The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-02-19
MR.. WATTERSON
DID WRITE THE GOVERNOR HILL
LETTER
For the Good OF the Whole Democratic
Party..SOrne Plain Talk by the
Guardian of the Star.Eyed
Goddess.
SUCH A LETTER ANY DEMOCRAT
MIGHT WRITE.

1t will be seen from the following
Associated Press disp tCh that Mr..
Wstterson did write that letter to
Gov. Hill 1t will also be seen that he
dill so from from pure motives, and
with a sincere desire for harmony in
the ranks Of the leaders OF Democracy,
the two most prominent figures Of
which are Mr. Cleveland and Gov.
Hill, he subjects of the letter in
question. Henry stands up squarely
and tells the county what he thinks
is the best for his party, In his letter
to Gov. Hill he voiced the sentiments
of thousands and thousands of Demo-
crals in the South Whatever may be
the Sutcome OF this affair, Gov. Hill
will find it difficult in the extreme to
convince the Democratic side of the
country that Mr., Watterson was not
right.
LOUISVILLE, KY, February 12-On
returning to this city this city this
afternoon, Hon, Henry Watterson,
in response to request OF the Asso.
ciated press and in answer to some
hundreds of kilograms, which have
come to Louisville within the last
twenty. four hours, gave the following
statement for publication:
LOUISVILLE, KY, February III
wrote the letter to Gov. Hill, and !
was inlpelled to do so by motives the
sincerest and the most disinterested
"There appeared in many OF the
great newspapers last Sunday n sensa-
tional account of how a caucus of
United States Senators had resolved
upon retiring Gov. Hill from the Pres
idential arena, OF how l had dispatch
ed him letter potent enough to alter
his plans.
"Whence this fantastic story ema-
mated cam It divine; but it was so
absurd and did so much injustice to
both Gov. Hill and myself that |
thought, and still think, that there
could be no objection on the part of
any ody to the publication of the
truth, which fatty contradicted it. l
was induced to do this by the circum-
stance that Gov. Hill seemed to have
adooted a course suggested by consid
erations alike honorable to lis charac-
ter and creditable to his judgment /;
more 30, indeed, since the letter in
question furnished him and his friends
impartial testimony to answer and re-
flute most odious and widely circu.
iated calumny.
II con 'ess that ] am surprised that
the Governor should make such haste
to disavow and disown the course
which, however prompted, gratified
every Democrat in the United States
outside OF the State of New York, re-.
moving him at once from the field OF
mere political scheming and self-seek-
ing, and placi' & him in the front rank
Of statesmen, having the good OF the
country and party at heart.
81 am equally distressed by the rep
resentation that Gov. Hill should re
gard my plain but riendly words as
impertinent and insulting. did not
SO intend them. cannot help think
ing that the same words might be vita
propriety addressed to him or to any
Democratic aspirant by the humblest
Democrat in the land, and still hope
that, angered by the publication which
angered me as well, he has proceeded
upon misapprehension Of the facts
of the case ] can assure him that
neither in the writing or the printing
OF my letter was there any purpose to
take an advantage Of him, and least Of
all Ito do him an injustice / am nc
mans man, and exist in no mans in.
terest To use his own happy expires
sion, 81 am Democrat who has
passed a lifetime in the service o.
principles and policies from which
have never sought the slightest per
sonal recognition or reward. am
only humiliated by the reflection thai
this service was not sufficient in the
estimation Of Governor Hill to protec
me against his displeasure, and that il
the construction which he pus upor
a genuine and not forged letter, h,
visits me with what must regard a
inherited suspicion.
(Signed) HENRY WATTERsoN.
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