The evening times., 1896-07-08
SEPARATED BY SILVER
Old-Time Political Friends Now
Bitter Enemies.
WERE TOGETHER ONCE
Men Who Once Stood Side by Side Now
Arrayed Against Each Other In the
Hill Has Gained Future Supremacy
Through His Last Defeat.

The work accomplished up to this time By
| the Democratic national convention, in
| session at Chicago. although important in
| is own peculiar way, chiefly serves to
| illustrate the remarkable party changes
| that may occur within the period OF tour
years. The men who figured yesterday as
| leaders of one faction or the other ais took
| prominent part in the last convention, but
| for the Consummation OF vastly different
| ends.
In 1892 Senator Daniel made an eloquent
speech seconding the nomination of David
| B. Hill for the Presidency. Then, as now,
both were associates in the United States
Senate. Yesterday Daniel defeated Hill
by an Overwhelming vote for the oompar-
ativcly empty honor of presiding for
| few brief hours over the deliberations of
the convention and naming some pre- select
| ed committees. There has been 10 essen
| tial change iii the relative financial views
entertained by these two men, but the con-
diuons have so cha nged as to place one in
! an ascendancy that was not possible four
| years ago. =
STRONGER THAN EVER.
But. although Senator Hill 10 both in
stances suffered rather severe defeat,
!, he is stronger today than under the in-
4! fluence Of his higher ambitions, and re-
| ceived the support OF those who then sought
| 10 antagonize him. In both conventions
he received the solid vote Of his own State
delegation.
| In 1892 EX-Secretary Whitney and some
Of the most prominent factors in New Y orr
| politics made the effort of their lives to
encompass the overthrow OF Ar. Hill, while
yesterday these same politicians struggled
with equal vigor for his success. His
Presidential aspirations were extinguIshed
| In way that left a strong flavor OF hu-
initiation. whereas, his failure to tie chosen
temporary chairman had q tendency to
lionize him.
tits fact admitted by all men OF good,
hard. common sense that the minority in
the Democratic party today ymusteventuaily
become again the controlling element Of that
party when the prevailing free silver mad
ness shall have somewhat absted. Then
Mr. Hill may be in a position to reap the
benefits OF his present elf-sacgifice. His
recent mertorious record in the Senate has
completely reinstatcd him in the good
| graces Of those who but a couple OF years
ago sought to read him out of the party and
his good fight in the pending convention
has raised him to the footing or a hero.
He is once more the idol of his own State
and in first-class standing with the party
as whole.
This prestige lie will be able to hold, not
withstandiug his retirement from the Sen
ate on the Sd OF next March and will gain
come to tue front as tile foremost leader Of
the New York Democracy. His complete re-
habilitation could have been accomplished
in no other way than by his defeat under
the adverse circumstances which have
Just transpired.
NOW HIS FRIENDS.
When Mr.. Whitney nd his allies four years
ago succeeded in clipping the wings of
Senator Hill at the Chicago convention OF
1892, he resumed his career in the Senate
as a suspicioned and mistrusted politician,
and was the victim OF countless knives in
his own State. Tie disrepute into which
he had fallen was illustrated by his de-
feat for the governorship by majority of
10000.
Since that time he has done nothing but
what Is calculated to strengthen his posi-
tion and add to his popularity. For sew
eral years Mr.. Hill'scourse in the Senate has
been such as to influence the good opinions
OF those who had previously reviled him
and this recent record, coupled with his
courageous stand for the sound money
principles OF the East. will cause him to
return to New York with q greater follow
ing in that State than at any previous time
in his leadership. This may be weakened,
but not to any considerable extent, by his
retiremen from the Senate.