The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-06
elaYeland,s Letter q KellY
rom the Neu York Herald.l

From the New York Herald.
Il Thomas F. Grady, Boss Kelly's Tam
many understrapper, whom Kelly put
! fup to insult Gov. Cleveland yesterday
in the Chicago convention, was a State
Senator at Albany in 1882 and 1888
j No member of the Legislature in either
year was more impudently dePraved
None was no more notoriously "on the
make" None so fagrantly opposed the
Democratic majority and the Democratic
executive and every effort they made for
pure legislation and administration.
he was continually in conspiracy with
the Republicans against his own party,
and in his own party he had no associates
except the worst.
In the autumn of 1888 he was seeking
a reelection, when Gov Cleveland wrote
the following private, personal letter up
on the subject to 6oss Kelly:
Executive CHAMBER, ALBANY,
October 20, 1883.
Hon. JOHN KELLY: Ny DEAR SIR
1t is not without hesitation that | write
| this. have determined to do so, how
ever, because / see no reason why /
should not be entirely frank with you
am anxious that Mr. Grady should not
be returned to the next senate. / do
not wish to conceal the faet that my
personal comfort and satisfaction are
involved in this matter. But l know
that good legislation, based upon a pure
desire to promote the interests of the
people and the improvement of legisla
tive methods, are also deeply involved. |
forbear to write in detail of the other |
considerations having relation to the
welfare of the party and the approval
to be seured by change for the better
in the character of its representatives.
These things will occur to yoH without
suggestion from me. Yours very truly, |
GROVER CLEVELAND.
This letter Kelly caused to he pub
lished, together with vile personal AZ
tack upon Gov Cleveland for writing
it, and when charged with being the
author of the publication and the mouth
piece of the attack he lied about his share
in it.
On the afternoon of November 90 a
correspondent of the Herald held an in
terview with the governor on the sub
ject, which was reported in the Herald
of November 81 as follows:
Gov. Cleveland sat in his large re-
yolving chair in the executive chamber
this afternoon when the Herald CORES,
pondent called. The governor was
alone. He looks vigorous and buoyant.
The Hancock standard of $50 pounds
has evidently been long since reached
"That letter of yours to Mr.. Kelly"
said the correspondent, "has caused a
good deal of talk"
The heavy armchair was rolled little
nearer the interviewer and the governors
lips were compressed.
'Indeed? Well, Isuppose so,' he an
swered, FWhy?'
THAT is for you to say"
81 hold it was the proper thing, IN
der the circumstances, to send that let
ter"
"You think Grady was not proper
representative to send back to the SEN
ate?'
81 do most assuredly. His action in
the senate has been against the interests
Of the people and of good government, !
and his ready tongue gave him power !
to be of great aid to bad men. | believe ,
that the Democratic party could not af-
ford to indorse such course, and that
his rejection would be a great benefit to
The party and to the people. What's
the use of striving for the senate, coun-
try Democrats argued, and have Grady |
holding the balance of power to sell us /
out to the Republicans |
WHY THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN
''But about the letter. goyernor?'
The big armchair rooled closer still. 5
Il sat down without the knowledge of :
my person and wrote to Kelly-this :
nan who had been assuring me of I
lis anxiety to give me aid in my 7
work. The governor here. raised his i
land and forcibly slapped the desk in !
PERSONAL comfort, which | did not deny
would be subserved, but for the good of
he public service, that he who had the
power t. say Co or Come should not
orce the nomination of Grady upon the Ii
Democrats of the State. No man ever v
Icted with more positive desire to serve n
he State than did when wrote that V
etter to a man claiming to- be my friend. b
suggested that he who had the power
everybody knowing that the people of f
he district had nothing to do with. the il
nomination and that but for Kelly's q
riders Grady could not be nominated) e
hould favor some better man for the a
enate."
''Did Mr.. Kelly ever answer your let \ \
err" U
"No If he had been what / took him :
0 be, and he believed in Grady's nom j
nation, he would have so written frank !.
y in reply. He put the letter in his g
rocket and / understand, called in his s
district leaders in Grady's district
md stated his purpose to nominate a
lin. The responses understood to be Il
rom these leaders were that Grady e
ouid not be elected in hishome district. Il
Then Mr. Kelly went to the Fifth tt
district, where Col. NJ. @. Murphy had "
,een nominated in pursuance of an un- p
Ierstanding between all the organiza- a
ions in the district. In violation of this o
understanding he sought to renominate :
lrady there. Then and not till then =
lid Mr.. Grady announce his retirement Z
retirement which was forced by the y :,
act that he knew he could not be elect !;
d. All this time my letter had been in i
kelIy's pocket. y
TIE PUBLICATION OF THE LETTER G
The strong arm here again fell on the j
Executive desk. ''What then p contin :
red the governor. "Mr. Kelly-whom Z
many who oppose him in politics be- \
ieyed to be a gentleman-takes this :
private, personal letter, written as he Y
new, for his own eye only, to the New q
FORK World-and requests Its publica- I
ion, together with story that that let +
er prevented union nominations in Y
Sew York and would make the senate S
At the same time Mr.. B
Kelly s newspaper was openly attacking S
md seeking the defeat Of four Demo
,ratic senators outside of New York
Henry G. Nelson, James Mackin; John
J. Jacobs and John J.. Herman, and one Il
n more Democratic assemblymen. n
THE LETTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN
wRITTEN. Iii
aThen you strongly adhere to the 2
conviction that this letter should have :
,een written77 p
Gov. Cleveland Redeemed to the eye !.
srows. with determined emphasis Of tone !
ind manner: !.
Most undoubtedly The letter was. !;
s every reader Of il will acknowledge, 1
written in the interest Of the people to 4
,etter the representation in the Senate of i