The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-10-22
WHY MRS. CLEVELAND DID NOT
COME.
What Washington People Think.
Especial to the Times
WAsMNGToN. ID. q. OctOber n


The opinion generally entertained
among conservative citizens, without re
gard to politics, is that the President made
mistake in not taking his wife to Rich.
mond with him, and that Mrs Cleveland
herself is in no wise responsible. What
ever the real reason may have been, the
universal impression is that the President
and his friends deemed it inexpedient.
Some say it was concluded by the Cabi-
net, but this is scarcely conceivable.
The greater probability is that Col
Onel Lamont was at the bottom
of it. The argument is that for Mrs.
Cleveland to become the guest Of Gov
ernor Lee and be received by Miss Davis
would involve such a social and political
recognition Of the South as the Admins
tratiOn could not permit with proper
Difference to northern feeling. Even if
this is the case the failure Of Mrs. Cleve-
ma Tags2 certainly gives foundation for
zach construction CT course is given
out at the White House that personal
matters requiring her attention, fatigue
of the Journey, late return, etc, were the
reasons: but in view of the fact that in
stead of holding back she should have
made supreme effort to accept the invi-
tation, if not to show her friendly sym
l. 4 no of
ness sake, these reasons seem frivolous.
Special pains should have been taken to
avoid the slightest imputation of the
motives that are now attributed to her.
The occasion could have been made
memorable. Such an opportunity was
never before offered for cementing ties
between the sections, and to throw it
away on a timid and time-serving preteXt
was a big blunder. That there was any
design on the part of Richmond people
to bring ladies together for purpose, as
has been asserted, is too contemplate an
assertion to deserve attention, and a
Slight to Virginia hospitality. The mat
ter in inself is not considered of great
Importance, but it is very generally
thought that to have avoided unpleasant
differences which do give it Importance
the ladies should have gone along.
Official Version.
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., October q There
was considerable comment Aere to-day in
social and political circles about the
change Of programme which left Mrs.
Cleveland and the other ladies in Wasr-
ington instead of taking them to Rich.
mond with the President.
Some people said ii was Miss Winnie
Davis-the daughter Of jefferson Davis
who was TO have assisted Governor Lee
in receiving the presidential party, who
caused the change OF programme almost
at the last hour.
AT the Executive Mansion, however
this insinuatiOn was secuted as ridicu-
lous. and the impression was given out
that it was simply desire to look after
some personal matters that kept Mrs
Cleveland from coming. Then, too the
trip to Richmond and return within
twelve hours, with all the attending bus
tie ana CONFUSION WOulu nave DctH Idllgu'
ing TO all the ladies. These and other
considerations were discussed by the
President and his wife last night, and re-
suited in a determination on the part OF
Mrs Cleveland to abandon the Richmond
trip.
Of course, after this determination on
the part of the Presidents wife, the other
ladies who were to have accompanied the
party remained at home.