New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22
THE DEUOCRITIC MENTOR.

II Is curious 10 observe how completely PreSi-
dent Cleveland and Senator Hi have changed
places They were rivals for the Presidency.
but Mr. Cleveland obtained the nomination. not
because he was the authorized choice Of the
New York Democracy. but because he WAS ne
ccptcd as the natural leader of the National
party on the tariff question. But Ms soon as he
was nominated lie sought 10 revise the radical
platform which had been adopted. slurrng the
declaration that a protective tariff was uncon-
stitutional, and laying stress upon Socialist
ideas of inequalities and injustice in the dis
tributiOn of American prosperity After bis
election the fulhlmcnt of party pledges was the
burden of every speech and letter which he
made and wrote; and In his Inaugural address
he referred 10 the Democratic party rs ''pl,dgcd
in the most positive terms TO the accomplish
mcnt Of tariff reform" and 10 the ajority in
Congress rs bound 10y their promises, not less
than the command OF their masters, 10 devote
themselves unrcmittngly to this service But
while cOnsccrating himself and his party 10 prin-
ciplcS. he went ont of his way 10 drag Mr..
Gresham. the preferred candidate of The Pop
uliSI> into his Cabinet, and In his December
message advocated the PopuliSt doctrine of IN
come taxation. which was not embodied in the
Democratic PLATFORM; and in the long struggle
over the Tariff bill eliminating in a base, sordid
and cowarlly surrender 10 the trusts ana Pop
uliStS. he has remained a silent spectator.
While the President has cvadcd the rcSponSi-
biliiicS of leadership. and led the way in tenn
porizing compromises with The PopuliStS. Sen
ator Hi has remained Il Democrat. Without
conSccratng himself with vainsloriouS JUNCTION
and an afrcctaiion Of sol"mnty 10 the principles
of Democracy. he has kept constantly in NINA
Tho platform on which the party WAS restored
10 power and has refused 10 Stuliiiy himself
bv rcpudiating pledges therein made His posi-
tion is defined with force and dignity IN MS
second speech on the income fax, III Whl'h he
declares that it Is the duty Of a political party
TO redeem The promises upon which il obtained
power. and that reputation thereof VIII sooner
or later bring disaster upon II ~ III" hands "i
a BETRAYED and indignant people, II The Prr|
dent advises. condoncs and sanctions The SuF
render of the Democratic party 10 the Pop
ulStS and the trusts. Senator Hill stcrAly raises
his voice against it and proriJ'inS The moral
obligation Of political pledges.
senator Hill takes the place Of the President
aS the mentor of his party and IN" champion
OF principles when he says: "Prud"nco dictated
that this Congress should not attempt 10 fornu-
late new Democratic doctrines to which We have
never been committed. but rather carry out The
pledges we have already made II is a wise
party which does those things which il "uIh'
10 do and has promised 10 do. ana leaves uhdoh'
those things which it ought not to do anu has
not promised 10 do. For one. protest
against the reputation of the promises 81 III"
Democratic party in order 10 adopt AMI carry
ont the promises Of the Populist party. Then
he shows that the income tax was war tax 10
which Democracy has always been opposed;
that il is not called for lay the party platform
nor by any emergency Of the Government; that
Populis,s ana Socialists alone have asked for II;
that il is the restoration Of an odiou>, iuquis
toral system which Republicans h1v" rcJ"c'"d
and tina; it has beer by such siupcndouS folly
as this That the Democratic party has been lei
aSray and doomed 10 defeat for gcncrallOh
If this j. true Democracy. the Senator con
cludcs Il want none Of II. If This IS The best
leadership which wc can present IN this great
crisis I. for one must decline TO follow H.
Senator HIS speech must be read IN detail
in order 10 be appreciated. Ii Is one OF
the boldoSl. most independent speeches ever
made in Congress by political leader yet II IS
The speech Of a strict partisan. loyal Ia party
principle His political associates have r"pudi-
atcd party pledges. abandoned principles ana iol-
lowed leadership, which, rs he says, SHIFTS ana
turns and tcmpOrlzrs upon every public qdrS-
tion," and adopts every passing Ism 81 III"
hour" whereas hc stands with Jefferson Jackson
and Tildon IN favor Of Il revenue for Federal
purposes and direct taxation for state purposes
That explains 1T once his Democracy ana his
Independence His associates are rccrclnt TO
party trusts. ana he alone is a Democrat They
have united in PopullSt and Socialist raid
against This town, which, as he warns them, VIII
make NcwYork, Ncw.JcrScy and Connecticut
permanently Republicans; but he prefers CON
slstcncy and The preservation Of sclfresp"ct. lie
stands for Democratic principles ana pledges
The other New Yorker. once a leader bu now
a follower tagging on after the POpuliSt pro
ccssion. is silent when ten words from him. n
plain threat Of n veto. would bring the Demo
Gratis 10 their senses AMI strike down The income
tax and the Infamous Bill Of sale 10 The trusts