The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
THE SUN. SUNDAY, JULY s, 1905

friends In refusing favors than De witt
Clinton did In Granting them. The author
Of this book considers II hardly creditable
to Clinton's knowledge Of human nature
that at this crisis OF his life he should have
selected Daniel d. Tompklns for a guberna-
torial candidate, II he sought O man whom
he might control. The farmer boys de-
termined, patient preparation for public
life, and his fortitude in the face OF con-
scious disadvantage, ought to have sug-
sested that the young mar wal made Of
sterner stuff than Theodorus Bailey and
other Instruments OF the C%intonian will.
Within q year after Tomphins's inaugura-
tion tho new Council Of appointment had
made q complete change Of persons In the
civil Offices Of the State, and the Governor
had shrewdly strengthened himself by
assuming to have helped the winners, while
permitting the disappointed applicants to
impute their failure to Clinton, now onoe
moro Mayor Of New York city. The nomi-
nation Of Q Republican candidate to succeed
Jefferson In the Presidency gave Tomphhns
further opportunity Of improving his "
position at the expense Of Do Witt Clinton.
For months the latter had been urging the
claims Of Vioe-Presidsnt George Clinton to
the Office Of Federal Chief Magistrate on
the ground that Virginia had held tho ofioe
long enough. To the disgust Of the Gin
tons, however, and also Of James Monroe
(who at this time. 1908, was opposed TO
Madison) and without the knowledge OF the
Vioe-Presidsnt himself, . Congressional
oauous hastily mot and nominated Madison
for President and George Clinton for o
10000 $780, - 49, usx> praatlanrv The
subsequent nomination; however. by the
Fedsrslists Of Charles c. Pinckney n
Rufus King made Maidstone election GER
tain, and under similar circumstances any
ordinary politician would have hastened
TO reconcile himself with his party. Not
90 De Witt Clinton, who insisted that the
New York Legislature should appoint Presi-
dental electors who would give the votee
Of the State to his uncle. The proposal was
assailed by Tompkins with unanswerable
arguments, and II was finally agreed thst
each Presidential elector should vote Tor
the candidate whom he preferred. n
this arrangement George Clinton received
only six votes out Of New York's nineteen
for President. For the Vioe-Presidenoy,
on the other hand, he received ilS electoral
votes, and therefore continued in that
oflos.
Thus In the course OF d twelvemonth, the
headstrong course pursued by Dc Witt
Clinton had revealed to his fellow citizens
Tompkins's superiority In management and
in political wisdom. Clinton now became
the object Of systematic and rancorous
attack IN the part Of three factions inside
the Republican party, namely the Qualities
OF Lewisitos, what remained Of the Burrites
and the Martling Men, a those precursors
Of Tammany Hail who met at MARKINGS
Long-poom were known. Meanwhile, the
Federalists, under the lead Of the eminent
lawyers Abraham Van Veohten and Daniel
Cady, tormented the friends Of Jefferson's
embargo Ito which De Witt Clinton had
submitted against his WILLY by contrasting
the busy wharves Of 1907 with the ~stagnation
that characterized New York's Of
in 1909. Among the defenders
Of the embargo Obadiah German and Ma
than Sanford, eminent New York Repub-
licans and successfully United States Sena-
tors. were conspicuous. In April, 1909, the
Federalists carried the Legislature, and In
the following year De Witt Clinton again
lost the Mayorslty of New York city. Never
theiess, In 1910 the Republicans swept the
State. 'feeteoting Gov. Tompkfns and re-
gaining both branches Of the Legislature.
The Council Of Appointment was now Gin
~tonian. and the New York Mayoralty was
turned over to lie Witt Clinton. In April,
1911, the vacancy caused by the death Of
Lieut. .-0ov. Broome was to be filed. and
De Witt Clinton came forward for the Office.
The Martling Men put forward Morgan
Lewis; Tammany Hall, which was beoom-
ing a power In political campaigns, bolted
C~linton's nomination in favor Of Marinus
Willett, and Nicholas Fish was tho nominee
Of the Federafsts. The result was that
Clinton Jared badly in New York city, but
the rural counties believed in him, and
when the votes were counted he had q con-
siderable majority.
Before George Clinton died in April,
1912, his nephew had already begun to
cherish aspirations for the Presidency.
1t was with that end In view that he
had entered the United States Senate
in 1902, and in the following year had
become Mayor of New York city. 1t
vas with nc other purpose that he had
sought the Lieutenant-G Go vsrnorship In
1871. The opening presented in the spring
OF 1872 seemed promising. His Republican
friends in New York naturally desired to
obtain 3 legislative Endorsement for him
before Congress could act; but Gov.
To,apkihs's sudden prorogation Of the
Legislature stripped them Of the opportunity,
and, thros days before the houses reassem-
bled on May 10, Madison was renominated
by a Congressional caucus. Eleven days
later 90 out Of s5 Republican members Of
the New York Legislature voted in caucus
to support Clinton-this although most Of
tho eminent men OF Clinton's party In the
State . sed the nomination, kno wing
that Republicans outside OF New York could
scarcely support itbtoauss Of itsirregularlty.
Nevertheless, On the day Of his nomina-
ton, De Witt Clinton believed his chances
to be more than even. He counted on a
majority composed OF m~sloontent Northern
Republicans and OF Federalists. The best
obtainable information indicated that three
Republicans In the Massachusetts, Legisla-
ture would unite with the Federalist men,
bers to name Clinton electors; that the rest
Of New England would act with Massa-
chusetts, and that Clinton would also OBJ
tain support in New Jersey. Delaware, Ohio,
Maryland, North Caro- Dina and possibly
Virginia. If Pennsylvania should be COM