New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-27
Nv Ipp1LLING SILENCE.

The Hon. George Fred Williams, or Massa-
chusetts is n statesman not given to hiding his
opinions lInder a busheI He usually speaks out
loud and long He has been known TO lace
bowling convention mob for hours rather lhan
forego the privilege of showing misguided TEL
low Democrats their errors ana thelr duties
While leader and master Of the Bay STATE or
oanization he was an oracle never dumb and
never rearied: and even since his dethronement
by Mr. CASTOR and Mr.. Quincy he has not faled
to lift his voice in public whenever mistaken
policies seemed to call for words of protest or
of warning.
But now curious change seems TO nave come
over the spirit of Mr. Wilams's dream. He
reached Boston on Tuesday. fresh from holi-
day in Europe He found politics stirring; for
the Democratic State Committee met that day
TO fix the date for holding the next State con-
vention Mr. CASTOR, the candidate for Gov
ernor nominated last fall in spite of Mr.. Will
iams's bitter opposition. is eager to head the
State ticket again. and his second canvass was
the chief topic discussed by the politicians gath
cred in Boston.
Yet the Dedham sta tesman obstinately re-
fused to discuss the political outlook. He would
lot criticise the ineXpediency Of putting a de-
feated candidate once more in the field. He
would not say whether he would oppose Mr..
CASTOR in this years convention. He would
not talk Of Colonel Bryan's plans or prospects
though in New York, the week before, on land
ing from his steamer, he had jauntily declared
that the Nebraska orator still had four-hfths of
the Democratic party behind him. He would
not even open the walls of his wrath at the
suggestion that Grover Cleveland was seriously
and hopefully seeking another Presidential nom
nation No; he wrapped himself in silence
as mysterious as it was impenetrable. To a re-
porter Of 1.-The Transcript he said
I am willing to talk of my trip abroad and
things of that nature; but on the wisdom or
Unwisdom Of political movements 1 have moth
ing to say. / know nothing whatever ABOUT
politics. l have not kept touch with them. I
have given attention to the situation here.
I do not know much about politics as my
office boy does especially about the present po-
Htical situation in State or nation
Such reticence and self-effacement on Mr..
WiIIams's part stagger the imagination. Can
he have lost the dash. the daring, the fearless
ness with which in other days he plunged into
the breach on any and every provocation?
There was a time when situation in State
or nation could catch the Dedham leader
nappng-could wiring from him the confession
tnat he could say nothing about it because he
knew nothing. We fear there is some strata
gem behind this sudden and inexplicable silence.
1t looks abnormal; it looks suspicious Sooner
or later we feel confident, the Dedham states
man will recover his convictions and his vocab-
ulary. He cannot be permanently Cowed and
muzzled by the Gaston-Quincy ''reorganzers.'
We do not think this silent fit will last. The
Massachusetts public could not stand it. Neither
could Mr.. Williams. Such a suspension of the
laws Of nature would be more than melancholy
1t would be appalling.