New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
"BILLY'S" BOOM.

The Monticello celebration, at which II was
lately announced that Ex-Governor William +.
RUSSELL Of Observation-Disclosures known aS
BILLY, the Boy Governor'-would make some
remarks that would challenge the attention OF
the country" and make him the Democratic can
ddate for President either this year or in 1900,
came off on Monday. 1t was in many ways
bangup affair -Four carloads of Democrats
from all parts of the country were there. for
one thing 1t may be said, in fact that this
was its most significant feature. 1t stamps as
false and unfounded the current assumption that
four, or even two, carloads of Democrats could
not be got together by securing the whole coun-
try over to celebrate anything whatever. -Four
carloads Of Democrats are a great many, consid-
erng existing political conditions. 1t was great
tribute to the memory of jefferson. No living
Democratic statesman-not even Grover Clcve-
land himself, whom BILLY" named as the next
greatest man to Jefferson-could have called to-
gether so large a proportion of what remains
Of the party The large number in attendance
and the enthusiasm of the demonstration were
due In some measure, of course. to the fact that
Jefferson had been dead much longer time
than almost any Democrat whose name has been
mentioned for the next Presidential nomination,
1t is quite likely that among the four carloads
Of survivors there were some who had come
from long distances at considerable expense,
not so much TO pay tribute Of respect to the
memory of the late Mr. jefferson as to learn
from the lips Of Billy Russell precisely what
Jeffersons views were on free silver coinage.
the tariff question, the Venezuelan disturbance.
Cuban independence and the increase Of the
MI NJ t.v,1a
Harrison, president of the Monticello Club Of
New-Haven, Conn, who cast his first Demo
cratic vote for Cleveland in 1892. Having been
suddenly transferred from the office OF chair
man Of the Connecticut Republican State Com
mittee to the presidency Of the Monticello Club,
It was quite natural that he should go TO Month
cello to get clear idea Of who Jefferson was,
what he was driving ut when he was in the
flesh and on deck. what BILLY" Russell thinks
he would have thought about current questions.
and. on the whole, why his club Is called the
Monticello Club This Is a very worthy mo-
tive We have no doubt that Mr.. Harrison will
come back full OF information on all these points.
and that he will kindle up a great deal Of en-.
thusiasm on the subject at the next club dinner.
Then there must have been others In the four
carloads animated by similar laulable pur-
pose-that is. to find out from BILLY Russell
all about jefferson, and Just how jefferson
would have stood in the present emergency.
BILLY" had four carloads Of Democrats Of this
and other sorts to hang on his lips while he
challenged the attention OF the country" with
his own views as 10 the attitude II The Dcmoc-
tracy toward the problems Of this year as he
thinks It should be-" and incidental references
to the fact that he and Jefferson were in such
absolute accord on every current issue that no
one who put his ear TO the ground near his monu-
ment need be surprised to hear the scpulchrll
utterance. Bully for Billy" Nor did billy"
overdo the Jefferson business. There was dan
ger Mt the point where he associated the names
Of Cleveland and Jefferson that he might leave
the impression on the minds Of his hearers that
he referred TO Mr.. Cleveland's friend, joe
jefferson, but, with admirable ccarncSs and
the tact Of a practsed orator, In few well
chosen words he removed all doubt and made
II plain 10 the commonest understanding that
he referred To- Thomas and not TO Joe The
cleverness with which he distinguished between
the Democracy Of Thomas jefferson, who has
been dead now almost n hundred years and
that symbolzed by Joe" Jefferson In RIP Van
Wrinkle" in sleep of only twenty years was
really admirable A Democracy dead for nearly
a hundred years Is so much better calculated To
arouse enthusiasm than one that has only been
asleep for twenty.
1t Is to be regretted that differences should
have arisen on this memorable occasion between
Billy and Senator Daniel, Of Virginia, upon
the main question on which BILLY" was adver-
tised to challenge the attention of the coun-
try" Senator Daniel did not hesitate TO say
that Jefferson was In favor OF the free coin
age Of silver at the rate OF 1G TO |, and as
he lives much nearer Jeffersons grave than
'BIlly" does, the statement tended TO create
confusion in the minds Of the audience. lie
presently smoothed II over, however, by saying
that he was mot going TO stay ut odds with our
distinguished friend at the grave Of Jefferson"
Then he said other pleasant things concluding
with "the code OF our Democratic comrade, Tim
Campbell, Of New-York," that neither money
NOR the Constitution ought TO come between
friends" Wasn't that handsome. though? 1t
was as much as to say: 1--WE differ AZ TO what
Jefferson took 10 be Democracy In his time,
land as to what he would take to be Democracy
to-day; and we differ also ms to the quite I'M
important question whether the Government
fought to call CS cents or 100 cents n dollar In
"the settlement Of debts; but, bless YOU what's
"a little thing like that at the grave OF Jeffer-
"son? The main thing for us fellows who agree
"in being Jeffersonlan Democrats, and only diff
"fer as to what Jeffcrsonan Democracy really
as Is to get together regardless and 60 for
| whats In sight"
| That seems to be the summing up OF the Month
cello celebration. And on 1t the BILLY" Russell
boom has been launched.
THE GAS-METER GRAB.