Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-03-19
CLsvELANO'S POSITION.
lie viii submit to the viii of the Dele
gates to the CoIvsntlon.

lie viii submit to the viii of the Dele
gates to the CoLvenlion.
MnwAUKEE, Wis, March l5-Gen
Edward 5. Bragg, author OF the famous
phrase: "We love him for the enemies
he has made" has been urging ex-
President Cleveland to make public
avowal of his position in connection
with the approaching Democratic pres
idential convention. Under date OF
March he wrote letter to Mr.. Cleve-
land from Fond du Lac containing the
following paragraph:
The danger to the public interests
which failure of the Democratic party
would involve seems to me now to re.
quire the open avowal of your willing
ness to submit to any service to which
your party and the people may assign
You. Many entertain fears that you
may decline further public duty, which
none but you can effectually remove,
and your voice will be everywhere
heard with benefit and effect be-
lieve your usefulness to the nation
past, to carry to victory the
cause of tariff reform, and to re-
store the blessing of good govern
ment to our people; and, as your fellow.
democrat and fellow citizen, ask you
to say to your party and the people that
your name may be presented to the
National Democratic convention as a
candidate for the presidency, and that
you shall accept that nomination, If the
convention shall make it, and again un-
dertale the duties of president, if the
people shall, as | believe they will,
choose YOU for that office"
In reply the eX-president writes as
follows;
LAKEWOOD, " j., March Q, 1892.
Hon, EDWARD 5. BRAGG-My Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 9th inst. is received. have
| thought until now that | might continue silent
on the subjects which, under the high sanction
| Of your position as my "fclowdemocrat and
fcllow-ctizcn,' and in your relation as true
and trusted friend, you present to me
| IT. in answering your questions, ! might
| only consider my personal desires and
my individual ease and comfort, my re
| sponse would be promptly madei~ and with
| out the least reservation or difficulty. But il
| you are right in supposing that the subject is
| related to duty owe to the country and tC
my party, condition exists which makes sucf
| private and personal conditions entirely irrele
want l can not, however, refrain from declar
| ing to you that my experienced in the great ohlct
| of president of the United States 50 impressed
| me with the solemnity of the trust and its awfu
| responsibilities that | can not bring myself t
regard a candidacy for the place as something
| to he won by personal strife and active self'as
| Sertion
| / have also an idea that the presidency Is pre-
cmincntly the peoples office and l have beel
sincere in my constant advocacy Of the effective
participation in political affairs on the part o
| all our citizens, Consequently ] believe tn
people should be heard in the choice Of thei
| party candidate, and that they themselve
| should make nominations as directly as is con
sistent with open, fair and full party organiza
tion and methods.
l, speak of these things solely for the pur
| pose Of advising you that my conception OF tn
| nature of the presidential office and my con
vction that the voters Of our party should b
free in the selection of their candidates pre-
clude the possibility OF my leading and pushn
self-sccliing canvass for the presidential nom
nation, even If | had "A desire to be again can
ddGte,
Believing that the complete supremacy O
democratic principles means increased nationa
prosperity, and the increased happiness of ou
people, am arncsly anxious for the success
of the party. am confident success is su
within our reach, but believe this is time 70
democratic thoughtfulness and delberatior
not only as TO candidates but concerning part
action upon questions of immense interest t
the patriotic and intelligent voters of the lane
who watch for an assurance of safety as th
price Of their confidence and support
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.