The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-20
The Victoria Hotel Dinner.

Some recent rumor OF n difference over
Mr.. CLEvELASD's manner OF dealing with
politics. between the President and his
faithful fool-killer. the Hon. WILLIAM c.
WHITNEY. is now %pervading the newspapers.
and giving rise TO much Needless specnla-
ton. 1t is impulsively accepted as fact by
the New York correspondent Of the Phiid-
deiphia Press. In connection with an inter-
esting but not strictly accurate review OF
a certain recent event:
The chief source Of Mr.. wnrrsrrs humiliation !.
understood to be the refusal Of Mr.. CLrrrtAsb to pay
any heed to the obligations OF the Victoria Hotel con-
ference. IL has been said there was no bargain ~ that
conference: and 10 by that wss meant that there were
no formal pledges or written documents then this as
ssrtion Is true.
"Mr. CLEVELAND did refuse to promise to give Mr..
sHEEHAS and Mt. CRoKER and Mt. uuRrHv the right to
name the candidates for the Federal ohess In sew
York. and he did say that he would withdraw from the
canvass, aud thst he would SEQ them all In . hot place
before he would make such premises.
"on the other hand. he certainly by Implication
promised thatin the distribution OF the onfcss he should
recognize the regular Democratic organizations lie
said he believed in such organizations. that they were
to be maintained by patronage. and that he would have
no right to choose from the bushv hackers OF the party.
"Mr. wHtrSrr has said that among gentlemen such
assertions as that would pass for oblgations!"
According to our understanding. the dec
l~aration made by Mr.. CLEVELAND over his
board In the Victoria Hotel before the cleo
ton. was not reduced to writing. nor even
to a positive requirement that the special
guests Of that occasion. representing the
New York Democracy. should be allowed to
nominate the candidates for the Federal
Offices placed in the Empire State. Tho
threat also to withdraw from the canvass
was merely a grim suggestion OF a candidate
amazed at the unexpected revelation OF his
weakness in his own party. ut the point
expected to decide the contest. The
final understanding incident to this after
dinner conversation among gentlemen TAX
ing q serious view Of the larger affair
with which 1t was connected. was that. al
though Mr.. CLEVELAND had been imposed
by outside influences upon the State Of New
York as its Presidential candidate. he
recognized the right Of the State to assert
it's own views in politics, and that. there
after. in managing Federal affairs as an
elected President he would deal with the
Empire Democracy with unprecedented re-
spect and good faith; in other words. he
would recognize solely the organization Of
which Senator MURPHY was the head.
This version Of the Victoria dinner differs
merely in detail from that outlined in the
Philadelphia Press. One prominent in
cident. however. supports the feeling that.
after all. the report Of dissatisfaction on
Mr.. WHITNEY's part Is delusion. and that
Mr.. CLEVELAND will In the main keep to all
ante-election undertakings. whether origi-
mating with himself or his representatives.
The Hon. ISAAC PUsEY GRAY Of Indiana is
alone q convincing certificate Of Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS willingness to honor the drafts
drawn upon him by his friends during the
initial uncertainties OF the Chicago Con-
vention. When the Indiana delegation was
upset into the CLEVELAND column, the
name of GRAY was written down in the
CLEVELAND books as the regular reciprocity
candidate for vice-President. 500 after
that agreement was entered into. however.
various elements Of the CLEVELAND forces
began rebelliously to assert the claims
Of other statesmen for this honor. 1t wa
after midnight, early in the morning OF the
CLEVELAND triumph. that the GRAY
treaty was finally ratified by the Hon.
DoS DICKINSON. Even before the voice
OF BoURKE COCHRAN had begun to roll out
the fundamental philosophy Of his party In
a last appeal against III threatened hui
initiation OF the Empire State. Brother
DICKINSON had begun to show signs that
the Nice-Presidential compact was sur
rounded with considerable discord. About
2 o'clock in the morning two OF the guiding
delegates OF Indiana. upon observing the
course OF Mr.. DICKINsoN's Vaccinations.
forced before his attention on the floor of
the Convention the alternative that either
faith must be kept with Indiana, or her del
egation would protect her interests In the
direction taken at the beginning OF the
great campaign: and in that case the king
bolt would be drawn out OF the CLEVELAND
movement. Whereupon Mr.. DICKINSON at
the crucial moment agreed to take his
hands OF. and in another couple OF hours
the Presidential struggle was over.
When We reflect that the next session OF
the Convention saw the CLEyELAND-iRAY
alliance converted into q semi-humorous
"Reminiscences only. but that. none the less.
Mr.. CLEVELAND has made reasonably good
the disappointment of the statesman whom
his friends had placed In partnership with
himself, the plausibility of the story affect
ing MIR. WHITNRY's relations with his chief
becomes rather tiimsy. Here. in a signal
case Mr.. CLEVELAND. the successful
beneficiary Of q definite. but unequally
fruitful agreement. has openly and unhesi-
tatingly come up to his obligations
to the best Of his ability. by giving to Mr..
GRAY from his own hands a more remu-
place than had been denied to him
by the Convention. Why should people as |
hat the rest OF Mr.. CLEyELAND's
debts, incurred Mt first or second hand, will |
not be paid In time and in honor. and that
the political credit OF his l~ieutenants will not
be preserved. even at a personal sacrifice
1t is too soon to suppose otherwise.