The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-19
GROVER CLEVELAND,
:, THOUGH POSSIBLY THROWING AWAY
TIE PRESIDENCY, STILL MAIN.
TAINs HIS CONSISTENT
MANHOOD.
The Democracy of Congress Almost a
Unit Against Him for Re-
nomination.
From Our Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, Feb. l3, 1891.
The letter of Ex-President Cleve-
land denouncing the free silver bill
which recently passed the senate and
which is now before the house, at
tracted at the capitol yesterday fully
as much comment as the famous tar
if message of three years ago written
by the same hand. The fact that Mr..
Cleveland intended to write such a
. letter was known few days ago by
some of the Democratic leaders in the
senate, and they endeavored to per-
suade him not to make known his
views at this time. They believed
that their advice had been followed,
and the publication of the letter yes
teraay morning, therefore came with
double force. In the afternoon Gen.
Hooper, OF Mississippi voiced the gen.
eral sentiments of the Democratic
eluO Wpoh, III Vic CouISe vi SpeeCn
advocating the free coinage of silver,
he said, there was no man in this
country, whether he had held dis
tinguished position or whether he
had an ambition to hold the highest
position within the gift Of the
American people, be he Of
one party or another, who could lay
down the law to the great masses o
this country, who thought for them
selves. On being asked by Mr.. Car
mon whether he was in favor of Mr.
Cleveland for the next president, Gen.
Hooker replied that he did not think
j.. that any man on the continent of
America will ever be candidate of
the Democratic party for president of
the United States who is opposed to
the free coinage of silver. Leading
men in both houses did not hesitate
to echo the views thus expressed by
Gen. Hooker. With the exception o
a few Eastern Democrats, like Sen
ators Mcpherson and Wilson of Mary
- land, and Representatives Wiley OF
New York, and Maish of Pennsylva-
mia, and with the exception of one or
* two pronounced Cleveland men like
Breckenridge of Kentucky, and Will
son of West Virginia, every Democrat
agreed that Mr.. Cleveland had placed
himself, by his letter, outside of the
possibility Of a nomination for the
presidency on the Democratic ticket.
Without regard to the merits of the
proposed legislation on the silver
question, Mr.. Cleveland's letter to the
Cooper institvte meeting cannot help
but command the respect and COM
mendation of every citizen who adj
mires honorable and straightforward
methods in public affairs. 1t will I'M
doubtedly be freely predicted that Mr..
Cleveland's letter has endangered il
- not lost him the Democratic nomina-
ton for the presidency. The conven-
ton which will confer this nomina-
ton is over one year hence, and a
great many radical changes can be
wrought in American politics in the
course of twelve months. However,
be that as it may, Mr.. Cleveland, in
sustaining his reputation for candor
-, and consistency, has indicated his
right to hold place high in the es
TEEN of the American people. This is
prize which cannet be controlled by
any political party.
Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, ex sheriff o
New York, and warm personal frien'
of both Gov. Hill and ex-Presiden
Cleveland, is guest at the Arlington
Despite his age-75 years-the gen
eral is almost as sprightly as man Q
40. This is his first trip to Washing
ton since he accompanied the CONT
de Paris last fall on his visit to tn
battle fields of the late war. Gen
. Sickles' mission here is not OF pollt'
ical character, although he was seel
bling with number OF politl
y clans yesterday at the capitol and a
!. the hotel. He is here on legal busi
ness before the district court, and ex'
poets to return to New York tomor
row. The general refused to discus
Mr.. Clevela nd's letter on the sllve
question. He is like the "devll ant
the deep sea" as regards the polltlca
destiny of Cleveland and Hill. He
friendly to both, and between the wv