Sickles On Cleveland

For the first timo in my life I find myself a sort of Mugwump. I look down with serene indifference upon political parties and partisan contention. It is a priouliar experience for me. No, I shall noc go on the stump for either candidate. I did so with Governor Hill for Mr. Cleveland in 1888, and our reward was to be accused of knifing the ticket. I ain afraid that Senator Hill will be similarly rewarded for his rnagnanimous action in again going on the platform for Mr. Cleveland. I wer.t ont through the state with Governor Hill in 1888 at his request. He had found some trouble to handle the old soldiers, and he thought 1 could assist in keeping them in line. I found them all glad enough to see me wherever we went. but they could not be shaken from their determination to vote for I Harrison. They said. "We are glad to see you, general, but you mustn't ask us to vote for Cleveland." Reasoning with them as Deraocrats would not changa them. They said that the tariff arguments offered them didn't amount to anything; that the Democrats told them that umler the Mills bill they would save twenty-üve dollars a year in cheap clothing, etc, while tlie Republicana told them that they would get higher wages under a protective tariff and save twenty-five dollars. They were sure of that twenty-five dollars, no matter wliat the result, but what the old soldier wanted was his pension besides, and that amounted to about $144 a year. They argued that a comrade like General Harrison, who was in syinpathy with theni, would do what he couid to givo thein their pensions, while President Cleveland, they said, had a record of vetoing more pensions than all his predecessors combinad. They expected nothing trom him. The Democratie old soldiers could not be budged, and I told Governor Hill that l was of no nse in tlie canvass and might as well come home. - Interview in New York Sun, Oct. 4, 1892.