The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-04-19
IeThIs the EXPLANATION.
lConricr-Jcr.nal

y OW tnaL 'otlldlOio AAiiA
has been made long enough TOR MS
friends and foes to dissect anu cas-
sify it, is the country satisfied that 1t
understands the New Workers. mo-
tive in making it?
To the Courier Journal it seems
that he had two motives-or rather
one motive, which took two dlrec-
tons. ;.
That this motive was personal IS
not only evident from the speech IT.
self, but would be an inevitable con
clusion by all familiar with MIR. am S
public career. lie is essentially
an ambitious man, and he never
makes a move which is not III some
way self centred
Viewed in this light his speech, os-
tonsibly on the Tariff Blu, seems TO
have been inspired by his hatred OF
Nr. Cleveland, and by his desire to
further his own political interest. "
his relations to the President it is IN,
necessary to speak. They are well
known and explain, at least in part,
his hostile criticism of the Admins,
tration's policies in no way connected
with the tariff I'LL.
But in what way does the New
- C,,+o,.. ny,,nct to urOfit bv lis
somersault on the tariff question?
Perhaps in the sane way in winch
he hopes to profit by his antagonl'm
to tho Administration. If he can
unite upon himself these Democrats
who are displeased with the Admin
;stration, and these Democrats who
are more protectionis.s than free ira
,le.s, he thinks. and perhaps rightly
that he would have a very large iol-
lowing. A[r. Hill is an Eastern man
SO far as hs has any views on the
tariff they have been shaped by the
Influence which have sent to Con
eress. the protection Democrats OF
Connecticut, Pcnsy lvania, New Jcrsy
and New York. But 3Ir. Hill is
first Of all politician. Before the
areat tidal wave Of 1890 and 1892
Re did not conceal his sympathy
with the protectionist elements OF the
party. After those great popular
demonstrations against protection,
Mr.. Hill became very earnest and
ardent tariff reformer. The people
seem to be for tariff reform, and Mr..
Hill recognizes the fact that a poll
tician is nothing without the people.
But during the past few mouths
the country has passed through a
severe panic. Very naturally the
people have become discontcnted.
They may not know what has hurt
them, but they know they have been
hurt. The Republicans have dinned
it into their ca that the fear OF tariff
reform has caused their trouble and
have done all they could to protract
and intestify those troubles, on that
assumption. The people have been
expressing their dissatisfaction in
the election. Mr.. Hill has observed
this. He understands that popular
dissatisfaction, whether unjustly or
not. must reflect upon the dominant
party and its leading policy. Can
not Mr., Hill escape the results Of that
dissatisfaction by separating him
self from the party, antasonizing that
which he conceives to be unpopular
and putting himself in position to
float serencly on the reverse current
while those with whom he erstwhile
championcd tariff reform sink beneath
the unrcasoning waves?
Is not this logical explanation
Of Mr.. H[ill's action? 1t is true that
if it is MI Hill is proceeding upon a
very shallow and short sighted policy.
But Mr.. Hill is politician who has
heretofore proceeded upon policies
which proved to pc most shallow and
short-sightcd. There is nothing in
his career to indicate that he has
ever learned anything from his past
mistakes.