Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-08-05
CLEVELAND AND MCCLELLAN.
when tho President Forgot 90 10 a
Gentleman.

little over seven months ago. He was
a favorito with tho hard listed Dem
ocracy OF the middle States. Many OF
them compiaiued bitterly bcoluse he
did not receive kindly consideration
from tho only Democratic President
elected In over quarter Of a centnary.
He had been tho Demo cratic. candidate
In 1864, and had been atterward, In
troublesome times, elected Governor OF
tho staunch Democratic State OF New
Jersey. Ho had borne fair share OF
tho campaign that made Cleveland
President. and his services In one In.
stance had proved Of inestimable value
Yet no recognition OF them was voueh h
eafed after the Victory. To DO sure. no
asked for nothing, and he sent no friends
to Albany to present his claims, Hls
manly pride forbade this. Nevertheless,
no keenly felt the lngratitudo that
passed him by In silence, aud that did
not even acknowledge hls services, by
avote OF thanks. The depth OF ingratt-
tude could not DO made public whilo tbs
General was alive, Since his death,
however, tho facts are gradually leaking
out. and wa only take tlmo by tho
forelock IN presenting them.
The critical point In tho campaign OF
1884 In Now York was tho withdrawal OF
william Purcell, OF tho Rochester Union,
from tho Democratic Electoral ticket.
This withdrawal was emphasized by
Mr.. Purcell's characterization OF Clevs.
land as "a moral leper." Purcell was
an Irishman. u Roman Catholic. and a
firm friend OF John Kelly. He was
man OF strong convictions and OF strlct
integrity. IIls dislike OF tho candidate
was undoubtedly intensified by tho
ruthless manner In which the Manning
regency had cut his throat In tho State
Convention OF 1883.
Purceirs detection In 1884 nlled
Cleveland's friends with CONSERVATION.
Cleveland himself was aroused TO tho
necessity Of modifying tho Rochester
editor. Extraordinary efforts to close
his mouth were made. Ho was impor-
cd TO deslst for tho safety OF tho party.
IL Ia not likely that any promises woro
made. Purcell was too much OF man
to entertain them for an instant. Tho
Regency know It's man too we'll, Old
party friends appealed TO his generosity
and to his party fealty, and tho tide OF
his Indignation was partly turned. ho
remained quiescent. Further appeals
were made. and no finally consented To
| preside at q Democratic meeting In
Rochester, with tho proylso that Mr..
| Cleveland himself should attend tho
meeting. The provlso alarmed tho
Governor. His presence was thought to
be imperatively necessary In New York
and Brooklyn at tho time, and besides
no did not relish ahs idea OF standing
beneath the protecting wing OF tho man
who had c.lied him "moral loper."
Ha preferred Brooklyn and Now York,
where Row. Henry Ward Beocher was
tho chief speaker. While In this di-
lemma, some ono suggested that Gen"
oral Mcclellan DO sent to Rochoater In
his place. II was thought that tho old
Democratic candidate for Presid 'nt
might, under the circumstances arouse
more enthusiasm than tho now one.
| Mr.. Cleveland therefore wrote an auto
graph letter TO General Mcclellan, do
| failing tho critical situation OF affairs,
and both urging and bosoechIng him to
| 40 to Rochester and make speech In
his behalf. It was thought that Nc
| Clellan's presence would stir up the vet
| erns OF tho war and create an enthusiasm
| which would do much toward removing
tho impression created by Purcells
"moral leper' Humiliation. The General
was In poor health. His physician eau
toned him against accepting tho In
| yentlon. Mr.. Cleveland's letter, however.
was 30 urgent that no did not feel Mt
| liberty to decline. The welfare OF the
party was at stake. and he was too true
| a soldier to shrlnk warfare at tho front
even on a medical certificate. Hs went
to Rochester and spoke at one OF tho
largest meetings held In tho campaign.
II was unusually effective. II checked
Democratic dlsaffection In that section
Of the State, and 1t bore ripe fruit on
election day. the General returned to
| Now Jersey In poorer health than when
he left there. but with the proud con-
seriousness d having done his duty.
Not word OF acknowledgment did he
receive, either directly or Indirectly.
from Albany. After election. proml-
nent men Est, South and West wero
invited to tho Executive Mansion. but
Mcclellan was not among them.
When tho President elect came on to
New York and held his Victoria Hotel
conference, Gen. Mcclellan, with true
courtesy, called upon him. HIS card
was sent 10, but no one came to usher
him into the executive presence. III
waited an hour, sandwlched between
ward politicians and assembly district
heelers, who gazed at him in astonish-
ment. Then the door opened and the
politicians ranged themselves In line.
Col. Dan. Lamont and the President
elect came forward, and In truo klngly
style passed down the line, shaking
hands and saying chow do you dor
right and left. Mcclellan was hardly
recognized. Hs disguised his mortih'
cation as well as he could. and left the
hotel with very unfayorable impress.
sion OF the successor of the courteous
Chester A. Arthur.
The facts came to light over year
ago. we'll known New Jersey Dem
ocrat, whose fearlessness on the bench
had given him an excellent reputation,
called on General Mcclellan and asked
him for a letter OF commentator, adj
dressed to the President.
You are an old and Intimate friend,
tho General replied. "and would d.
anything within the pale OF friendship
and duty to serve you, but you mus
not ask me TO write In your behalf t
Grover Cleveland"
The Judge pressed him for his reas
ons, and with great reluctance the Gen
eral gave them. He also exhibited Gov
ernor Cleveland's letter beseeching hin
to go to Rochester. The Judge says
that the letter Is now In the hands o
Mrs. Mcclellan, who, as becomes