Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-11-29
DAVID B. HILL.
(FRoM HARPER's WEEKLY. }

be was for a considerable time. He ap-
pesred to be singularly suited, too, to the
task of giving his theory of political sue
cess a thorough test. He is, no doubt, q
man of more than ordinary ability, oi an
active mind prolific in expedients, OF inde-
iatigable industry, of courage not easily
daunted, and of a perseverance without limit
1t must be added that his habits are simple
and his wants few. he is unmarried; So
cisl intercourse has no charm for him; he
does not enjoy the convivial cup or the
soothing cigar; he looks with indifference
at horse or dog; he knows nothing of
the delights of hunting, or of fishing, or of
yachting; neither literature nor art inter-
ests him; nor does he ever indulge in the
luxury of conscientious seruples. With
his whole mind and heart. soul and body,
he is given to politics. He thinks and
dreams of nothing else, and all his ambi-
ton is centered there. He was hardly
started in public life, when that ambition
reached Tor the Presidency of the United
States. He thought he knew the straight
road to the White House. And it would
seem that man so able, so energetic, so
fixed and concentrated in his purpose, so
little distracted by the pleasures of life and
the sllurements OF the world. must have had
an unusual chance to succeed if in any de-
gree favored by fortune. And fortune did
10
He had hardly attracted general notice
as politician of local influence, when in
1882 be obtained the Democratic nomina-
ton for the Lieutenant t-GovernorshIp, and
was swept into that place by the tidal wave
which made Mr.. Cleveland Governor.
Whatever power he possessed he used at
once in attaching to himself a personal fol-
lowing among the Democrats throughout
the State, and his opportunities were great
ly increased when Mr.. Cleveland became
President and left him in the Governors
chair. By adroit management he succeed
cd in securing the nomination for the Gov
erporship in 1885, and fortune favored him
again. He escaped defeat in the election
by the treacherous conduct of the Blaine
Republicans, who purposely sacrificed the
candidate of their own party. Now his
work became more systematic. The most
annoying stumbling-block in the way of
his Presidential aspirations was another
New York man, Mr.. Cleveland. He had
to demonstrate that he, Hill, was the
stronger man with the Democrats of New
York. He sneered at Mr.. Cleveland's re-
torn policy, contrasting with it his own
around himself those dissatisfied with Mr.
Cleveland's ''mugwump nOtious.' An al
lance with Tammany Hall was easily con-
cluded on the basis of mutual sympathy
and support. In the interior of the State
it was soon understood that Democratic
opponents of Cleveland could count upon
Hills favor, and that every Democrat op-
posing Hill did so at the peril of his pOliti-
cal life The local committees of the par
ty were rapidly filled with Hill's creatures;
a1d as the mercenary characters in politics
usually make the handiest tools to lead
er speculating upon their greed, persons of
that description were more and more push
ed into places of influence.
In 1883 Hill had grown so strong in the
Democratic organization that his renoDina-
ton tor the Governorsbip was matter of
course, and then he achieved one of his
most important triumphs. The renomina-
tion OF Cleveland fol- the Presidency could
not be prevented, but Hill managed things
so adroitly that votes for President were
traded off in sufficient number against
votes for Governor TO give him plurality
of many thousands, while Cleveland lost
the State Hill thus won what he consid
cred the decisive point. He had demon
strstiyely proved himself stronger Demo
crat in the pivotal State of New York than
his hated rlval The stumbling-block ap-
peared to have been removed, and the road
to the White House to be open. In the
mean time Hill assid0usly turned his abili-
ties to the task of catching votes" He
allured the working-man by posing as the
champion of all sorts of measures os.ensi
bly, favoring orsanized labor. He was q
sound-money man with sound-money men.
at the same time winking at free silver
coinage He was, when tariff reform had
become the accepted issue, loudly for tariff
reform, but always with reservation in
favor OF protection. And when by new
favor of forrpua tbo narnnratin tidal wava
of 1890 had put both branches of the New
York Legislature under his control, and
enabled him to dictate his election to the
United States Senate, he visited the South
ern States to entrap Southern favor by de-
ceitful antiquities on matters of special
interest to his hearers. He believed that
lie, the man who in 1888 had carried New
York when Cleveland lost it, held the
democratic nomination for the Presidency
actually in his clutch, and that nothing
more was required than to secure the Dem
ocratic delegation from his State to the ma
tional convention.
To accomplish this his party machine
was in splendid working order. 1t was
indeed the most perfect machine ever or
ganized. At the nod of its master the
famous snap convention was elected in
winter, met, appointed unanimous
delegation OF Hill men, and passed resolu
tions urging Hill as the Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency. 1t was done with
wonderful precision and rspidity, almost
before the people of New York became
fully aware of what was going on. and the
machine boss proudly chuckled over the
brilliant triumph of his cunning. SO far
his career had been an uninterrupted series
of successes. But at the very moment
when he thought he need only stretch ont
his hand to grasp the long-coyeted prize,
the ground gave way under his feet. He
had omitted some essential factors from
his reckoning-the honest men in his par
ty, the moral forces in politics. These, to
his utter amazement, pressed to che front.
The anti snapper movement swept over
the State like whirlwind. Its represen-
tatives appeared before the National DEM
ocratic Convention, and the unheard ti
thing happened-against the unanimous
protest of the Hill delegation from New
York, another New Y YJlk man, Hills hated
rival, was by an overwhelming majority
nominated for the Presidency, and then
triumphantly elected.
From this terrible blow Hill with the
courage of despair, gathered himself up.
He did not abandon hope. First he re-
solved that at least the administration OF
his hated rived must he made failure
From the confusion he might then still
emerge as the winning man. AS Sena-
tor be conspired with other enemies of the
administration to reject It's nominations
and to defe t it's important measures, nc
| n, q ttar how tho nuhlin inrarast or thu mar