New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-11
"BILLY" RUSSELL AS CURTIUS.


Now. how nice this is in Billy Russell-he
will excuse us for INDUCING In familiarity, IL
comes so natural TO Use the term OF endearment
by which he is known in the best circles OF
Massachusetts, Democrats and Mugwunps-
how nice it is in Billy to permit the Use OF
his name as a candidate for President at the
coming Democratic National Convention. III
evinccs not only Il high degree Of personal cour-
age but an incxhaustible fund of good-naure.
There seems to be no doubt of the fact. The
action of a few Democratic caucuscs In Boston
declaring in his favor was not. OF course con-
elusive Democratic caucuscs all over the coun-
try are Just now actively engaged in passing
resolutions nominating the man nearest at mana
and most in sight. But that man Is in the habit
of rising up and rcmarking that in existing con
Gitions. with so many other statesmen OF much
greater cminencc easily in sight. be cannot thnk
of permitting his name TO be iniruded. lie
usually prefers some other man. Mr.. Whitney
does Does il. very clearly, without any mental
reservation and with blush Of selfdcprecia-
ton which CLOVIS over him like a torchlight pro
cession wherever he goes. He went 10 Wash
inglon the other day as il We're. incognito. but
the blush so lighted up the lair in which he had
secluded himself that the newspaper CORE
spondents were onto" him in about twelve and
a quarter seconds after his arrival. Secretary
Carlisle also shrinks from H. He rode out with
President Cleveland the other day. and 50 ap
piled himself 10 shrinking during the drive that
when the carriage stopped there seemed Ia he
no one in il but the President The Secretary
was almost ~ shrivcllcd up as the revenues over
which he so successfully presidcs Then there
is Senator Hill-wcll. he has flung away ambl
lion And there are others But Blrkis.
Billy" fills the gap. And say. unhes
tatingly. without fear If contradiction. that he
is an uncommonly good fellow for doing ii. 1t
is announced upon what appears 10 be good au-
thoriy that iS-according 10 a Boston dispatch
TO an evening newspaper from information
near to the Ex-Governor" that IL is certain
that he regards himself rs among the l'rcsi-
dental possibilities either for 1896 or 1909"
Oh perish 1900. Whats he matter with 1896:
Away with afterihou.htS, With an absolutely
clear field for 1896, why should he bother him
self with 1902 II is also announced that
Billy" Russell himself, who has been Governor
Of Massachusetts. with John l.. Russell. who has
been an unsuccessful candidate for Governor
there are more Ru~scllS in public life than you
can shake n stick at: and George Fred Williams
our George Fred who ran FOR Governor last
year and under cover thereof made eloquent
remarks In many places and Mr. John W. Cor
coran who used 10 be- in the habit ~ running
for Governor on the same ticket
with John T.. with The same result all these. II
Is announced. will be dclegatcs-ai-largc Ia the
Chicago Convention and will whoop 1t MP for
Billy" There's galaxy Of statesmen, Ihcs"
be glad tidings Gladdcst of al though it may
| a ,I..,
the tidings that George Fred will again and
So soon. be- "at large" To him will doubles,
fall the duty and privilege and honor of max
| ng the nominating speech. And we take no
risk in saying that when George Fred once gets
| the large. capacious ear Of the Convention he
will fill 1t till 1t fairly Stops over. Friends Of
| other candidates if there should happen 10 De-
any. which now seems unlikely will be forced
10 do what the Ncw-York delegation did In tho
Convention Of 1892. put UP umbrellas. But no
umbrella has yet been invented that can shed
George Frcd's cloducnce when once It's copious
ness is put on tap. We look for great results
from II. We always have. And We have never
been disappointed.
| II Is also announced and this is what might
be called ~ corkcr'-that BILLY" VIII make a
| speech at the jefferson celebration AZ Monticello
| Va. on April IL. IN which he VIII not comm.
| himself 10 n culogy # jefferson and his con
| "tribuions 10 American history and inStltu
| "tionS'. herein he Is wise. for many things
! have been said in Tammany Hall and cscw hero
! about Jefferson during the last hundred years
that when Democratic orators begin 10 ialk
! about him nowadays Democratic audience.
usually go out and irrigate their tonsilS but
Twill take up the attitude Of the Democracy
toward the problems Of this year AZ he thinks
''it should be-" This. IL Is said, will challenge
| the attention Of the country to such an extent
| as 10 put him In nomination before the Chicago
Convention. or clsc"-Oh, why this dreadful 'ol
| else? Twill BE- in his interest n candidate
! for the nomination In 1900" All this Is Of III,
most thrilling interest. A. Il time when. II tho
| Democratic nomination for President were put
on a gold plate in Madison square even Gcorg,
Francis Train would shy ~ II. BILLY" Russell
in a noble spirit Of self -sacriiicc. says he vii
take it "if II costs a l'g.' There's been nothing
| like this since the noble Roman youth iumpc'
| into a hole in The ground 10 fulfil the ausplcc,
| and save Rome. We look for great things from
"Billy's" Monticello address and from the sub
sequcnt proceedings at Chicago There has no
| been such a Curtlus since Curius. o
M