New-York tribune., 1901-05-01
Mr.. HILL SAYS SOMETHING.


The Hon. David Bennett Hill begins state
ment designed for publication. and generally
published, with these words: My attention has
been called 10 the story which is going the
rounds Of the press" etc The Ex-Governor,
ex-senator and past. present and future Demo
crat ought not 10 have borrowed this foolish
little device OF vain men who like TO pretend
that they never see A reference TO themselves in
the newspapers until they have been engulfed in
marked copies sent to them by their friends or
enemies. Mr.. Hill is not that sort of pretenler
whatever else he may be. He does not pose for
the Identification of n little coterie of congenial
spirits and the diversion of the rest of mankind.
He does not care rap who krOws that he takes
pains 10 ascertain what is going on in the world.
If he subscribes TO that useful institution, n clip
pings bureau. he is not In the least ashamed of
the fact; hur, whether he does or not he would
never think of denying that he is as well aware
as anybody else of what is being printed about
himself. Hence it may safely be assumed that
when he said his attention had been called TO
current reports of n personal nature lie was suf-
ferng from an attack of inadvertence. which
will be readily pardoned. though everybody will
hope that he will not do II again.
So much for the paltry form OF words with
which Mr.. Hill carelessly socits the public ear
The substance of his statement is interesting
and in the main, meritOrious. We regret 10
learn. however. that he is not contemplating a
political trip through the West and South either
this year or next. He has always been n busy
man. and we suppose the time has never seemed
10 him to be propitious for n deliberate and
tranquil inspection of the country. Perhaps,
also, he dslikes travelling; but he ought TO have
made the sacrifice He has attended numerous
anJ li
on the stump year after year, but otherwise his
orbit has been uncOmmonly harrow. We are
pretty sure that he has never been in Europe.
which is likewise TO be regretted. Contact with
the effete dynasties would have done him good
For one thing, it might have strengthened his
devotion 10 his native land. But this is not
the point intended 10 make when we began
What had in mind the closing para
graph. and especially the closing sentence of
Mr. Hills proclamation:
will state further that I am not a candidate
for the Democratic Presidential nomination in
1904. / neither seeking the nomination nor
expecting II. / regard all suggestions of candi-
dates at this time as premature and inadVisa bic
No one can now tell what can or ought 10 be
done in 1904. In the mean time, Democratic eff
forts, in my opinion. should be devoted IN
for cause, that the nomination of the
party may become something more than a mere
empty honor and the nominee may have some
chance Of success.
Seldom indeed, has so large dose of common
sense been administered to the Democratic
party by one of its own distinguished members
If Colonel William j. Bryan happens to be in
need of a sub-edtor for his "Commoner'' there
is just one man in the country whom he ought
10 engage, even though il should require all the
colossal profits of our esteemed contemporary to
get him.