The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-07
Mr., Cleveland's Positive Engagement
on July 1.

When THOMAS ANDREWS EhhDh1oho uASu
ut Indianapolis In 1886. GROVER CLEVELAND
did not attend the funeral Of the Vice-Presl-
dent The excuse presented by MIR. CIEvD-
LAND for his failure to pay to the memory
of the Democratic statesman the natural
tribute OF respect and political and personal
gratitude was very peculiar. RUTHERFORD
B. HAYES crawled out Of obscurlty to touch
the hem OF the dead Vice. Presidents shroud.
Mr.. CLEVELAND, In semi-off1cial statement
to the press Of the United States, explained
his reasons for remaining in Washington.
The explanation is worth reproducing here:
I'm the first moment Of the shock of Mr.. HESpRcKss
death yielded TO my inclination and declared my In
tention to be present at the funeral or course In
Peaching that conclusion did not put out OF view
peremptory press Of public business or what deemed
- sufficient consideration of my duty to the people,
Tho public business thought could dispose OF by ad.
diional application and moro hourso OF work. aud con-
sdered be duty to tho people to answer ten
der sentiment OF respect and affection TO the dead Vice
President which does them great honor. am salts.
fed now that fault in considering the question.
3n that did not take comprehensive view OF tho
duty owe to the public as shoud-thatiS did not
Nook at every phase of II, and am afraid my strong
personal desire somewhat clouded my Judgment. am
now reminded by OF the best and most patriotic
and thoughtful of that tho roal and solemn
duties of my office at the national capital and that
in the present peculiar and delicate situation ought
not to the remote chance Of accident incident
10 travel to crafty sentiment 30 general and charac-
teristic as that involved in this subject am
tain neither desire the sentiment referred
to- nor the difficulty that attends in this case change
of design stubborn idea OF heroism will Justify
mo subjectng tho country to greater chance of
disaster than attends my performances of strict duty
here and that ought not to inlet upon my country.
men even the and anxiety attending my de-
parture absence and return in attendance upon the
funeral ceremonies"
Tho value OF Mr.. CLEvEIAED's stock
phrases and the measure OF the sincerity OF
his professions OF personal sentiments and
motives were not so well understood then as
they are now. Tho country was ready to
believe that the President really desired to
stand at the grave OF tho man to whom he
owed his election, and that nothing but an
honest, II mistaken, sense OF public duty en-
abled him to overcome the stubborn idea of
heroism" which impelled him to risk the Or
binary perils OF railway travel in order to be
present at Mr.. HENDRICKs's funeral In the
hollow phrases quoted above, Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND managed to advertise his diligence at
the desk, his zeal for the public interests.
his solemn sense OF duty, and his solicitude
for the peace OF mind Of citizens who
might apprehend disaster to our institutions
II the President should stubbornly persist In
the heroic Idea Of risking his person upon
fast express train. With elephantine and
characteristic humbug. Mn CLEVELAND
made virtue Of what Is now seen to be
nothing moro than callous Indifference to
the requirements Of proprietY
The second direct opportunity to manifest
his respect for the memory Of HENDRICKS
has just come to Mr.. CLEVELAND, and he
has evaded 1t as before. On June 10 Mr..
CLEVELAND replied as follows from his sum-
mer homo at Marion to an invitation to
attend the ceremony Of unwilling the HEN
bricks monument at Indianapolis on July1i
"Itis uselesA hope to assure you of the satSfao-
ton It would afford me to testify respect and a1ee.
ton for distinguished fellow townSman by Joining
those who will gather to honor his memory the
sion you contemplate. Hs eminent public service and
his faithful discharge OF many and Official du
ties render tho commemoration of bis public and pri
Vato virtue most fitting and proper
"Isincerely regret poStrpe engagement Jr the
Dap dppondf for the unwilling Of the monument erected
to his memory makes impossible for me to accept your
invitation"
Now that Mr.. CLEVELAND Is private citi-
zen he has a perfect right to decline to put
himself to personal Inconvenience or to SUBJ
JCCb uiuLociL W LILO uISCOhlOIL Vi railway
travel in warm weather for the sake OF hon
oring the memory OF his associate on the
Democratic ticket Of 1884, or OF gratifying
the friends Of the dead statesman. Nobody
can dispute that right or indict Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND for preferring his own comfort to
other considerations. Quite another ques-
tion, that Of personal veracity. is raised by
his remarkable letter.
Mr.. CLEVELAND has been criticised In In
diana and elsewhere for not cancolling or
postponing the positive engagement on July
(which he alleged on June 1G as the reason for
his inability to go to indianapolis. He had
full fortnight in which to change his arrange
ments for the day OF tho unwilling. il he was
as he affirmed, sincerely DESTROYS OF joining
those who gathered to honor tho memory
OF Mr.. HENDRICKS. There has been more
or less speculation as to tho character OF
the appointment which was so positive and
important that Mr.. CLEVELAND could not
escape it when his heart yearned to be in
indianapolis. Conjecture has covered the
whole range of possible obstacles, from an
imperative professional engagement in
court to a projected excursion after blue
fish In Buzzard's Bay.
The simple truth is that he had no posi-
tive engagement for July l. On that day
Mr. GROVER CLEVELAND went neither to
court nor a-ilshing. He made no calls and
he received nOno He remained all day at
his home in Marion, doing nothing with the
stubborn heroism OF utter idleness. Mr.
CLEvELANDs heart may have been at
IENDmCKss tomb in indianapolis on Mon
day last; there was no reason whatever
why his whole considerable body should
not have been there also.
Tho Democrats Of Indiana who are ag-
Rricved because Of this second conspicuous
manifestation OF selfish Indifference on Mr.,
CLEvELAND's part would have no just cause
of complaint if he had told them the truth.
If he had said, " ] care nothing for the mem
Dry of THOMAS ANDREWS HENDRICKS. Raise
as many monuments to him as you please,
II matters not To me. lie Is where he can be
of no further use to mo politically. With
the friendship of the Mugwumps, l think |
have little use for the friends of this dead