The critic., 1891-02-21

Let every one so who possibly can.
rEoHABLY 10 ciNARD Of the season en-
joyed so brief II space of life and perished
in such neglect and wretchedness as the
esteemed fosfs CLEVELAND story of Fri
day morning. II may almost be said to
lave been dead when it was born. The
Post came out with it yesterday, using
double leads scare headlines, and all the
usual theatrical effects that are employed
to give to a counterfeit presentment
the semblance of reality. And not satis-
fled with this, the Post returned to
the charge again this morning, growing
over its lifcless founding and thanking
heaven that enterprise and skill and jour
nalistic inspiration should be so royalty
rewarded Great and enviable are the
joys of infatuationl
There is an overwhelming volume of
evidence to the effect that the Posts story
is without the iaintest vestige of authority
or even probability to support it. Not q
single one Of Mr.. CLEvELAND's friends be-
lieved it. Mr.. WHITNEY laughed at it;
every one who might be supposed
TO know anything of Mr.. CLEvELAYD's
plans treated il as fourth-rate joke.
But it is not necessary to recapitulate the
vast and crushing volume of discredit
heaped upon the fake. We now have Mr..
CLEvELAND's own reputation OF it,
couched in no uncertain terms. On
being asked if he intended TO write such O
letter as the Post said he intended writing,
Mr.. CLEVELAND, speaking to the represen-
tative Of the New York Herald, said:
~ have never had such an intention. In
point OF fact, am not giving very much
thought to the matter stated in the dis
patch you show me. j have not said any
Thing IN public or private to lead any one
10 believe that am anxious to obtain q
denomination to the Presidency.
my ideas on the subject are quite well
understood by all with whom have con-
sersed ana who are at all entitled to be
called my friends.
III it be true that there has been con-
sultation of my Democratic friends at
which conference my name was men,
toned know nothing about it.
~ may say that have such confidence
in the unseliish Democracy of my friends
that whatever they may determine on
am sure will be for the good of the party
have not expressed to them any settled
determination touching my relations u
The next campaign, and there has, there
fore, been no occasion for them to attenp
Ia have me change such q determination u
This is certainly plain enough. Mr.
CIEvrLAYD has not resolved to refuse {
nomination; he has never even thought
of making a public declaration to tina
effect, and, clearly, he is where all anx
ions aspirants love to be--in the hands o
his friends.
The story came into the world weak
ling; it died of inaniton almost before i
saw the light. And ex-Secretary WHIT
MY, the putatiye father of the deceased
jnseribes this graphic epitaph upon it
headstone:
"Fbsf-I am not the authority, high o
otherwise, for any such statement as tina
contained in the Washington Post.
''ScOHd--l am not u candidate for tn
Presidency.
"T1ind--l did not go to Washington oil
Presidential business.
"Eoarth-The candidacy of Mr.. CLEyE
IANn, possible or otherwise, for the Pres
dental nomination in the Democrat
National Convention Of 1902, was not IN
subject OF conference or consultation dui
inf my recent visit to the Capital
"fUn-l know nothing whatever in n
gard to Mr.. lLEyELAED's political or Pres
dental aspirations or nten'iOns
"hi1h-Ihe subject Of his candidae
has not been spoken Of between rs in an
shape ur form.
"Spmh-Nor has Il been the topic
conversation ON my part with any 9TH
person.
"Elgl0-The entire story is made o.
81 whole cloth, and has not a soli!ai
hnsis IN fact