St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-30
rently understood that the size of Chi
cago hotel bill is usually regulated by
the size of mans pocketbook.
DAVID NETT HILL.

DAVID BENNETT HILL, like many
other men who have figured prominent
ly in our history, has got the presiden-
tial bee in his bonnet. His ambition is
a laudable one. DANIEL. WEBSTER had
aspirations in that direction; so had
HENRYCLAY, Roscoe CoNKLING, JAMES
u. BLAINE and host of others whose
names are remembered now tor the
great good they might have accom-
pliShed, but failed to do so because
they feared that the right course OH
public questions would be the impolitic
one, and might defeat their ambition.
CLAY declared from his seat in the
senate: II would rather be right than
president" it was noble sentiment,
and still reYerDerates along the corri-
doris OF time as an evidence of the great
ness of the man and his devotion to
principle. But his actions gave the lie
to his words, and he became time
server in the chase after votes. He
died disappointed man.
CoNKLING looked with covetnus eyes
upon the White house. lie was brill
liant but sarcastic. and made more enc
mics than friends by his eloquent
philippics against his adversaries i'll
both parties. He died, but gave no
sign of the disappointment that con-
sumed him, yet all the world knew that
he was vitality hurt by the ruin of his
hopes.
BLAINE was for years consumed by
the desire to attain the presidency.
Several times it was almost within his
grasp, but it eluded his fingers, out
stretched to seize the laurel, and like an
igniS fatuus danced off into the distance
and was seen by him only as a mirage
on the banks of all enchanted lake.
But few months ago ne was laid to
rest In his last hours he drank the
cup of bitterness to the dregs. His
physical powers were decayed, his
mental brilliancy was dlmmed, and in
the iucoherency and petulance thats he
manifested on his deathbed there was
scarce remainder of the fiery impet-
uousuess that inspired his simllitude to
1.-The plumed knight" HENRY of Ma
Varre.
Senator HILL possesses some of the
these leaders of the past. He must be
careful lest he fall into their errors.
The circumstances that called from his
lips the declaration,' Il am Democrat!
that almost carried him into the White
honse on wave of popular enthusiasm,
were almost as dramatic as those that
brought from CLAY the historic words
quoted above. That Mr.. HILL holds a
high place in the popular esteem cannot
be gainsaid. Yet he is making popu-
lar mistake-a mistake common in the
ranks of disappointed politicians-of
antagoniZing his own party and its
chosen leaders. He has set himself
above the party policy, and only con-
SentS that it be carried out because he
is powerleSs to change il.
In his position during the present
extra session of congress he has done
much to injure his owIeprOspects by his
confessions of weakness his admissions
that he has no power to lead and must
perforce follow, although the latter al
tentative is dIstastefuI to him, and he
takes no pains to conceal the fact.
Mr.. Hill. must change his tactics if he
would be reckoned among the presl-
Dental possibilities IN 1896. He must
not sulk in his tent when mis- comrades
are in action. He must get to the front,
and stay there until the end of the bat
tie. He is subaltern, and must do the
Will OF his superiors. If he acquits him
self bravely, and tearlessly does his
duty to his country, the time may come
when he will be placed in command of
the army. But he should remember
that history has never yet recorded the
promotion of mutlneer from the ranks
TO fhe leader Of hosts.