Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1894 — JUDGE HAMMOND DENIES. [ARTICLE]

JUDGE HAMMOND DENIES.

Rensselaer, Im’., Sept.. 3, ’94. Ed. Democrat: Id your paper last week, you say: “Judge Hammond, who presided over the recent republican cons vention said that ‘The Democratic party draws its strength from the slams and dregs of creation’ 1 said nothing of the kind, nor did I use any language which can be tortured into a meaning, or any similai meaning, conveyed by the above words. I criticised quPe freely, but in moderate terms, the general p olicy and action of the Democratic par 1 ty, for which I have no apology to make, but mac e no reference, directly or indirectly, to the mems bersh p of that par 'y or the sources from which it draws its strength. In common with all republicans, and not a few democrats, I have not a very high opinion of the democratic party, bu 4 I have alw jys treated its members and their political views with respect when discussing political topics. On the occasion referred t , 1 made no personal allusions whitever. It is unpleasant to be thus misrepresented and falsified, and 1 hope you will do me the justice to publish this communication. E P. HAMMOND. ‘IF’ our worthy and esteemed friend, Judge Hammond, had noted the introductory word in our article, he <vouid have seen that we did not charge nim wit 1 ? the utterance imputed to him. We said (and we take the article in tvpe from the form): If Judge Hammond, in his re-» marks acknowleding the honor conferred upon him in his selection as presidin •» officer over the 3d republican congressional con vention, said: “tne democratic party draws its strength from the slums and dregs of creation,” it will have the effect of lessening his influence among his democratic neighbors and friends who have always believed him to be above such cheap demagoguy. We are satisfied the Judge used the expression as so much cheap buns combe, but that will not excuse him. The Judge and his party will suffer more from such outbreaks at the mouth than’wijl tin? demociatic party.

Personally, we have always held the Judge in the highest esteem and have treated him accordingly, and he will bear us out in this.’We supposed, if he uttered the sentiment he did so in in unprepared speech, and under the excteinent of the moment as so much cheap buncombe, and|didn’t mean it. We gave the Judge the “benefit of the doubt.”

Th » Judge is more likely to suf fer from the anxiety of his p ool friends to rush *nto print in his defense. The author of the article in the Republican this week entitled .“He Never Said It,” is evidently one “from the slums and dregs of creation,” and cannot claim an abiding place within the Democratic fold,