Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-07-19
GROVER CLEVELAND
He Keeps Well Posted on the
Political Situation.
Is He q Candidate? - Democratic
Politicians Better Fire Their
Shots at the Common Enemy.

New YORK, July 1l.-Although ex.
President Cleveland has practically
buried himself for the summer months
in his cosy quarters at Marion, Mass,
and with the exception of an occasional
letter through some democratic organi-
zation is doing nothing to attract or
court public attention, it does not fol-
low that he is at all oblivious to the
most recent developments in the demo-
and Ex-Governor Gray are responsible.
The ex-president Is a subscriber to two
of the largest press-clipping bureaus,
and during the past two weeks he has
been furnished with a bag Of press re-
ports and editorial comments large
enoughif he brings any degree OF en-
ergy to the task 10 keep him buslly en-
gagged in reading and cogitating for
many days to come. Daniel Lamont,
too, despite his arduous duties as presi-
dent OF the street railroad company.
finds ample time and opportunity TO
keep a sharp lookout on the political
horizon, while Daniel Dougherty and
other close friends and intimates Of the
ex-president are taking care that moth
ing OF interest calculated to affect his po-
litical fortunes escape their observation.
At the same time they are not inclined
to talk very much OF the future. They
are fguratively Saving wood" and
profiting by the celebrated advice once
given by ex-foss Kemble, Of Pennsyl-
vania, who laid 1T down as an axiom
that ~''silence," especially when taken in
connection with addition and division"
was the root of success in political
affairs. If the ex-president has an eye
to the future or is indulging in any
hopes or aspirations in which the year
1892 will play a conspicuous part his
most intimate friends are discreet
enough to hide the fact behind what
Senator Quay within q very recent
period has termed a ''dignified silence"
Just whether the success which has
attended the Albany-Indianapoiis POLL
ticians in their effort TO effect a COM
bination of the Iiill-Gray forces will
have the effect of inducing tho political
friends of the ex-president to "show
their hands" remains to be seen. Said
II Of these:
"1f it be true thatth campaign already
inaugurated by Hill and Gray Is to be
personally directed against Grover
Cleveland, IL he Is to be made tie tar
get of the vituperation and sarcasm and
covert sneers and like kinds Of ammu-
milton with which that element is so
we'll supplied, j do not see how the
friends Of Grover Cleveland can afford
to keep quiet. OF course | speak as an
individual and not as an authority. IT
is difficult for me to see how the cause
OF democracy is TO be helped by attacks
from democrats upon one of the chosen
leaders of their OWL party, and if such
a campaign has been or is TO be inaug-
urated 1T seems. 10 me that 1t Is certain
TO prove very much in the nature of a
boomerang. The rank and file of the
democracy OF this country, whether it
pins its faith to Grover Cleveland or
any other man, is not likely to stand
any such tactics. There is enough TO
be done in fighting the other side OF the
political battle field and no movement
which is likely to eliminate in q strife
in our own ranks should be or viii be
tolerated for a moment. If Hill and
Gray are to make Grover Cleveland in
stead of Harrison and his ~administra-
ton and the policy OF the republican
party the target Of their boom ] think
/ can promise you that they will very
soon be glad to beat q retreat, and that
without waiting TO take their dead and
wounded from the field. 1t seems to
me that SO long as it is an open ques-
ton whether Grover Cleveland is any
longer q political factor these sandhag-
gers might in common decency keep
hands off. Neither in word nor in deed
has Grover Cleveland intimated that he
had an eye TO 1892, and certainly none
OF his friends have attempted TO com
promise him in that regard. lie is not
before the country as q presidential can
didate, and / do not think he desires to
be so regarded. In fact, while / do not
know, l may say l do not believe, that
he has any longings or aspirations for
another term at Washington. The es-
sential conditions arc altogether differ
Ont to those that existed two years ago.
At that time he was the occupant OF the
white house, a reelection would have
meant no change in his mode OF life
nor change in q professional career. lie
would have simply gone on as he had
been going on for the four years pre-
yious. Today all these conditions are
changed. He has made his home in
this city. he has become a domestic man
In all that that word implies, and he
has formed an influential professional
connection which will insure
him honor and wealth for
the remainder of his years.
! believe that ! am violating no conf
dence when | say that despite the pro-
nounced honor which 1t would be to be
again called upon to lead the demo-
cratic party Of the country as its stand
ard bearer, i doubt whether Grover
Cleveland would exchange his present
surroundings and prospects for another
term in the white house, involving as
it would the breaking up of his home
and the severance of his professional
and business interests. On this cues
ton, however, he will doubtless speak
himself and that with no uncertain
sound when the proper time arrives. In
the meantime the Albany.Indianapolis
contingent could with better grace and
a better regard for their own interests
in the future expend their ammunition
their political opponents rather than
Grover Cleveland"
ThlAlA Aln