The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-03
Leads a FOrlOrn Hope,


Hill. He has not been altogether
lovely" in his political career, but he
has displayed qualities which enlist the
active interest even of his political
enemies. No one supposed that he was
actuated by principle in his opposition
to the tariff legislation of his party. He
would have sunk his individuality, lost
his opportunity to attract the "wonder-
ing gaze" of mankind, if he had joined
hands with his fellow democrats in
passing the German tariff bill. The
audacity of his opposition, with his af-
fectation of devotion 10 principle, made
him the most conspicuous, if not the
most lovely, figure in the memorable
contest in the senate. He stole the
livery of heaven.to serve David Bennett
Hill, and the bad eminence he had thus
achieved at Washington attracted the
gaze of the despairing crowd that re-
Gently assembled at Saratoga to name
candidate for governor to be supported
by the democrats of the state upon
which so often has turned the issue of
national elections.
The economic policy of the demo-
cratic party had rolled up tremendous
Diverse majorites in the northern
states in which elections had been held.
The latest expression of condemnation
of the work of the democracy had been
found in the overwhelming and un-
precedented republican majorities in
Vermont and Maine. 1t was clear that
whoever should lead the democrats of
New York this fall would lead a for
lorn hope. To nominate any ordinary
man was to invite defeat, and doubt
would cloud the prospects of the most
eminent of democratic leaders. Now,
whether Hill had so manipulated the
preconvention canvass of his party as
to force the declination of Governor
Flower and every other candidate and
concentrate its suffrage upon him, or
whether the stampede for him was as
spontaneous and genuine as it appeared
TO be, his courage or hardihood in ac-
cepting the nomination are equally
conspicuous. Under the circumstances
existing, Mr.. Hill had no option in the
matter. To decline to lead because
there was a possibility amounting to a
probability that he would fall outside
the breastworks " would have been an
exhibition of cowardice that would have
been more damaging to his political flu
ture than defeat in a well-fought fight
Though the field might be lost, all would
not be lost. His courage would be vim
dictated and his readiness to obey the
imperative summons of his party in a
supreme crisis would be exhibited,
while he could conveniently charge the
authorship of his defeat not to republic
can votes but to the treason of Cleve-
land democrats. On the other hand,
if by some chance he should be elected,
he would ascend to the zenith of party
political eminence. His prestige would
leave him no rival among democrats,
and his nomination to the presidency,
lost in 1892, would be as certain as the
matter of his existence in good bodily
health, in 1896. Defeated or victorious
in November, the democrats of New
York in nominating Hill, and Hill in
accepting the nomination, have only
obeyed the mandate of an imperious
party and personal exigency.
Will Mr.. Hill be elected? We be-
lieve not. He will meet his Waterloo
on the ides of November The men who
buried HIPS tool the thief Maynard, un-
der majority of 100000 have presented
TO them coveted opportunity to set
tie with the principal in that great
crme-the theft of the New York SEN
ate. They will improve it. The farm.
ers in the farming counties on the
northern boundary remember HIPS
support of free wool and free farm
products in general. There are thou
sands OF mugwumps and Cleveland
democrats who do not forget Hill's af.
fronts and who will take sweet revenge