The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-10-06
THE NOMINATION OF HILL.


governor of New York is a genuine
surprise to the country, says the Inter
Ocean. 1t was we'll known that be
could have the nomination without the
asking, but it was and is still believed
that he did not want it, and that he
had strength enough with the conven
ton to prevent having it thrust upon
him. To the representative of the
Associated Press he said: "Oh, it is
an outrage, it is an outrage That
was the spontaneous outburst. ap-
parently, of his real feelings What
he will say in his formal acceptance
or declination will be dictated by
considerations of expedlency.
This remarkable outcome of the
Saratoga convention recalls two other
Democratic episodes-one national the
other municipal. In 1868 the Demo
cratic party was in the throes of des-
pair. 1t had no candidate with anv
strength, and every body felt that the
Republican party, with General Grant
TO lead it, was bound to sweep the
country. Horatio Seymour was chair
MN of the Democratic national con-
vention, and in spite of his we'll
known wishes he was forced to take
the nomination for president. Pro
testing that he could not accept, he
accepted. The enthusiasm of the con-
vention knew no bounds. One would
say, judging from that episods. that
Mr.. Seymour would be invincible be-
fore the people. We all know the re
suit. He was buried beneath per
feet avalanche of Republican votes.
MIR. Hill was then a young man, but
he cannot fail to be entirely familiar
with the story of that campaign, and
in his heart he must take profound
cognizauce of the moral pointed by it.
The municipal episode recalled was
the convention of the Chicago Demo-
cracy in the spring of 1877, when
Garter Harrison was and Kcs not
nominated for mayor. Mr.. Cregier
was the John Boyd Thatcher of that
occasion. Mr.. Harrison was eager to
retain the offi,e of mayor, yet uncer-
lin whether he could be elected. Ii
was understood that at best the
chances were strongly against the
election of any Democrat at that time
Republican victory was in the air then,
as much as it is now. HID the con-
yention nominated Gregier, or some
such man, in the usual Suy and then
gone about it's business as if nothing
unusual was expected, the Democratic
ticket would probably have been
beaten, but it would have made res
pectful showing at the polls But
finally Mr.. Harrison refused to be the
victim and in sheer disgust the election
went by default, so far as concerned
the Democracy. 1t Is the question OF
the hour which of these two historical
episodes will be repeated in New York
this fall.
President Cleveland declines to
make any expression as to the wisdom
of the Hill nominasitn, contenting
himself with the observation that no
doubt the convention knew what was
best to be done, hut particular friend
eff his from Buffalo, prominent Law
yer. Mr.. Locke, does not hesitate ito
talk right out in meeting. lie is re-
ported in Democratic paper as say
ing: -
u will neither work nor vote for
Senator Hill for governor. My in
dictment against him has two counts
First, MAINTAIN that from March 4.
1898, he has done every thing he
could to harass. annoy, and obstruct the
Democratic administration here; sec
ond, l regard him as primarily respon
sible for the offense in the state OF
New York for which Judge Maynard
was tried and convicted last year.
The only real defense Judge Maynard
had was that he was good natured
felIow and was compelled to do what
he did by the overpoweriug influence
of David Bennett Hill. / will vote
for no man connected with that crime.
The New York Times openly bolts
the nomination, and the Worid virtu-
ally advises Democrats to stay away
from the polls, voting for neither Nor
ton nor Hill. Jadging from these ex-
pressions the convention could not
have made greater blunder.