The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-24

Wrlggieu nlmseI before the public, like an
electric eel, for the unmatchable honor of
being q candidate for the Presidency of the
United States. Before his name those of Gen
eral Sherman, General Grant, Peter B.
Sweeny, Governor Hoffman, Hendricks, B.
Wright, Senator Trumbull, Fernando Wood,
Judge David Davis, General Hancock, Smiler
Colfax, John Quincy Adams Gratz Brown,
Frank Blair, Clement L. Vallandigham, Judge
Thurman, Carrot Davis Charles Sumner,
Hamilton Fish-ay, even Fish pale into
the INTERCHANGEABLE of insignifcance!
That name is
ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT, OF NEW YORK.
Before proceeding to dilate upon the claims
of Mr.. Roosevelt for the honor proposed to be
conferred upon him, we beg leave to present
to our readers the following copy of CORE
spondence which has recently taken place
between that gentleman and number of his
admirers, promising that the movement origi-
mated in no less an important political centre
than Cincinnati -
PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE,
Hon. ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT
DEAR SIR-Befcre proceeding further IN poti-
cal movement IN which you are interested, desire
to know from you personally whether, II we nomi.
mated you Tor the Presidency, you would feel com.
| spect, &C., JOHN SMITH,
| And several other independent citizens.
| To Messrs. JOHN SMITH. Tom JONES. Bob ROBINSON
and several other Independent clzens-
GENTLEMEN-Ihe question that you have asked me
Is an exceedingly difficult one 10 answer. No poll
tican, without extreme pain to his feelings, ever
declines any Office that is better than the one he has
| already secured. but OF late there has
| habit Of exhibiting cOyness about accepting nomi.
nations which Is very Impressive If 1t is not carried
too far After considering my own case carefully,
think may safely say that If you are sure of nomi.
mating me over again. or insisting upon the with
drawal Of my refusal to serve am ready TO decline
But II there is any doubt about that result, should
prefer not to refuse chance which may never pre-.
force Of these views must strike you at once ana You
| may conform your action to them.
ESQ., -" : ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT
Now, Mr.. Roosevelt need not attempt to
blind the public by any ambiguity of express
sion like that contained in the concluding por-
ton of his letter, which can be interpreted, no
matter how Machiavelli might have twisted it,
clearly into downright acceptance of the
proposed distinction. His modesy may impel
him to say, as he does, that he declines the
| nomination, but, with Talleyrand-like adroit-
ness he couples that declension with the as
| surance that he would acceptif renomnated-
or, in fact he would not decline at all if he
thought his declension would be accepted.
Like Ensign Stebbins, of Massachusetts, who
was Sin favor of the Maine Liquor law, but
was opposed to its enforcement" Mr. Roose-
welt says he is in favor of declining, but is OPP
posed to his declension being accepted. We
take it, then, for granted that Mr..
Roosevelt scorns to say, with Horatio
Seymour, Gentlemen, appreciate your kind
opinion of me, but your candidate can never
be, and then accepting the nomination, with
an appeal $50 child-like and bland" to honest
old Peter Harvey to ''pity him"-we say we
take it that Mr.. Roosevelt accepts the nomina-
ster would say, shook and line. bob and
sinker."
Mr.. Roosevelt will prove a strong candi-
date. He possesses every element of success.
Born Of highly respectable Knickerbocker
parents, he will be sure to carry the native as
well as the German legions, and there are
O'Os enou yh in his name to constitute him
descendant of the O'Neils, O'Doughertys,
O'Tweeds, O'Sweenys, O'Halls, OConnollys,
O'Brenuans, OFields, O'wileys, O'Briens
and all the rest of the O. kind,
including even O'Tammany. He will
carry the female suffragists because of
his manly beauty and cordial devotion to the
sex, however bounded or hoped in. He will
carry all the female benevolent societies,
especially the founding hospitals, for he
was ever fond of fondling foundlings; and,
although man of means, was never guilty of
meanness when called upon to assist worthy
objects of charity. He knows all about our
foreign relations, having visited Paris and
dined with the Joint High Commission in
Washington. He knows all about home legis-
lation, being now member of Congress, hav-
ing been elected from one Of the most inteli-
gent districts in the city Of New York-a
district in which temples of learning are to be
found at every corner and many other places
temples in which the young and old idea is
learned how to shoot-temples that are 'open
all night" unless gaslight is made to shine
through the bodies of some of the devotees
before daylight doth appear" A good citi-
zen, he makes use Of Citizen to aid virtue
reprove wickedness aud support the game
laws. Although no ''rounder" he has devoted
many night to Round Table, as many
knight has been devoted to his dinner table,
On the fishery question he beats Ben Butler
all hollow! He goes for violator of the
fishery laws as hungry pike would for
young trout. He is the great promulgator of
the home fisheries. As member of the
Joint High Fish Commission Of the State
of New York he has supplied the
depleted ponds of the State with the
spawn of the best specimens of the
fnny tribe to be found in the world. and thew