The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-03-05
David Bennett Hill.

at the head Of this article is jus
now quite prominently before th'
American people, and like all othe
, public men is the subject Of mucl
extravagant praise from his friend.
and of an equal amount Of malig
nant denunciation from his enemies
Between these two foolish extremes
there is mean of truth that il
both interesting and instructive, as
illustrating the conflicting and con
Trajectory forces that sway Ameri-
can politics. The February Review
of Reviews, contains timely sketch
of his life and character, the joint
production of two gentlemen, one
of whom is political friend and
the other a political, and probably
a personal enemy. Upon that ar
ticle we have drawn for the facts
and some of the conclusions here
| given. We give it believing most Of
our readers will enjoy reading it.
Mr.. Hill is at present, as most
people know, United States Senator
from New York, and is apparently
laboring much more zealously to
secure the democratic nomination
for president than he is to perform
the duties of his office benefcially
to his constituents and this, we
take it, is the mistake of his life.
BY faithful adherence to the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver, OF
which doctrine he long pretended
to be a friend and advocate, the
nomination would have come to
to him az spontaneous offering of
the combined West and South, and
his election would have followed
naturally as the setting follows the
rising sun, but believing the post
ponement of silver coinage neces-
sary to secure the vote Of New York !
he boldly defied the nineteen states
that were his, and justified his
treachery by the flimsy pretext that
the silver issue must be reserved for
the presidential campaign. Shrewd
politician as he is, Mr.. Hill will |
live to learn that he overreached |
himself in this act to his cost if
not to the irrecoverable loss Of the
presidency.
OF Mr.. Hill, as man, his friends
and enemies agree. He was farm
er's boy. His childhood and youth
were, therefore, spent apart from
the scenes Of political corruption
and strife in which he has since
become a master spirit. He is
bachelor, and said to be a woman
hater, probably because he refuses
to marry. But that is his own bust
ness. Besides there is, in our opin-
ion, too much marrying already.
and too many children brought into
the world whose parents are unable
Or otherwise disqualified to care for
them. His education was limited
to such as the public schools could
give him. His health is perfect,
his physique splendid, his head
email and round, his neck large,
and his habits perfect. He neither
touches liquor. tobacco, tea nor cot
fee, and is not given to bad company,
though good liver and generous
host. He was admitted to the bar
At 81 years of age, is good lawyer
md a successful practitioner. He
,ries his cases to win, and "his 10y
llty to his clients has never been
Questioned Certainly a high COM
oliment tohis professional integrity.
He has twice been president of
he New York Bar Association, no
mean distinction in itself. He was
llso twice Mayor and once Alder
nan of the city of Elmira, twice
president Of the democratic state
and three times govern
,r Of the state of New York, having
been twice elected to that position
md once lieutenant governor under
Mr.. Cleveland, who, upon being
chosen president resigned, making
Mr.. Hill governor in his stead. He
has never yet failed to get any Office
re aspired to in New York, though ,
1e fought against odds, both for
ocal leadership in his own party
md for party victories over the re-
oublicans." But he is not rich nor
IN accumulation Of money, hence
1is success cannot be due to bribery
His business reputation is as
lean as his personal habits are
good aud commendable, and his i
private life is entirely free from any
Amt Of scandal. He makes but
ew friends but keeps all he makes.
all needed and proper al !
owances, therefore, for the weak
,esses of the people who continue
Q believe in or be duped by him.
md elect him, all fair minded men
will concede that there must be real !.
merit in the man, for we are told
lis nature is neither magnetic nor :
cushing. And we venture the as .
ertion that his extraordinary and J
emarkable rectitude Of habits lie
he secret Of his great hold on the !
,eople; for we all admire and to :
he extent Of our ability, honor :
PERSONAL purity, no matter where :
Tor in whom we find it. Q
La 4 A. = Io