The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-05
August Belmont,

The Hon. THOMAS TAooARf, nomi-
nally the chairman of the Democratic
national committee, according to un-
questionable authority believes that
some OF the New York city newspapers
are giving AUGUST BELMONT altogether
too much prominence. Mr.. TAGGART's
satellites in the Century Building in West
Thirty-fourth street insist that this
prominence may turn out to be disad-
vantageous to the Democratic national
ticket. II the Taggartites have hidden
motives for their criticisms, that is quite
another matter. As matter Of fact,
some of the Taggartites have short
memories. They do not dwell on Mr..
TAGGART's own wealth, nor do they
speak of Mr.. TAGGART's sources of
wealth.
Why should not AUGUST BELMONT
take a keen interest in the politics of
his country? Should he hide his light
under bushel just because his abilities
and opportunities have brought him
great wealth? Persons who do not care
to rest under the comment that We are
nation of humbugs are likely to answer
emphatically, No! Then some of these
people who have longer memories than
the Taggartites at Democratic national
headquarters go on to speak Of the very
wealthy men who have directed the po-
litical campaigns of the two parties for
the last forty years. Take, for example,
Ex-Governor EDWIN D. MORGAN, who
piloted the Republican campaigners with
such renown and success in his day. Mr..
MORGAN during his ascendency had a
fortune Of millions, and on his death he
bequeathed millions. Take MARSHALL
JEWELL another Republican millionaire;
as Republican national chairman he was
Of very great service to his party in his
time. MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY was
never poor man, and never a very rich
one, but during most of his lifetime he
could command million dollars. Look
at MARCUS ALoNZo HANNA, the McKin-
ley campaigner of 1895 and 1900. Mr.
HANNA was acquainted with wealth
almost from his youth, and on his death
he left to beloved family several mil
lions OF dollars
The Taggartites would not, in our
opinion, persist in their critical COM
ments on Mr.. BELMoNT's excellent promi-
hence in the Democratic national cam
paign if they paused to recollect that
WILLIAM C. WHITNEY, the millionaire, was
the great man for CLEVELAND in 1884 and
1892. 1t is true that Mr. WHITNEY was
not Democratic national chairman in
those two eventful years any more than
AUGUST BELMONT holds that title in this
campaign. As a matter of fact, Mr.
WHITNEY in the two years mentioned,
1884 and 1892, occupied, in the great
Democratic national party. a post SINH
lar to that now held by Mr.. BELMONT
GoRNAN was ostensible chairman in
1884, and Don DICKINSON, he Of the
ginger ale side whhkers, attempted
to >exalt himself just as Mr. TAGaART
insists that he shall be exalted in this
year of our lord. Most people have
forgotten that GoRMAN and DICKINSON
had anything to do with the campaigns
which elected Mr.. CLEVELAND twice to
the Presidency. They remember only
WHITNEY; they know only OF WILLIAM
c. WHITNEY. and they speak to-day only
of the Hon. WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY
as the Titan of those two eventful occa-
sions. Was not CALVIN STEWART BRICE
a millionaire many times over when he
managed the Democratic establishment
in 1888? Did not Senator BRICE on his
death leave fortune Of several millions,
just as Senator HANNA left like amount
on his death? Certainly.
Finally, il daily statements heard at
Democratic national headquarters are
OF any value. it must be said that the
Taggartites should not heap opprobrium
upon AUGUST BELMONT because he hap
pens to be wealthy and generous, but
ought to turn their critical optics upon
Mr.. TAGaART, who happens to be wealthy
and-retentive?