The Lake Charles echo., 1894-10-26
NEW YORK. OUTLOOK.
PROBABILITY THAT HISTORY MAY
REPEAT ITSELF.

senator Hrrs Majority Over Morton Like
ly to Ne Of Immense Proportions The
sBoss" and the 'Barrel' Not Popular
Combination.
The New York Republicans entered
upon the state campaign of 1882 under
circumstances almost precisely similar
to those Of 1894. They were sure Of vic
tory. They nominated Charles J. Fol-
ger, then secretary of the treasury, for
governor. When their state convention
closed, they regarded the election as al
ready won.
The nomination of Folger for govern
or was machine event Chester A.
Arthur, then president, was az, COM
pletely the ''boss" in political affairs as
Thomas G. Platt is this year. Folger,
like Levi p. Morton, was an old man,
possessed great wealth and was suppos-
ed to be not in the way as a candidate
for president in 1884 II he should be
elected, which was regarded ns a GER
tain event.
The Republicans had unbounded con-
fdence. They believed that they would
have from 40, 600 to 60, 600 majority on
governor. The party was as "harnao-
nious" as it is now and as completely
under "boss" control The "boss" had
dictated the nomination, and his plans
had been SO perfectly laid and the ma
chine had run so smoothly that it came,
apparently, as Morton's nomination
came, with phenomenal and enthusi-
astic spontaneity.
Tho Democrats had not much conf
dence. They had lost tho state in 1880,
when their candidate for president was
Hancock, "the superb, the hero Of
Gettysburg, by over 21, 900 majority.
They had no particular popular issue
except opposition to "boss" and "boo-
die.
The Democrats nominated for gov
ernor Grover Cleveland of Buffalo, He
had been elected mayor of that city and
had served term as sheriff Of Eric
county. He had fought some municipal
rings and had gained reputation for
honesty, independence and firmness.
Then, as now, the nominations hay
ing been made, the signs Of q popular
uprising against "boodle" and "boss"
politics appeared. The ground swell
grew as the campaign proceeded Week
by week, with the progress Of time, the
determination of the people to defeat
and wreck the machine became more
and more apparent and pronounced. Up
to and near the day of election the
Democrats gained confidence, and tho
omens Of their success at the polls SEEM
ed favorable.
But the result surpassed all expecta'
tion. There was an immense vote. II
was 90 per cent of the total vote cast
for president in 1880, something with
out precedent In that state. Cleve-
lands majority over Folger was l02,
1854. This was the stupendous verdict
Of the people of New York on doodle"
and "boss" methods. The change from
Republican to Democratic was 2l5, 00O
votes.
David b. Hill was the Democratic
candidate for lieutenant governor IN
1882. He had not been conspicuous be-
fore in state politics. From the fact
that the Republican candidate for lieu
tenant governor received less number
of votes than Folger the majority fol
i Hill was nearly 4, 600 greater than that
for Cleveland. His vote was few hun
dred less than that of Cleveland.
1t Is In tho highest degree probable
that after IL years history may repeal
itself in New York 1t 10 unlikely thai
Hill will have such tremendous ma
jority over Morton as Cleveland had
over Folger. But II may be Of immensf
proportions There is nothingso so unpop
ular in politics as "boss" behind !
rbarrel" exercising despotic power IL
party control Chicago Herald.