Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19
WATTERSON WROTE THE LETTER.
To Governor Hill--It Was "rhe Letter
That Never Came"--The Louisviilian
Gives His Reason for Writing Hill.

That Never Came"--The LOuisyiilian
Gives His Reason for Writing Hiil.
LOUISVILLE, Feb. 12.-On returning
to this city, this afternoon, Mr.. Waiter
son, in answer to some hundreds of tel
egrams which have come to Louisville
the last "a hours, gave the following
statement for publication:
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 12.-"I wrote
the letter TO Governor Hill, and | was
impelled to do so by motives the sin
cerest and most disinterested. There
appeared in many of the great news
papers last Sunday, sensational ac-
count of how caucus of United States
Senators had resolved upon retiring
Governor Hill from the Presidential
arena, of how had been selected as the
instrument of these Senators, and of
how / had dispatched him letter
potent enough to alter his plans.
Whence this fantastic story emanated
/ cannot devine, but it was so absurd
and did such injustice to both Governor
Hill and myself that | thought, as |
still think, that there could be no obiec-
tion on the part of anybody to the pub
lication of the truth, which fatty CON
tradicted it. ! was induced to this by
the circumstances that Governor Hill
seemed to have adopted course sug
gested by considerations alike honorable
to his character and credtable to his
judgement; the more so, indeed, since
the letter in question furnished him and
his friends impartial testimony to an
swer and refute u most odious and
widely circulated calumny.
HT confaae I nm Gurnriend that the
governor should make such haste to dis
ayow and disown course which, how
ever prompted, gratified every Demo-
crat in the United States outside Of New
York, removing him at once from the
field Of mere political self-secking and
placing him in the front rank of states
men having the good of their country
and party at heart.
II am equally distressed by the repre-
sentation that Gov. Hill should regard
my plain but friendly words as imperti-
nent and insulting. did not so intend
them. ! cannot help thinking that the
same words might be with propriety adj
dressed TO him or to any Democratic as
pirant by the humblest Democrat in the
land and still hope that, annoyed by
a publication which annoyed me as
well, he has proceeded upon a misap-
prehension of the facts of the case. !
can assure him that, neither In the writ
ing, Or printing of my letter was there
any purpose to take an advantage of
him, and least Of all, to do him injustice.
| am no mans man and exist in no
mans interest. 70 use his own happy
expression, / am Democrat who has
passed a lifetime in the service Of prin-
ciples and policies from which have
never sought the slightest personal
recognition or reward. | am only humil
lated by the recollection that this ser
vice was not sufficient in the estimation
of Governor Hill to protect me against
his displeasure, and that, in the harsh
construction which he puts upon gen
uine and not forged letter, he visits
me with what must regard as unmer-
tied suspicion"
THE FAMOUS LETTER--TExT OF THE
EPIsTLE WHICH GOV. HILL SAYS HE
NEVER RECEIVED.
The following is the text of the famous
letter, now the political sensation of the
time, which appeared exclusively in the
Sun of Wednesday last:
CouRIER-.loURNAL OFFICE, LOUISVILLE,
Nov. 2I, lS90-4NY Dedf Sir. take leave
to address you this letter as one of some
millions of Democrats who have never
sought or held office, and who could not
be induced to do so; but who arc deeply
concerned in the party welfare, and who
believe you to hold the key tu it. outside
of the state Of New York there is we'll
nigh unanimous demand among the rank
and file of Democrats for the nomination
Of MIR. Cleveland. This is too strong for
the party leaders and managers tn resist
| think ! have some influence in Ken
tlcky. But on that point | should be
overwhelmed in Il state convention. If
you should come to Il national convention
with a New York delegation solid against
ii you would he overwhelmed. You are
powerless to prevent it. But you can de-
feat the election Of the ticket
There are Democrats in every part of the
union who believe that You did this in
1858. | know that to be false. know ex-
actly what happened, and have
steadily defended you in public and
in private But it will cling to you
as long as you live-even as the
bargain, intrigue and corruption story
clung to Clay--and will meet you in every
national convention, if ii be not dissipated
BY some act ON your part great enough to
blot it out. In default of this, if you have
any hope of the Presidency, it will defeat
that
My Judgment is clear that if you could
reconcile it with your judgment and feel
ing to make peace with Mr.. Cleveland and
to take delegation TO the national CON
yention in 1892 to put him in nomination,
you will save the party and place yourself
upon an elevation you can never attain if
you fail to do it. You would be received
by the country with enthusiasm: be ac-
ccpted at once as Warwick, and do not
see how You could be kept out of the sue
cession. On the other hand, even if you
succeeded in defeating the nomination of
and dangerous ground, with stormy
future before You.
These are plain words, and have no re-
lations with you which give me the right
to offer You counsels. They may be dis
agreeable words, and | have no desire to
obtrude upon your privacy. But they are
true words, and claim the right of
Democrat who has some knowledge of the
country at large, and has given some proof
Of intelligent devotion to the party inter
ests to ignore ceremony and to send them
to you.
In conclusion, let me say that shall, in
any event. be glad to know you better,
and that, meanwhile, am most sincerely,
your friend, HENRY WATTERsoN.
The Hon. DAVID b. HILL
CLEVELAND AND HILL.
New York, Feb. 12.-"What can l |
say about it?" asked Hon. Grover Cleve-
land, in response to reporters ques-
ton about the Watterson- Hill letter re
garding harmony in 1892. II recently at
tended dinner" said Mr.. Cleveland,
looking out of the window with smile
on his face, (which was given by
gentleman, and great deal was made
of it by other people"
THAT is because you met Governor
Hill there.n