The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-08
hin Turned Down.


lam a democrat was the opening SEN
tence OF a celebrated speech delivered
By Senator David b. Hu IN the Academy
OF Music OF Brooklyn. several years ago.
and since that day that sentiment has
been associated with his name Hester-
day De was turned down in the national
democrats convention. lie is not good
enough democrat TO suit the Altgeids.
organs and Tumans who run that body.
The question which naturally sugg rs
itself is this: Has Senator Hlrs democ-
racy undergone any change since he said:
CT am democrat2" II So in what re-
spect? As far as we know. or the world
knows. he Is as firm an adherent Of demo-
cratic principles ana the democratic par
~ as he was when he was cheered north,
south. east and west whenever he appear
ed in public on special occasions.
But. II the political views Of Senator
Hill have not undergone any radical
change then the democratic party must
have shifted its position upon some impor-
tant public question. Otherwise Senator
Hin would not have been turned down In
a national convention Of his own party.
What has taken place IS this: Four
years ago the democratic party declared
In favor OF sound money-in favor Of
keeping the silver dollar and the paper
dollar on a parity with the gold dollar
The majority Of the convention now in
session in Chicago insist upon committing
the democratic party to the populistic
doctrine Of 16 to ! which. the advocates Of
sound money believe. means silver mono
metalllsm and debased currency. Be
cause Senator hin does not believe that
that doctrine 70 for. the best interest Of
the country-a doctrine which has not yet
been adopted by a national democratic
conventon-he has been virtually told
that he is not a good democrat
It seems to us that the convention blum
dered in Ignoring precedent and practi-
| cally Shaping the national committee in
! the face What harm could Senator Hill
have done the cause Of silver If the con-
vention had confirmed the action OF the
national committee and made him its tenn
porary chairman? It IS true he could
have expressed his views in a speech that
might not have been approved by the ma
jority OF the convention, but there is
nothing to hinder him from delivering a
speech on the floor Of the convention. A
speech from him from the floor would
be as effective as II delivered from the
chair II he had been made temporary
chairman he would also have had the ap
pointment of the committee on creden
tials, but IL the report of the committed
appointed by him had not been satisfac
tory the convention could have rejected il
1t is difficult TO see. therefore. what has
been gained by the silverites In antago
nising the sound money faction Of tn,
party. If the election is C be won there
must be harmony IN the party. Yester
days action means discord II such &C
ton had been necessary TO the plans anC
purposes 5t the silverites there woul,
have been some excuse for It. but will
sHch a majority as the slverites hav,
At was not necessary. 1t was taken ap
parently for no other purpose than to con
vince the sound money men that the sill
verites do not intend to show them an,
consideration whatever. 1t was an ex
preston Of in feeling rather than an ac
Of sound judgment.