The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16

has made" has been urging ex-President
Cleveland to make public avowal of his
position in connection with the approach
ing democratic presidential convention.
Under date of March he wrote a letter to
Mr.. Cleveland from Fond du Lac contain
ing the following paragraph:
The danger to the public interests which q
failure of the democratic party would involve
seems to me to require the open avoval of your
willingness to submit to any service to which
your party and the people may assign you.
Many entertain fears that you may decline fur
ther public duty, which none but you can
effectually remove, aud your voice will be
everywhere heard with benefit and effect |
believe your usefulness to the nation may be
greater now than ever in the past, to carry to
victory the cause of tariff reform and to restore
the blessings of good government 20 our peo-
pie; 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 its nomination TO the presidency, and that
you will accept that nomination if the conven-
ton shall make it, and again undertake the
duties of president if the people shall. as / be-
lieve they will, choose you for that Office.
In reply the ex-president writes as fol-
lows:
LAKEWOOD. y. J., March Q. 1897.
Hon. Edward s. Bragg:
Ny DEAR SIR-YOur letter of the 9Th inst.
is received. 1 have thought until now that 1
might continue silent on the subject which,
sorctior -, -,
fellow democrat and fellow citizen" and in
your relation as a true and trusted friend. you
present TO me. II, in answering your questions,
might only consider my personal desires and
my individual ease and comfort. my response
would be promptly made, and without the
least reservation or difficulty. But If you are
right in suppOsing that the subject is related to
duty owe to the country and TO my party, a
condition exists which makes such private and
personal considerations entirely irrelevant l
cannot. however. refrain from declaring to you
that my experience in the great office of presi-
dent Of the United States has so impressed me
with the solemnity of the trust and it's awful
responsibilities that cannot bring myself to re-
BAhu lOI tAs pidcc hS 10
be won by personal strife and active self-as-
sertion.
1 have also an idea that the presidency is
pre-eminently the peoples Office, and / have
been sincere in my constant advocacy OF ef-
fective participation in political affairs on the
part of all our citizens. Consequently be-
heve the people should be heard in the choice
of their party candidates and that they them
selves should make nominations as directly as
IL consistent with open, fair and full party
organization and methods.
speak of these things solely for the purpose
of advising you that my conception of the
nature of the presidential Office and my con-
viction that the voters of our party should be
free in the selection OF their candidates pre-
clude the possibility Of my leading and pushing
q self-seeking canvass for the nomination,
even if had desire to be again a candidate.
Believing that the complete supremacy of
democratic prir siples means the increased hap
piness Of our people, am earnestly ANXIOUS for
the success of the party. / am confident sue
cess Is still within reach, bat believe this is
Line for democratic thoughtfulness and de-
Liberation. not only as to candidates. but con-
cerning party action upon questions Of i'm
nsnss interest TO she patriotic and intelligent