The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-09-22
Mr.. Cleveland's Reply To a
Communication From
Frank 2. pOStOn.
He Tells Why He Wrote That Letter
To Col, H., Clay Kings
Niece.


mutation by Gov. Buchanan of the
sentence of Col, H, Clay King, con-
demned to death for the murder of
David H, Poston, the brother of Kings
victim, Frank P. Poston, addressed
letter to Grover Cleveland, strongly
deprecating the letter he had written 10
Kings niece, Mrs. Il. X. White. Mr..
Poston, courteous throughout his let
ter, was plain and to the point. He
said that Mr.. Cleveland's action was
"unwarranted and blow at good
government" and would in all proba.
bility cost him some votes in Tennes-
see. 1t certainly would among the
members Of the Poston family and its
connections
To this Mr.. Cleveland replied as fol-
lows:
"Gray Gables, Buzzard's Bay, Mass,
Aug. Frank Poston, Esq.-My
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter OF the
18th inst, l beg you to believe that l
am in no-wise wanting in sympathy
for your family and friends of your
brother, nor do | forget in the situa-
tion there is perfect excuse for con.
clusions arrived at without absolutely
cool judgment; but | address in the
hope that; notwithstanding all this,
you may be able to take more reason
able view of my conduct l have been
amazed beyond expression at the
misinterpretation which has been
placed upon my letter written to Mrs.
White. can not conceive what there
is in the minds Of the people of your
locality which leads them to give it a
meaning so entirely beyond its just
Interpretation. This is the first reply
which | have thought fit to make to
the frequent criticisms Of my action
in this matter. After some hesitation
| have determined to say to you, on ac-
count OF the sincerity and courtesy OF
your letter and your relations to the
tragedy, that am still utterly unable
to account for the feelings which my
letter has occasioned.
"Have you and others who are in
clined to criticise my action for a mo-
ment reflected upon the fact that my
letter was written in response to the
pitiable plea of an apparently heart
broken woman, setting forth in man
ner most impressive the reasons why
the life Of her uncle should be spared?
Have you and my critics overl ooked
the fact that | absolutely declined to
interfere with the Governor in behalf
of this man? Have you and they for
gotten the courtesy and consideration
I which gentlemen in the North, as we'll
as in the South, consider due To the
appeal of a woman? Has it entirely
= escaped your attention that the letter
: was dictated simply and solely by the
t sympathy which every true man ought
to feefor woman in distress. do not
overlook the fact Ethat in the closin
/. paragraph of the letter did say felt
a there might be extenuating circum.
+ stances. This was written in connec.
. tion with the plain statement OF my
il letter absolutely forcing the meaning
5. on any ones mind who saw that my
t idea concerning extenuation was
: derived from the letter to which Ire.
q sponded. / should not be frank with
you if | did not add that, so far as my
q meaning and intent were concerned. ]
u do not regret my action.
e "In response toyour suggestion that
IS this act of mine may result in the loss
Ie OF Democratic votes in the pending
re campaign, you will parden me,
e. hope, if say that when political ex
re pedien3y forces me to be discourteoul
N to distresse woman, | am prepared
r to retire from politics. Very trul,
yours. GROVER CLEVELAND"