As Seen by Settle.
J. T. Settle, the talented young colored lawyer, returned yesterday after several weeks’ absence in Washington, New York and the West. The report that Mr. Settle had gone to Washington to locate is not true, as he is very well satisfied with the good fortune which attends him in Memphis. He is a close observer of politics, especially from a Republican standpoint.
He said: “The North and West are alive with politics, and in my opinion the result in November is going to be very close. I would not venture a dollar one way or the other on New York as between Cleveland and Harrison, though I am rather inclined to think that Cleveland has the advantage. If he carries the state it will be through Gov. Hill’s influence. Hill will sweep the state by a phenomenal majority. I differ from him politically, but he is my ideal of a thorough politician. He is true to his friends, believes that to the victor belongs the spoils, and practices what he believes. I visited Elmira and Syracuse after leaving the metropolis, and I found in those cities what I had observed in New York, that the whisky interest is solid for Hill. In every saloon the Presidential candidates’ pictures are posted; it mattered not whether it was a Democratic or Republican saloon, the picture of David B. Hill was to be seen. The mugwumps and ‘holier than thou’ Democrats may refuse to vote for him, but he will get five Republican votes where he loses one Democratic vote. There will be a rush to Hill from the Republicans, and in the rush a great many Republicans will forget to scratch Cleveland, and thus he will likely carry the state; but if he does he will be indebted to Gov. Hill for it.
“Now, to show you what a shrewd politician Hill is, there are a great many colored voters in and about Elmira. The Methodist Church there is a very fine one, and the colored people had spent a great deal of money on it, but there was a mortgage on it for $1500. Gov. Hill learned this fact, and a few weeks ago he happened to be in Elmira, looked up the man who held the mortgage, gave him a check for $1500, took the mortgage and enclosed it to the pastor of the church, but without any note of explanation. The pastor hastened to the court clerk to know who it was that had done his church such a kindness, and was told that it was no less a personage than David B. Hill. Why, sir, there is not a colored man belonging to the Methodist church in all that section that is not working with all his might for Hill.
“I made a speech or two in Indiana, but I don’t think I did much good. The lines there are closely drawn, a lot of money is being used, and they are going to have a red hot fight. I hope Harrison will win in that state, but he’ll have to hustle to do so.
“Oh no, don’t ask me what I think of Col. Eaton’s nomination. I was not here, and had nothing to do with the factional fight. Col. Hamilton took up about two hours of my time this afternoon explaining to me how it was done. I think Hamilton had fairly earned the nomination, and I dare say that there will be a great deal of dissatisfaction. Col. Eaton has the nomination, but it is about all he’ll get out of it.”