New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
A REAL "OFF YEAR"


and other States because we do not elect Ooh
cressmcn. and consequently National issues are
not directly involved In the result. All the same
we have elections and pretty nearly the same
amount of campaigning and shouting ana hur-
rahing as In any other year. For PROOF "hereoi
read the newspapers. But over the line, IN the
neipbboripg State Of Connecticut, they do nave
"off years" in which they have neither elections
nor campaigns nor political meetings. NOT IN!
Of tho attendant excitements There they have
had for many years biennial State elections anu
legislative sessions. This gives the good people
of that State real "off years, In when the!
may forget their political differences, stay 1T
home nights, cultivate the domestic virtues anu
be at peace with each other. SO during these
autumn days. when all her neghbors are deep
In political disputation, rallying the voters
whooping II up nights, making the welEln rlns'
and all that sort Of thing, Connecticut oilers the
spectacle Of perfect placidity and unrufied calm.
Her mature citizens pursue with serene gravity
their daily occupations, and her younger chill
drcn gather chestnuts under the golden OCTOBER
sun-not Of the kind, however. that Chauncey
Depew Horace Porter and Henry Howlane lur-
nish for metropolitan banquets sense Oh
rcstfulness pervades the whole S'ate-arseH
due. no doubt, 10 the circumstance mat 'hc
LEGISLATURE will not be In session this winter. as
well as TO the fact that there Is no STATE eiec-
ton. Very few things have such soothins
influence upon Connecticut people as the au-
tournament OF the Legislature. Even the Hart
ford hotel and boarding house keepers rather Ike
#. Il so relieves the general tension or anxiety
and suspense.
The "of wear" in Connecticut Is not, how
over period of utter dulness. In Hartford
ex- Governor Buckley usually conspireS WIN
Alderman McGovern during the summer moh'hs
10 do something at the October town heeuhs
which exctes animadversion. and The Cour-
ant" comments upon It with severity, whiie Inc
Times chuckles lazily at signs OF Repupiicah
dssension IL Ncw-IIavcr during the last Few
weeks the newspapers have been protesting WITH
great animation against The new timetable OF
the Consolidated Road. under which an express
train runs through New-IIayen without stop
ming With one exception the New-Hav'h
newspapers have been very hot about H.
"The Journal and Courier has treated the
subiect with rcprehcnsbc levity. making
the suggestion that trough be placed
between the tracks at Ncwllaven similar
70 those by which on certain portions OF the
road the locomotives are supplied with water
60 that MESSENGERS who are in hurry can place
themselves in the trough and be scooped UP IL
tho train moves The proposal was received
with scorn by elderly citizens The same news
paper has treated with rreverence the ancient
brick sidewalks Of the town, and in many ways
manifested indications Of Il lack OF serlouSHess
which II might no; have shown had there peen
n political campaign in progress calling lor
greater solemnity and more profound earnest
moss In this respect the of year may not
ne An unmxed good since II develops Ten
dency TO trihlng Oh the part Of the press Mos'
NJ the Connecticut newspapers however. are
CARRYING themselves with commendable dignity
through the dulness Of the ''off year, ana are
NOT Stocking anybody's sense OF proprety 10y
Indulgence in unseemly mlr'n.
There have also been signs OF poli'icai re-
animation within the last week. The Monticello
Club Of New-Iiaven. Democratic organization
has had a dinner with speeches and toasis ana
other Intellectual exercises. Al ths dinner MI
Ivn.lo Harrison, who became a Democrat few
DAYS before The Presidential election OF lS'-
made remarks Of most stirring character, ID
the course Of which he let II be UNDERSTOOD una
he had fully made up his mind 10 stay WIFI
the party another year; in consequence OF WHEN
ths Democrats would carry New-llaven; also
Connectlc,I;. also the entire country. ms
evoked considerable enthusasm-for an "oh
vear" Then Colonel Osborn, OF The New
Haven Register" whose specially ordinarily IS
the tariff. addressed the club on the importance
Of putting I'D good men for office. lie said ne
must have good men up: otherwise he would De
u,eworm This was another sign OF the "oif
voar" Colonel Osborn always insists on good
mon in the off years" In other years he sup
norris with great cheerfuness the other kind.
Afterward variols gentlemen made additional
remarks and Harry" Ensign delivered rccita-
tion. Had Judge Simeon Baldwin been present
he would. no doubt, have sung song. However,
the Judge. who was president Of the club before
he was promoted TO the bench, made amends
for his absence by presenting TO the club few
DAYS later, an oil painting of himself, to be
continuing source OF delight hereafter. Mr..
Elias Cornelius Benedict, who has been a guest
Of the club on previous historic occasions, diff
fusing with both hands political economy, scen-
tIfic finance and general JOY was also absent.
Another ,ndubitable sign Of an "of year" The
effort of the club to enliven "off year. was,
on the whole a considerable success, but, after
all. the loft year in Connecticut, undisturbed
even by political dinner Is an interesting sub
ject for contemplation.
TTrcTTCE UOP TINE NECDO