New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-22
SENATOR HILL UISCOIRAGED.

Senator Hill seems unhappy. In an interview
published in The Brooklyn Eagle" the other
day he Is reported as saying that. while he
had no means OF knowing what our people
propose doing in the Legislature concerning the
Greater New.YOrk charter or anything else, he
was certain OF one thing: that "everything CON
''nected with the new Constitution has been
"shown TO be fraud and failure. The some
what sweeping character Of this assertion
seems to indicate discouraged state Of mind
on the part Of the Senator. The dense silence
with which Ire surrounded himself at Wolferts
Roost during the campaign led to the belief that
he was not absolutely dizzy with cheerfulness
or radiant with joyous emotions. His first pub
lie utterance after leaving the Roost confirms
that impression. He is saturated with melan-
choly and enveloped in gloom. Were he simply
despondent over the recent turn IN political af
fairs and on account Of reverses possibly only
temporary and transient, there might be hope
for him. But the source Of his grief lies deeper;
1t reaches the organic act: the entire Constitu-
ton is a fraud and failure And when he con-
slders that the Constitution cannot he repealed.
or even amended in Its details except after long
DELAYS and through tedious processes. the re-
moteness Of any possibility OF change must drive
him almost to despair. His trouble is not mere
ly temporary and incidental: 1t is organic, struct-
ural 1t Is a very sad case. with no remedy ex-
cept change Of Constitution
He Is not only thoroughly discouraged over the
fraud and failure OF the new Constitution, but
he IS provoked. What prOvokes me most" he
says-and at this point he Is reported TO have
sat erect, his jaws set firms the attitude
'of the Democrats Of NewYork In regard TO re-
Gent public appointments The particular ap-
pOntment which provokes him is that Of Re
publican successor to the late Distric-Attorney,
John X. Fellows. He says that Mr.. Fellows's
death was caused by a disease contracted by
him while on a stumpng tour in behalf Of the
Republican candidates. and for that reason
thought the Republicans might with decency
have shown their appreciation of the work OF the
Sound Money Democrats by appointing the
young man who was in the line Of Civil Service
promotion to the vacancy Instead Of this he
complains that partisan Republican was APP
pointed, who proposes TO evct the Democratic
employees in the office and fill their places with
Republicans. What provokes him most Is that
"the Democrats supinely join in and accord 10
the Republicans without protest this right
And then in a burst Of old-time earnestness he
exclaims What are the Democrats Of New
York State thinking about: Are they dckcr-
ling instead Of fighting and standing ~ their
farms? Let them accept defeat II defeat is TO
come TO them. with their nrInOr on.
This is quite stirring. And the question the
Senator puts so forclbly. What Al % Demo
Gratis Of New-York State thinking about: seems
timely and pertinent. II there was ever time
when dense and impenetrable ignorance pre-
vailed universally as TO what New-York Demo
Gratis were thinking about that time Is now.
And though 1t can hardly be said that a very
general desire has been manifested to have that
ignorance enlightened. or even that there Is any
curiosity whatever on the subject. It Is none the
less true that Senator Hill as the recognized
leader Of the party. has right to Inquire and