The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-06-22
John Kelly and Grover Cleveland.

From the Albany Argus.
The Hon. John Kelly possessed ma.
ny noble virtues. He was a man of sin.
gular Loyalty, even TO those whom be
did not know. 1t was rt the Syracuse
Convention of 1882. an hour after Gro-
yer Cleveland bvd been nominated for
Governor, that l met him. The story
was a6ost aud extensively believed that
ne would not support the nominee, and
that disastrous results might be appie.
hended. He laughed q, the rumnrs when
! explained what a toothold they had
obtained among the Bnfialoriaus then
at Syracuse for Mr.. Cleveland
"Sit down." be said. "Do you know
Mr.. Cleveland2 Well l do not know
bin. Ihave never even met him. He
hes been nominated and / shall eupport
him. When say I shall | mean it.
believe be is a good man, for ny warm
est Buffalo friends say that he is, and
must believe them in the absence OF all
other proof. Npw. do me personal
favor. You go TO Bufslo and tell Mr.
Cleveland ! shall support him, and TIL
bin to place no reliance in the ,tories
be may hear from now until the end of
the campaign that my organization or
myself will prove disloyal Tell him
shall take of my coat fo. him and be
will know what that means. This is al.
Deliver my message and you will both
see on election day that ! have kept mr
word"
The message was delivered.
ibid Mr.. Kelly say this p asked Gro.
yer Cleveland, as he whirled around in
his chair, husy with numerous duties as
Mayor at the Buffalo City Hall.
"This is bis precise language" l re.
piled. as read it from note book In
which it was recorded as uttered.
"Taen, replied Mayor Cleveland, 81
shall do as he eays, and shall pay no
further attention to any rumor concern.
ing Mr.. Kelly or bis plans. l believe
what be says, and know be means what
he says"
Observation taught me afterward that
Mr.. Cleveland relied strictly upon Mr..
Kelly's statements. Plsced in . posi-.
tion 10 have some knowledge of the re-
lations between Mr.. Cleveland's friends
IN thst campaign, l never heard from
Mr.. Cleveland himself, or his most inti-
mate friends, even when the rumors of
duplicity we're the loudest, that Mr.. Kel.
ly was not sincerely loyal. Mr.. Cleve.
lands faith was verified on election day.
John Kelly did take bis coat of. His
to9ical facts, no matter if the fraility of
politics led to arrangements, are facts
the dead should be credited with.
1t Was again at Saratoga that l met
Mr.. Kelly, during the Convention of
1884, which endorsed Mr.. Cleveland and
sent a majority of the delegates to Chi.
osgo pledged to bis support for the
Presidential nomination. The Saratoga
Convention was at its height when met
Mt. Kelly on the veranda Of the Grand
Uuion Hotel. Naturally reference was
made to the time when frst met him,
and our conversation then He was told
that his message of 1882 bad been deliv.
cred, how it was received and believed
to the end Anticipating that q siuilar
message was expected sgain, he said.
calmly. but with great force: 81 have
not chenged my opinion Of Mr. Ceve-
land. But this year flnds me in a pecu-
liar tposItion Inside my organization
are diverse thoughts, aims, and ends
and unfortunately. am the chosen in.
strument to guide and counsel. Who
can speak what he can do, or would like
TO do, feltered by opinions varied IN
hostility and friendship with your own
friends Were 1t in my absolute power
10 speak would advocate obedience i'm.
pliclty to the rule OF the majority. That
is the fundamental principle Ct good pol.
i,ics and good government. You see
and can realize my position, and so can
all of Mr. Cleveland's friends Spesk.
ing from my own convictions, I iavur
Mr.. Cleveland's nomination il the ma.
ioritv here 40 decie. ! cannot see de.
feat for him if he is rominated at Chica.
GO. Depend uron time, j; this nomina-
ting event occurs. for slow conci iation
Of these now prevailing diverse thoughts
aims, and ends, and who knows but
what in the end loyalty will be as su.
preme on election day Of 1884 as i, was
in 1892"