New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02
TIE DEuOcRATTC FUTURE.

Perhaps the most important question to be
decided in this State by Tuesdays election is
the future of David B. Hill. The decision of
that question will also determine In large meas
ure the future character Of the Democratic
party in the nation. Is il to be recognized
a Hill party. with all the dishonesty, demagogy
and revolutionary doctrine which that implies,
or is it to enter the next Presidential campaign
with honorable leaders of the Cleveland and
Olney and Pattison type? Having thrown off
Organism. are the Eastern Democrats prepared
10 deliver themselves. bound hand and foot. to
David b. Hill? That is what his success in
this election will mean.
Hill is the real candidate opposing Governor
Odell. This IS recognized by everybody. He
selected the ticket. he made the platform, he
is running the campaign. II Mr.. Coler is elected
it will be his victory. He will have the State
power and the national prestige which come
from carrying New-fork. He will go into the
next Democratic National Convention with a
dominating influence IL is natural for Demo
Gratis who have grieved over the degradation
of their party in the last six years to look
anXiously for chance TO support it once more,
TO repair its broken fortunes and to make il
respectable. Can they achieve their ambition
by thus elevating David B. Hill? The honest
Democrats of New-York know him He was
AIdFnaTus principal he was the guiding spirit
in stealing the State Senate of 1892. and a man
who was an election thief ten years ago is not
mt now TO receive the aid Of honorable men in
his attempts 10 capture the Presidency. He
while Governor was the recipient Of a $4,000
rake off, on the Croton Aqueduct contract.
Honorable Democrats cannot want to put that
sort OF revenue collector at the head of their
party. The conservative Democrats of New
York also know him, and know they cannot
trust him. He went TO Chicago in 1886 as a
champion of sound money and sneaked back
with cowardly acquiescence in the Bryan pro-
gramme. Later he posed as q conservative
devotee Of true Jeffersonian Democracy. But
now he makes appeals to passion and class
prejudice, and advocates radically sociaistic
doctrines Of Matchmaking industry and extend
ing TO unheard of lengths the federal authority
No believer In Jeffersonian principles can trust
the author Of the New-York Democratic coal
plank TO bring the Democracy back 10 sound
doctrine. He will be as ready as Bryan TO
turn the party to the support Of dangerous
crazes and he will do it with far less sincerity.
He has no principles. He is true to nothing and
10 nobody. He is a discredted adventurer
fighting for a new lease OF power
II the Democratic party is ever to recover its
responsibility it must cleanse Itself of Hillism
as well as Of Organism. II can never afford
to go before the country as the party represent
ing the political policy and political ethics OF
David B. Hill Honest Democrats may think
that possession Of power in this State will be
a step toward conservative responsibility. In
stead II will be the approval of Hill his coal
plank. his demagogy, his long record of trick
cry and theft 1t will make him the logical.
perhaps the inevitable, Democratic candidate
Tor President and certainly no honorable Demo.
GaL whether Bryan man or a sound money
man-tor ne was traitor to both--desires such
rate ror his party. A second reputation of
Hill by Democrats would do more TO make
Democracy respectable and teach # the follv
OF following after strange socialistic gods. and
bring 1t back to steady support Of its legitimate
principles, than any victory under his leader
ship