The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-09
THE HILL
A Review Of HIS Record ~ . Parts
Leader.

Nothing IN his life became him like
the leaving IT" The announcement
this morning that David Bennett Hill
Is to retire from politics. tina In case
or democratic success in November he
VIII not accept office, either federal or
state is good news For % years and
more Mr.. Hill has owed this stem To his
conscience and his country. and at last
he has seen 1T to take Ii. We do not
mean to say that Mr. Hill has never
been guilty of a worthy act, but that
except for occasional lapses into polit-
iacl virtue, he has throughout his ca
reer been a malign influence. He has.
with justice. been called the stormy
petrol of the democratic party.
At this time it Is unnecessary to de-
tail the achievements by which he won
the appellation. His subserviency to
Teed when he was an assembIyman.
his league with the basest eIementsdn
MS own party when he was governor.
MS opposition TO high license, his veto
OF bills for ballot reform, his treachery
TO the national ticket in 1888, his theft
Liz snap GOAkE Ell
ton of 1892, when he tried 10 force him
SELF on his party IS a candidate for
PRESIDENTIAL these matters and a thou-
SAND minor transgressions have been
discussed at length and ad nauseam-
The fact that, in spite of blum
ders and defeats. he has to this day
retained a following is proof that he
possesses great. though perverted tall
ents. Edward Murphy. Jr., of Troy,
konWs whereof he speaks when he de-
cares Hill one of the greatest organizers
the democrats in this state have ever
had. Hill has possessed an extraordi-
narily minute knowledge of both polit-
1cal machines in every election district;
ne has known how many votes cash
petty leader could command in every
precinct; as a master of deals n ma
nlpulations he has had no rival among
the New york democrats of his genera
ton. And yet, with all this remarkable
ability, he has never been able to grasp
the point Of view Of the more indepen-
dent and disinterested democrats, has
never seemed able to understand why
men should Set principle above either
self or party. He has had two ruling
passions; personal ambition and the
welfare of his party. He has sacrifice
ed everything but his personal ambi-
ton for what he has regarded as party
welfare, and to his ambition he has
sacrificed wen that.
For instance in proof of this asser-
ton one has not far to seek. Hills des-
perate attempts to secure the presi-
dental nomination are still vivid in
the memories Of all who are old enough
to recall his intrigues preceding the
elections Of 1888 and 1892. Moreover
many of the best informed democratic
politicians are convinced that he had
not abandoned hope as late as 1902,
l when ha n0pai ~ to1 CNo1or fnr
The democrats of the state and the
delegates to the convention were in
dubitably for Parker; and, as the
event proved, Parker could easily have
carried New York against Odeil. But
Hill was for Coler, because Hill want
and whom he could. brush out of the
way in case he saw a nance to seize
for himself the coveted nomination for
the presidency. The russ proved una
vailing; and Hill finally reached the
conclusion that he was too much hated
and distrusted within and without his
party to be a presidential possibility.
When he no longer could look for any
thing for himself, he did what he could
for his party in working for the nomi-
nation of Judge Parker. He would
c%onjure with Judge Parker's name in
order to rally the scattered and broken
factions and present at St. Louis a
candidate worthy of the best traditions
of the democracy. In this movement,
as in that of 1902. when Hill deliberate
ly crowded Parker out in favor of Col
er. Hill has apparently had no more
consideration for Parker than for a
mere piece in a game of chess-in 1902
a pawn in 1904 a king. And there Is
no evidence that Parker has felt under
any special obligations to Mr.. Hill; in
deed, it must not be forgotten that it
was to Sheehan and not to Hill that
Parker sent his famous gold tele-
gram" Judge Parker must have real
confession of Hills despair OF snatch
ing the prize for himself.
Mr.. Hills announcement, however, is
proof of the futility of gossip about
Hills place in the cabinet. Mr.. Hill
understands, as he virtually acknowi-
edges this morning, hat Judge Parker
has a mind of his own. and will, in
case Of election. choose his own advis-
ers. Mr.. Hill has been governor and
United States senator, and he is aware
that he can expect nothing further in
the way of honors. If he has kept
himself informed as to the progress of
the campaign throughout the country
he has seen that not only in New York
state, but from Maine to California,
the strongest argument against Parker
has been the prominence of David Ben
nett Hill. Hill has been the bogeyman
lurking in the background. Judge
Parker is a man Of -unimpeachable
character so runs the republican ed
~itorial: I'VE grant him intelligence,
independence and force; but he cannot
escape appointing Mr.. Hill secretary OF
state" Or, Parker is all very well
and il voters were sure he would be his
own man the situation would be far
different, but he cannot be anything
but the cerature Of Hill, who made
him." This elaborate card-house built
up by republican editors and SPELL
bindes, is destroyed by a breath of wind
from Wolfert's Roost. MI. Hill knows
he will not be Sin it," and he gives his
party what help he can b va frank ad-
mission that he withdraws all preten-
sions to office and a voice in a poten-
tial Parker administration