The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-06
The Vote Nr. Peckbam Did Not Cast

Mr.. WHEELER II. PECKHAM did not vote
at the special election held in the Fourteenth
Congress district last week Mr.. PECKHAM is
resident Of that district. The reason he
gives for his failure TO vote is certainly
grotesque. As given for him by hisnephew
to q Herald reporter. IT is in these words:
The fact tina: there was an election that
day slipped from our minds. We had not
been asked TO vote. either verbally or by
circular; and in the hurry OF business We
forgot all about the election until it was
too late"
The reason assigned by Mr.. PEcKHAM's
nephew presupposes on the part Of Mr.
CLEvELASD's candidate for Justice Of the
Supreme Court. much ignorance OF other
matters than pure law. Had he not heard
that the eloquent JOHN r. FELLOWS. who
was his first assistant during his men,
orable ten days service as District At
torney in 1854. had been transferred from
Congress and chosen as District Attorney
for a three years term Did he not know
that Col. BILL BRowS. who had stood up for
GROVER CLEVELAND like n stone wall. was
the Democratic candidate TO succeed FELL
Lows? Had he not heard the argument 81
Professor SESSER that the election OF Col.
belt. TO DAVID Is. HILL. and greatly reduce
Senator HILLS political Importance Did
he not know that the other nirety-nine
Anti-Snappcrs Of the Committee OF One
Hundred looked to Mr.. PEckHAM 70 do his
full duty in the upper part OF the town and
thereby establish the party's independence
OF Tammany? DULY little while pre-
viously. Mr.. PRCKHAM had affixed his sig
Ca aF.n ,,nL L..
to delight in. containing this statement:
"wha;ev.r the Democracy does and Ia in Nsu
York great influence upon its fortunes IN all para
of the country for everything done here Is viewed
through magnifyIng EiAss ana Is seen Aad known Of
All men
Notwithstanding all this. Mr.. PECKHAN.
who had aided in accusing the Democrats
that stood by Col. BROWN Of all the crimes
in the political calendar. did not vote. He
Remained away from the polls. because he
did not get circular. He forgot that there
was an election. No one requested him.
verbally or by post. To vote. so he let
WILLIAM LUCULLUs 20 down to unmerited
defeat. when five additional votes in each
election district in the Fourteenth Congress
district would have saved him. There are
40 such election districts. and QUIGG's ma
jority was less than 100.
II Mr.. PECKHAM did not know that there
was a special election. he probably did not
know that there was political campaign
preceding It, IL this credible Did he not
know that. by general consent. the iniqui-
tOus and unconstitutional WILSON bill was
on tral in his district Did he not know
that the incone tax feature Of the bill Was
on trial in that district Was he not aware
that the humilia;ing position OF the Ameri-
can Government in the Hawaii matter
was vigorously discussed there Had
not the whisper oi HoRNBLowEB's name
been waited over Harlem. and also tho echo
Of Col. Browns brave declaration that il he
was United States Senator in EDWARD
MURPHY's place. he would have voted TO
confirm HoRSBLOwER
What was Mr.. PEcKHAM thinking Of Can
diiates should stand together. one should
not he permitted to fall by the wayside while
another. who could help him with his own
vote and the vote Of his nephew. Is looking
after his own fences exclusively,
without accusing Sir. PECEHAx OF disin-
genuOusness. perhaps better and trueT
reason than is assigned by his nephew may
be given for his failure to vote for Gel, BILL
Brown on the day when 81 900 other electors
found time to cast their ballots in the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Congress dis
tiets. Mr.. PECKHAN's failure 10 receive a
circular. printed IN one oT more colors. may
have been the proXimste cause Of his alb
senee from The polls. bat the real reason
for his failure 20 vote was moro probably
this Mr.. PEcKHAM makes, as We know
In New York. speciality. so 70 speak.
OF being on the wrong side in politics.
He always supports the man who gets
bsa;en; at least. lac always endeavors to
pick out tie loser. and niRs times out Of