Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-21
SATURDAY. :. FEBRUARY 81. 1891.
Mr.. CLEVELAND and tho Presidency.


The Washington Posts announcement
that Mr.. CLEVELAND has declared it 10 be
his irrevocable purpose not 10 be in 1892
candidate for President Of the United
States Is couched in language so unambig-
nous, and claims 70 be based upon author
ity so high, that we deem II proper to let
our readers sec for themselves the precise
words of our Washington contemporary.
They are as follows;
"Mr. Cleveland is not candidate for re-
nomination for the presidency and VIII not
allow his name 10 be presented 20 the
Democratic National Convention Of 1892.
The Post makes this statement on hlgh
authority, and it's truthfulness will, in due
time. be well established His decision IN
the matter was made known to close pollti-
cal friends some DAYS ago, and the formal
announcement of his intentions will reach
the country over his own name IN proper
season.
When he made known TO his intimate
friends in New York his determination IN
the matter they used every argument 70
induce him 10 change his mind, but found
his decision irrevoCable. His determine
ton was fixed and unalterable. and while
he assured his friends that be felt as keen
an interest in tho success OF the Democra-
tic party as ever before, and would respond
10 any reasonable call upon him in future,
he emphasized the fact that II must be as
a private In the ranks and not as a candi-
date. So rcsolute was Mr.. Cleveland in
this interview with his friends that thew
abandoned all hope Of inducing HIM to
again become a candidate, and have since
had conferences wlthprominent party men
with view TO uniting upon some other
Democrat for 1892"
The above is the language used in the
Posts local columns. Editorially the paper
says:
at is given out on authority, second
only TO that Of Mr. Cleveland himself, that
the ex-President will not be a candidate
for the nomination in 1892 that hls mind
is fully made mp on this point and that
consequently lac stands in the way of no.
body who wants the honor. II such be
the ease there need be no further anxiety
as 10 the effect of his recent silver letter,
and the situation becomes materially
changed IL not simplified. But New York
remains the pivotal point as IT We're, with
Maryland, New Jersey, and the bounding
West 20 hear FROM
Notwithstanding the terms in which this
announcement is made, we are tempted TO
say that it is important if true" We
cannot reconcile this formal statement as
to Mr.. CLEyELAND's intention with facts
known TO everybody, for certainly he has
seemed to be not at all averse TO being
considered as an aspirent to the high Office
which it is now reported be will make no
effort TO obtain again.
1t may be said that Mr.. CLEyELAND's anti
silver letter has occasioned q change Of
purpose on his part. But this is not
good reason in the case of such man rs
he is. He gangs his own gait" and let's
other people go theirs. He has little or
none Of that rascally virtue prudence"
He ia always fully persuaded that he is
right before he begins to write. But having
come 10 the conclusion that he is right
he does not trouble himself TO learn
what other persons think on the same sub
iect. HIS courage is undoubted. There
fore we cannot believe that his anti-silyer
letter has had any influence in causing
him to decline to run again for President.
On the other hand, it may be said that he
wrote his nnti-silyer letter because he had
already made up his mind not to allow his
name to be used in the Democratic Ma
tIonal Convention of next year.
Such an announcement as the one under
consideration will command public atten-
ton until it is proved to be true OF false.
1t will soon be found to DO one or the
other.