Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-03-17
GROVER WILL NOT SAY.
CLEVELAND DECLINES TO PUT HIM
SELF IN THE FIELD.
Urged to State His Position he
Says that he Will let the Democrats OF
the Country Make the Nomin ation-he
Will Load no seIf-Seeking Canvass.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, March H. Gen. Ed
ward S. Bragg, author OF the famous phrase
"We love him for the enemies he has made,
has been urging exPresident Cleveland to
make public an avowal of his position IN
connection with the approaching democratic
presidential convention.
Under date Of March 5 be wrote a letter
to Mr.. Cleveland from Fond du Lac, con
tanning the following paragraph: 1.-The dan
ger to the public interests which failure
of the democratic party would involve seems
to me now to require the open aVowal OF
your willingness to submit to any service to
which your party may assign yoh. Many
entertain fears that you may decline further
public duty, which none but you can effect
ualiy remove, and your voice viii be every
where 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 re-
form and restore the blessings OF good gov
eminent to iour peoples and as your fellow
democrat and fellow citizen, | ask you to
say to your party and tho people that your
name will be presented TO the national con
vention as Il candidate for its notuna ton to
the presidency, and TINT you viii accept
that nomination it tue convention shall
make it, aud again undertake the duties OF
president il the party shall, AZ believe
they WILL choose on for that Office. y
The ex- president replied as follows:
LAKEWOOD, n. j., March ., 1892.
Hon. Edward $. Bragg:
My Dear Sir " our letter Of the 9TH
| inst, il received. | have thought until
now that | might continue silent on the
subject which, under the high sanction of
your position as my "fellow democrat and
fellow citizen.' and III your relation as II
true and trusted friend, you present to me.
I IT, in answering your questions, | might
| only consider my personal desires and my
individual ease and comfort my response
would be promptly made and without tho
! least reservation or difficulty. But ii you
are right III surprising that the sub ect is re-
| lated to duty | owe to the country and to
my party, condition exists which makes
/ such private and personal considerations en-
tirely irreveiant. | cannot, however re-
! fraln from declaring TO you that my expert
ence in the great office of president OF the
/ United States has SO Impressed me with the
solemnity of the trust aud It's awful respon-
siAlites that cannot bring MYSELF to re-
/ gard Il candidacy for the p gee as some
thing to be won by personal strife aud act
| i've ssf-as,ertiou.
pre- eminently the peoples Office and | have
! been sincere i'll my constant advocGtiuu o.
eff active participation III political affair on
! tue part Of all our citiz-nS. Consequently
! believe the people should be heard in the
choice Of their party candidates and that
they themselves should make nominations
a. directly rs is consistent with open, fair
! and full party organization and methods
! speak of these things solely Tor tho pur-
pose Of advising you that my conception OF
tne nature of the presIIential Office aud my
conviction that the voters of our party
should be free in the selection OF their can
dlla'es preclude the Possibility OF my lead
ing and pushing a self-seeking canvass 10!
the presidency, oven II | had desire to b,
II candidate.
Believing that the complete supremacy o.
democratic prnc!pie, means increased ma
tional prosperity and the increased happi
ness of our people | aui earnestly anxious
for the success OF the party.
| am conident success il still within ou
reach, but | believe this is a time for demo
cratic tuoughttu.nes5 and elaboration, no
only as to candidates, but concerning party
action on questions of immense interest IL
the patriotic and Intelligent voters OF til,
land, who watch for an assurance OF sa.et
as the price of their confidence and support
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.