New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-26
SENATOR HILES SPEECH.

II those who heard and those who have read
Senator HIS speech t. the Democratic 'oiNcn'
tion express their real opinion OF H. 'hey VIII
not say that the leader Of his party Ill ms S'a'e
made the most Of his opportunity Inc PreNa-
lont feeling Of Democrats must be one or diSap-
nointmcnt that SO able and adrolt spokesman
If Democracy should have been so conspcuouSly
upeouol to fine tlsk Of raising its fallen hopes
The Senator's speech had excited great OK
nectations: but. laborously prepared ana taNley
read # WAS unworthy of the reputation fhat lie
has lately won in the Senate as resolute'ahd
courocnous opponcnt Of the legislative pro-
cromme which other Democratic leaders sue
cecded in CARRYING out Something better mish'
have been expected from him nj this time than
a rcpctition of the faded pretcnce that his party
inherited q legacy Of disaster from KepnD
lean Administration. Wherever the people nave
hoen heard from they have refused 10 accept
that shabby excuse, and To Keep on rei'era'ns
/, i worse than a waste of time. Nor was the
Senator any more fortunate ana forciblc III ms
uttcrancc Of the half-trrth that "thc people reco
.lect that ii was under Il National Delno'rauc
administration that the Sherman law was re-
.pcalcd" The other half Of that truth Is ,la'
the ucorle rccollect that only the splendid hdc
itv Of Republicans TO honor ana principle ac-
complishcd the repeal which had become her'S-
sarv There IS an air of insinccry. too. aDou'
the Senator's attempt 40 draw consolation Tor
the tremendous rebuke administered last year
70 his party in general ana himself in particular
from the fact that on less than full vote OF
the State Maynard was driven in disgrace from
the bench and the ring which put him there
was routed
Rut such concessions rs these 10 his partys
fundamental ncapacty 10 face the truth may
have, been unavoidable They certainly are not
tho most singular features Of the speech, nor
wa think. the most Iepeant That part Of II
which is sure both 10 fix the attention and pro-
volo IN. ccusura Of those who have lately been
Glad 10 revise 20 some extent their earlier eSti
mate If Senator Hill IL the tmdIty Of his utter
onces upon questions which only few weeks
oo, no WAS discussing with candOr and courage
He takes pains to say that he rrtrac'S nothing,
bu, nevertheless his praise Of the new iarlH
omountS 10 a recantaton. The first and the
last thought which his description OF lis merits
suggests is that the Senator either did the meas
IRE gross Injustice in Washington or has done
himself gross injustice in Saratoga As for The
income tax which he bitterly denounced in the
Senate as Il treacherouS and deSpicable assault
on Northern thrift and prosperity he appears TO
have deemed il too dangerous topic 10 bring
into the convention In a word circumstances
constrained the Senator 10 betray the confidence
which he had just begun 10 inspire.
Undoubtedly he was trimming his party :
sails according 10 his Judgment Of the course
which must be stcered Was he still more in
tent on trimming his own sails for voyage
which he is about 10 undertake? TOday's pro
ceedings will probably answer that question
His speech cannot fail 10 revive the suspicion
that when he ordered Governor Flower 10 with
draw he had resolved 10 replace him. II is the
speech Of man who breads antagoni>n,
whether produced by principle or Interest: Of II
man who appears to he possessed by Keen per
sOnal anxiety. 1t may prove To be the speech
not merely of Il crafty leader but Of solic-
tons candidate