The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-21
THE DEMOCRACY.
SpecUlationS as to the Next
Presidential Candidate.
A Washington Journals Sensational Story
Spoiled by Cleveland.
Wbitney'S Visit to the Capital Causes
Some COmment-EX-SenatOr Nc
Donald LaudS Harrison.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The Post says
to-day: Cleveland is not a candidate for
denomination for the Presidency, and will
not allow his name to be presented to the
Democratic National Convention of 1892.
The Post makes this statement on high au-
thority. and its truthGulness will in due time
be we'll established His decision in the
matter was made known to close political
friends some days ago, and the formal
announcement of his intentions will
reach the country over his own name in
proper season. Although the use of Cleve-
lands name in connection with the next
Presidential nomination has been general,
and many have predicted that he would be
the unanimous choice Of his party, he had
until less than thirty days ago maintained
silence on the subject, believing that the ex-
igencies Of the political situation were not
such as to call for an expression from him.
HIS DIFFERENTIATION UNALTERABLE.
When he made known to his intimate
friends in New York his determination in
the matter they used every argument to in
duce him TO change his mind, but found his
decision irrevocable. His determination is
fixed and unalterable, and while he assured
his friends that he felt as keen an interest in
the success of the Democratic party as
ever before, and would respond
to any reasonable call upon him in
the future, he emphasized the fact that it
must be as private in the ranks and not
as candidate. So resolute was Cleveland
in this interview with his friends that they
abandoned all hope of inducing him TO
again become a candidate, and have since
had conferences with prominent party men
with view to uniting upon some other
Democrat for 1892.
Whether that man will be Hill or German
or Albeit or Whitney, or whether it will be
Democrat from some Western State, is, of
course, problematical.
wHITNEY's VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
Ex-Secretary of the Navy Whitney has
been in Washington for the past few days,
Stopping at Chamberlin's, where he has met
many Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives. 1t is but natural to infer
that political topics were discussed
at these meetings, but it is stated
positively that there is no foundation in
fact for the dispatches sent out from Wash
ington yesterday that Whitney's mission is
to develop a Whitney Presidential boom
He has declined to be interviewed by news
paper men, but several Democrats who en-
joy his confidence and to whom he has
talked freely state that his visit is wholly
free from selfish political interests and that
be is not cand date, so far as they know.
AN INDICTMENT HELD OUT.
Additional significance is given by the de-
wall 10 rf4 I, ,oH+&,
the announcement Of German, through his
Maryland friends, that lie is not candi-
date for President. and that Maryland will
send solid Cleveland delegation to
the next convention. To many this is
construed as further effort to induce
Cleveland TO become candidate by show
ing unanimity for him; but If such be the
purpose there is every reason to believe It
will fail
THE STORY NOT CREDITED.
The Washington correspondent of n New
York paper says that the Posts story about
Cleveland Is generally received with in
eredullty. His closest friends in Con-
gress know nothing of his inten-
tion to decline the nomination, and
do not believe the report Within four
days Mr. Tracy of New York has had
a personal letter from Cleveland, but the
latter said nothing of any intention of with
drawing. lie did say, however, that II the
majority OF his party. was opposed to him,
Ne Ne was 5oov standing adi6 ;, in ,lS no ones way
Cleveland was at all eager for
the nomination, but he felt positive that he
would not decline the nomination If it was
offered to him. Some time ago Tracy said
that Cleveland had an idea OF taking him
sell out OF the field, but his friends pointed
out to him that his duty would be to obey
the commands of his party, and he agreed
not TO Withdraw his name, but let the future
shape itself.
Ex-Secretary Whitney being asked about
the story that he had letter from Cleve-
land declining to be candidate in 1882,
said: 'The story is without any founda-
tion Of truth whatever"
M'DoNALD INTERVIEWED.
NEW YORK, Feb. 20.-Crawiord in his
Washington letter TO the Tribune says:
IheTe Is no more conservative member of
the Democratic party than ex-senator Nc
Donald of Indiana. He is a personal friend
and believer in Cleveland. l asked him
what he thought would be the effect of
Cleyeands letter on the silver question.
He said: = am glad Cleveland has taken
this position, because l believe it is the
right ole, and prefer to be right than sue
ceed upon false basis" Mr.. Mcdonald
said further that it was highly impor-
tant for the Democratic party that
posed OF, OR be made subordinate
to others He said: ''If Cleveland should
be nominated with such au issue he could
not carry single State east of the Missis-
sippl River. This silver craze may pass
away and it may become intensified"
PRAISE FOR HARRISON.
/ asked Mcdonald what he thought of
| President Harrison. Is he popular?
No" said he, but he is going to be-"
| The ex-senator explained briefly that Har-
| rison had given the country good admin
| istration. Every one was willing 10
| cOncede the honesty and integrity Of his
| motives. In some ways the President
| was out Of line of any ordinary
| criticism. Yes, it was plain to be inferred
| from McDOnald's manner that he thought
| Harrison would be the strongest man the
| Republicans could nominate in the coming
| campaign on account Of the clean record Of
| his Office. This is the reflex of opinion of
| the best men in the Democratic party.
| None of them look forward to the future
| with any too much confidence, as all of them
| concede the strength of Harrison's admin
| iStratiGn.
CLEVELAND's DENIAL.
Ex-President Grover Cleveland said, to-
night, in reference to the statement pub
lished in the Washington Post, to the effect
that he had definitely decided not to
come before the people as candidate for
the Democratic Presidential nomination in
1892: at is entirely untrue, so far as ! AM
acquainted with the facts in connection with
It, believe it 10 be a newspaper senSa-
tlon." The ex-President parried all addi-
tonal questions put to him anent the story,
ana positively declined to define his position
regarding the convention of 1892.
|