The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-07-09
HILL DEPosED.

The deposing of Senator Hill as tenn
porary chairman of the Democratic
National convention, was an inexpedient
and injudicious move on the part of the
silverites at Chicago. Whatever may
have been the position Of Hill on the
money question, common courtesy de-
manded that the right of the National
committee to name the temporary chair
man should not be overthrown.
There is no precedent for this ill.ad.
vised action on the part of the silver men
in the history of Democratic National
conventions. There is only one instance
on record where convention has set
aside the choice Of a National committee
for temporary chairman, and that is
furnished by the Republican convention
of 1884, which failed to indorse Powell
Clayton and nominated a Southern
negro named Lynch. With this Re.
publican precedent as the only basis for
their action, the minority of the com.
mittee served notice upon the majority
that it proposed to offer a minority can.
didate to the convention in the person
of Senator Daniel and as a majority OF
the delegates were pledged to support
free silver they won by vote of 556 to
$40.
Assuming that Hill was a gold man
and assuming that he would have fired
of an anti silver speech, his remarks
would not have Influenced a single vote
in the convention. The silver delegates
are there because their constituents sent
them there. With very few exceptions
they have been instructed to vote for
free coinage by their constituencies, and
there was absolutely nothing to fear
from Hill or his speech. He is Demo,
crat enough to submit to the will of the
majority. Whatever outrage may be
perpetrated upon him or his colleagues,
Hill will be the last man to bolt. He is
a Democrat of the Jackson type. Like
Jackson he believes In equality of rights,
in equality of taxation, in equality OF
opportunity Of every section, class, con-
dition and race, and like Jackson he has
always been heroic enough in admins
tering political power to assure the
greatest good to the greatest number.
What could be the objection to allow
ing him to serve as temporary chair.
man? He could not pack any COM
mittees for the members of the various
committees are selected by the caucus of
each State delegation. He could not
if he would and would not if he could
disarrange single plan mapped out by
the silver men. Too we'll did he know
the temper of that convention. If the
silver men had accepted him it would
have showed a disposition on their part
to promote harmony, and there would
be no sores 20 heal nor heartburnings to
overcome after the nominations are
made.
No Democrat can or will object to
Senator Daniel as the temporary chair.
man on the ground of incompetency or
unworthiness. He is Senator of the
United States and a prince of parlamenta-
rians. His brilliant speech in seconding
the nomination of General Hancock at
Cincinnati just l6 years ago was one of
the most incisive fifteen minute addresses
ever delivered in any of our political
National assemblies, and his magnificent
speech yesterday in accepting the posi-
ton of temporary chairman of the con.
vention was a masterpiece Of eloquence
and logic. 1t was call to the scattered
and discoIdant Democratic army to form
in line of battle for the coming cam.
paign. But aside from all this his selection
by the convention as the temporary
chairman over the head of the National
committee is admitted by friend and
foe to be mistake and against the best
interests of political policy.