The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-25
NEW YORK AND THE PRESIDENCY.


The HERALD takes but little stock in the
story that comes by way Of a Republican
newspaper in Detroit, which would imply
that Governor HILL is no longer candi-
date for the presidency. That gentleman
has permitted himself to be introduced to
audiences addressed by him in the south,
as THE next President of the United
States" without protest or disavowal. He
mas at least allowed his friends assembled
In state convention in New York to pre-
sent his name through an emphatic resolu-
ton as a favorite son. Therefore ne is q
little beyond, IN his attitude towards the
presidency, the position of mere aspirant,
OF OF one who is, as the saying is, sin the
hands OF his friends" Nor do we believe
he ever seriously said, as stated, that he
does not believe if nominated he could be
elected. On the other hand. il MAY be
considered less doubtful that Governor II.
mas said his desire is that the Democratic
delegations from the other states shall fol-
low the lead OF New York, going with that
state IN making the platform and selecting
the candidate
there are few thoughtful Democrats who
have not lamented the political condition
supposed to make it necessary that the first
name on the Presidential ticket should be
that of New Yorker. New York is en-
titled to nigh honor. 1t is the Empire state
OF the Union, and in size. intelligence and
enterprise of its population, the vastuess
Oh Its commerce and it's wealth, fifty
represents the country behind it. And in
addition 10 this it may cheerfully be con-
ceded that its public men are pre-eminent
for ability and capacity for the duties of
official station. 1t would be difficult to
name among the American statesmen of
this generation three who are, or were. the
superiors of TILDEN, HANCOCK and CLEvE-
LAND, the three last candidates of the De-
mocracy.
Granting all that-granting the pre-emi-
nence OF New York among its sister east
ern states, and the high aptitudes and pa
triotism Of its public men-must these
considerations hold the party to the duty of
never looking outside of that state for it's
canoldatel Is there not seme danger that
what was begun for reasons of temporary
expectancy may harden into prescription,
and New York claim as right what was
before offered as an act of Difference!
There is much in the political manipu-
lation and iugglery between the, two par
ties IN New York that western and south
ern Democrats do not admire, and there is
much that they have no patience with 1t
Is beginning to suggest itself to them that
the professional politicians of both parties
may take the view that it is more import
ant to them that New York should be per-
petually kept doubtful" than that it
should be allowed to become either Repub-
lican or Democratic, and that the chief
value of its great vote is to dictate nomina-
tons and policies to both parties alike.
We do not forget that the distinguished
citizen of New York who was BENJAMIN
HARRlsoN's predecessor, and who ought to
be in BENJAMIN HARRIsoN's place now,
was one of the very best Presidents this
country has ever had; and The HERALD
does not hesitate to say that it would
rejoice TO see him in the White
House again. But the question is
apart from this. There are forty-four
states in the Union, not to speak
of the territories, with interests which are
not always in accord with the states of the
northeastern seaboard-and the question is
whether it is fair and in accordance with
the fitness of things that a national party
should ignore the reasonable claims of all
| other sections and be bound always to go to
single state for its candidate and its plat
form.
The claims of locality, it may be said,
ought to cut but small figure, or no figure
at all, in presidential election, and that it
makes little difference where candidate
lives if he possesses the proper qualifica-
tons. This is very true, and the Demo-
Gratis of the west and south will.
no doubt, continue to yield q cordial
and unhesitating support to still other
eminent New York patriots and states
men who may be placed at the head of their
national tickets. But they do not wish this
cheerful, voluntary obeisance to a single
great state 10 grow into an unwritten law.
They have right to ask the Democrats of
New York to forget the claims of locality
also, now and then, and not to make the
vote OF their state dependent on having a
New Yorker as the party's standard bearer.
1t is too high price topay for the cheap
quality of being or pretending TO be doubt
| full. Nor do the Democrats of the country
at large care to enter blind pool with
New York, giving the politicians Of that
great commonwealth an option upon their
action in the party's councils