New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-23
GOV CRITrkNDEN AND TIE PRESIDENT.
WHY THE FORMER RECEIVED NO APPoINIMENr-
Ills LEITER 10 sENAIOR VEST.

HIS LETTER 10 SENATOR VEST.
81. LOUIS, Jan. % (SpeciaD. The following
s copy OF Senator Vests letter Governor Crttcnden.
dated Novsmbur Il, 1888 regarding tho Presidents
refusal to appOiut him to office:
consider 1t iuy duly TO give yOn the purport OF all
interview h4d the day before yesterday by Cockrel
and my,clf with the President We determined TO ask
from him additional recognition OF our State In the
foreign service and after selecting between ourselves
your name aud two others wo approached him ou the
subject When Cockrcll named you the President said
that he could entertain the idea that In the East
you believed have bargancd with tho Fords for
the killing OF Jesse James, aud whether true not he
could shoulder public opiuion on tho subject We
endeayored explain the matter but he cut Us oil with
the remark that could not think of IT. think you
ought TO know this Injustice TO Cockro anyhow have
no, Owen all the conversation, bat the above Is the sub
stance oiit."
Ex-Governor Crttenden replied as follows from Kan
aas City November 20.
whilst being very much obliged TO you anG Senator
COckre for this expressed interest In my behalf assure
you both not. have been for months. seeking
foreign appointment, nor would accept II rendered.
any remaining In tho gift OF the President. am
surprised this part OF the letter I'm which repre-
sent the President saying: In the East he was be-
eved to have barcained with the Fords for the killing
Of Jesse James, and whether true not he could not
shoulder public opinion on tho subject. | do not ask
him. or any man. shoulder my real fanccd sins
hu WILING 10 HlaNu UIluIo IHhuc 'lhHlHn VI ii-t
or el,owhcre upon tic charge Considering the Prcsi-
dent an honest. just and fearless In tho per
formsnco Of his duties. indifferent to the
sensations Of an hour. tho more
surprised at thsacclaraton Had known ~ earlier
day his objection selrrcsp-ct and my conscious
meas Of Innocence w0uG have forbidden solicitation Of
any Office from the President lam a- innocent Of the
fact II not the charge, the Freslen. himself Tie
Last National should have taught the President
the broad difference between charge and The truth
Had the charged ISLANDERS been true against him. uttered
and published for base rcasons by minister OF the
Gospel then Grover Cleveland would have been socially
and morally uuft accept the scat houOred by every
marriott Of this land As he then met tho charge on
the threshold boldly said Tell tho TRUTH, so
with equal fcarcssncss, said 70 all. friend and foe.
tell tho trnthI and ! shall abide tns Gonseg1ences;
weaknesses enough without impntng others of which
! am innocent "hIleVer may navo peen ths
lie James gang Of outlaws. l assure you
people Of Missouri, or 10 the rcs tent The Missouri Of
today j. the Nndlc1t!on Of my gdninlstraton You
the East the responsibility Of my appointment 10 ohcc
because OF tnat charged bargain That may he the
Know the people OF the l. st to he sensitive npon the en-
forccmcnt OF the law and a2hlnst us violation, even
under circumstances productive "f the most good 10 so
ciely and lso equally mindful of that other import.
ant rat IN ter character % heHf eo'hGr
They cared nothing for Jesse James whilst allyc-will
lug to leave hi wi wheTG @ ne e. Ia nnn pGca F ] nos
are frugal honest and mOn"y-inukng. making invest
ments only where law is supreme aud we'll regulated
society the rule. Millions OF dollars have been Invested
I'm ts state by the people since James, DEATH which
would not have been tho case had he continued mon
arch OF all he surveyed
II am slow in the belief that sern a as the
President IA In dealing out Justice between aud man.
one who has mp through the trials and trbUutions
OF official life, whose pathway has been strewn with
malice engendcred by envy and Islander. the Ougrnwh
OF and who thoroughly understands human
nature bv observation and experience. should
40 couHde excited imputgtiOn AS To wrong
bV giving IL moments consideration. aud especially
against who had been his friend and defender from
the beginning. Ifs0 am mistaken IN the man. Senator,
have written plainly because my reputation the |
only prop nd stay Of my fe the only heritage have
to leave my children. aud that shall de- |
fend against all imputatiOn truly hope you !
viii consider no part Of this letter yourself associate
Senator or tho President and In simple justice 10 old
friend who will ntrudc upon your patience again
in regard any ofcc, exhibit II 10 the President an
NOT AT all disappointed Mt the result OF your application.
and rejoice that the President finds many more
worthy thar myself to I'LL the Office.
Having fought long and earnestly for the triumph OF
Democracy aud not AT AL times under sunny skies, or
on novery roads. as you are personally cOgnizan !
truly hope 10 this Administration succeed on tho
principles Of that party as founded by Jefferson and
nd lie Government 10 the Of those great lead
no fayors for myself OF the President, still plead
Tor n free distribution of the good things OF tho
Goyernment table To loved State ana Its
worthy applicants only remembering tho Old Gnard OF
tho uarty thOse who always responded hOre when the
cal was made for action. Nothing so strengthens
man or marry as fcalty TO friends and fcalty 10 the
nsages and doctrines OF that party