Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-15
EX-PReSlDeNT CLEVELAND.
He Writes in Reply to "a Request that He
Declare His Position.
[By telegraph to the Dispatch.I

ny letesfapn 10 tue Dlhpdlcn.J
MILWAUKEE, WIS, March 14.-General Edward
S. Bragg, author Of the famous phrase ave love
him ior the enemies he has made has been
urging eI-President Cleveland to make public
an ayowal Of his position IN connection with the
approaching Democratic presidential cOnven-
tion. Under date of March OH he wrote a letter
10 Mr. Cleveland from Fond du Lac containing
the following paragraph:
The danger 10 the public interests which
failure OF the Democratic party would involve
seems 10 me now to require the open avOwal Of
your willingness TO submit TO any service to
which your party may assign you
DEMOCRATIC FEARS.
Many entertain fears that you may decline
further public duty which none but you can Of
fectuslly remove, and your voice will be every
where heard with benefit aud effect. i believe
your usefulness TO the nation may be greater
now than ever In the past 20 carry 10 victory the
cause Of tariff reform and 10 restore the bless
ings Of good government 10 our people: and as
your felOw-DemOcrat and fsllOw-citizen, ask
you TO say 10 your party and the peO-
pie that your name will be presented 20 the
National Democratic Convention as "A candidate
for its nomination TO the presidency, and that
you will accept tnat nomination II the cOnyen-
ilon shall make II, and again undertake the du-
ties Of President 1t the party shall, as believe
IL will, choose you for that ofiee.
sincerely yours. EDWARD S. BRAGG.
NIX. cLEvELASD's ANSWER.
In reply the ex-President writes as follows
LAKEWOOD, n. j., March @, 1892.
Hon. Edrari 5. Bragg:
Dear Sir,-Your letter Of the 9th instant IA re-
ceiyed. / have thought until now tnat | might
continue silent on the subject which, under tho
high sanction OF your petition as my follow
Democrat ana fellow-citizen and In your relation
as q true and trusted friend, you present to me.
If, In answering your questions, j might only
consider my personal desires ana my Individual
case and comfort, my response would be prompt
ly made, and without the least reservation or
difficulty. But If yOn are rignt In suppOsing
that the subject Is related % n duty owe to the
country and 20 my party, condition exists
which makes such private and personal con-
sideratiOn entirely Irrelevant
THE PLACE NOT FOR PERSONAL srRIyERs.
cannot, however, refrain from declaring 10
you that my experience In the great Ofiice OF
President OF the United States has so impressed
me with the solomnity OF the trust and its awful
+, sponslOl that i cannot bring myself 10
regard candidacy for the place as something
TO be won by personal strife and active seli-as-
seriioD.
Ihaye also an idea that the presidency is pro-
eminenty the peoples ONCE, and have been
sincere III my constant advocacy OF the effective
participation in political affairs on the part OF
all our citizens. Consequently, l believe the
people should be heard IN the choice o; their
party candidates.. and that they themselves
should make nominations as directly as Is con-
sistent with open, fair, and full part organiza-
ton and methods.
A sELF-sEEEISG CANVASS IMPOSSIBLE.
speak Of these things solely for the purpose
OF advising you that my conception OF the nature
OF the presidential oi1ice and my conviction that
the voters OF our party should DO free IN the Sc
lection Of their candidates preclude the possi-
bilty OF my leading or pushing "A seif-seeking
canvass for the presidential nomination, even II
/ had q desire TO Toe again q candidats.
Believing that tue complete supremacy OF
Democratic principles means increased national
prosperity aud the increased happiness OF our
people. am earnestly anxious for the success OF
tie party. / am confident success rs still within
our reach, but believe this IL time for Demo-
cratic thoughtiulness and deliberation, not only
as TO candidates but concerning party action
upon questions OF immense interest TO the patrl-
otic and Intelligent voters OF the aad VINO watch
for assurance Of safety as the price OF their con-
hdence anu support.
Yours very truly GROVER CLEVELAND.