in
about the ratio in which that Of Mr..
Cleveland has decreased. He is being
accepted, of late, as statesman of great
vigor and sagacity. The wonder is, in
deed, that he should ever have been
lated in any other way, considering his
exceptional abilities both as an orator
and as statesman, and the substantial
character of his services to both the
people and his party. He has virtually
revolutionized the politics of tie
United States by guaranteeing to US two
United States senators from New York
for practically all time to come. 1t is
not claimed that his services as an ad-
ministrator have been equaled
in his own state for forty years
by any governor, with the excep-
tion OF Tilden. They have been various
and continuous. All intelligent Repub-
licans will admit this fact in private
conversation. They throw out all the
talk about ''machine politician, trick
ster," etc., for the benefit of the ground
lings. No people realize more strongly
than the men who use this language
that both Mr.. Hills public and private
life have not only been without reproach
but illustrative. in a conspicuous de-
gree, of the highest ideal of politician
and statesman, and he is one of the few
men who are both. Precisely the same
arguments were used against Mr.. Til
den, and by mainly the same class of
people, the Democratic and Republican
Mugwumps. The most bitter assailer
of Samuel J. Tilden was Harpers' Week
ly, and George William Curtis, the ed
itor of that journal of Civilization" (?)
never approved himself soutterly un-
scrupulous and venomous as when cal
umniating Tilden. When General Dix
and the Sage of Gramercy Park were
arrayed against each other, ne an
nounced that the former would win by
at least sixty thousand majority. When
he came to read the returns, however,
he was surprised to find that Tilden had
won hands down by about fifty thou
sand, and this great victory led up to
that by which he carried New York for
president by over thirty.three thou
sand.
1t must be borne in mind that Mr..
Tilden was threatened in his own party
by an opposition far more formidable
than that which has been disclosed
against Mr.. Hill. John Kelly, the grand
sachem of Tammany Hall, and that
whole powerful organization, was opposed
to Mr.. Tilden. While they dissembled,
there is no doubt whatever but they one
and all voted against him. In the city
and county of New York the Democratic
candidate failed to poll anything like his
party vote. He was saved by the mag
nifcent majority which he received
above Harlem bridge.
Of course the anti-Hill Democrats OF
New York. including large number of
Mr.. Cleveland's friends, will make a
strong effort to defeat the nomination of
Governor Hill at Chicago, but there they
will stop. No sane man can pretend
that the late primaries were not square
and above board. Mr.. Cleveland failed
to carry them because Mr.. Hill had
twenty friends to his one in the state in
which both live. There is a whole
volume of enlightenment in fact like
that, and it has changed the whole
aspect of the canvass. That Senator
Hill has doubled his strength in the
past month is mild way Of putting it..
Will Mr.. Cleveland allow himself to
run as an independent candidate? His
next friend, the late secretary of the
navy, William G. Whitney, says that he
will not. All the circumstances of his
career forbid such supposition. 1t is
true that Martin Van Buren, once ran as
an independent nominee for president,
but that was an outcropping OF the bit
terest fight-the Barnburner and Hun
ker squabble- known in any state of
the union. 1t was the old fight of the
Free Soil and Pro-Slavery Democrats.
Were Mr.. Cleveland to permit himself
to run as disorganizer he would be
looked upon as mere sore-head, and
would scarcely receive corporaPs guard
of votes.
As to the other gentlemen named by
our correspondent they are all good
men, and the ablest in the list, John G..
Carlisle, as Mr.. Creighton suggests, will
have to wait, as all southern men will
have to wait, although we fail to see
why the sectional question should be
longer maintained. Senator Palmer is
too old. Governor Campbell, no matter
how gallant his fight, was beaten in his
own state. Boies looms up creditably
and would do we'll for vice.
president, as would Villas. But
we cannot rid ourselves OF the be-
lief that the nominee will be an eastern
man and that his name will be Hill. If
he keeps on gaining as he has done
lately he is liable to enter the conven-
ton with the requisite two-thirds ma
iority on the first ballot.
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