, 1892-02-10

a large NUMBER OF letters OF regret were
received. Senator Vest of Missouri
wrote in part: You refer to an interview
with me published last November in
which l declared my preference for Mr.
Cleveland as the candidate for our party.
There has recently appeared a state.
ment that l favored Hill, and without a
disposition to thrust my opinions upon the
public as to matters not within the iUme.
date sphere of my official duties, in JUS
tice to the Democratic party and myself,
demands a frank expression of my views.
In private conversation [ have often said,
and now state publicly, | never sympa.
thized with those who denounced David
B. Hill as a traitor. and who have been
unable 10 see any good in his character OF
achievements.
| have also said recent events satisfied
me Cleveland could not crrry the New
York delegation to the next Democratic
national convention, and Hill could do
with it as he pleased. From this has
originated a report that | never wavered
in my earnest desire for the election of
Cleveland. Although recent events have
satisfied me the chance of his nomination
has greatly diminished.
When in New York last fall | was I'M
pressed by what | saw and heard that
Tammany leaders would abandon the
opposition to Cleveland and support him
for the presidential nomination. That im,
preston has been entirely removed by the
speakership contest in which the
determination of Tammany and other
Eastern Democratic managers fully
DEVELOPED to defeat Cleveland at all
hazards. The same reasons which caused
me to earnestly hope Mills would be
elected speaker-the keeping of tariff re-
form as a campaign issue-lead me to
support Cleveland. Nor do | agree with
Governor Hill that the tariff act of 1881
should be re-enacted.
1T seems to me the ways and means
committee of the house should report n
general tariff bill representing the true
position of the Democratic party. Raw
material should be put on the free list
and duties reduced on all the necessaries
of life to the lowest rates by which an
amount can be collected necessary to carry
on the government. At the same time
bills should be reported attacking in
detail the most fragrant and oppressive
features OF the Mckinley act. so the fight
should rage on the right, left and centre,
and the Republican senate should be com
PEELED to meet the issue squarely.
Vest continues: Our party is now
practically united on the tariff, but hope
lessly divided on the silver question; the
only difference between Cleveland and
Hill as to silver is that the form er leaves
no doubt as to his position, while the
latter's friends ever are unable to under.
stand him. Vest adds, that notwith-
standing the c!amor which will be raised
that this is a base surrender to the east
ern money power. aud a cowardly be-
travail of western interests, he Vest
declared deliberately, that if free coinage
is made an issue by the action of the
Democrats in congress, or by the national
Democratic convention, it means a diris.
ion.
In conclusion, Vest says: THE nomi.
nation of Cleveland seems to me to be
the Just and logical result of the preseni
political conditions, but the life of the
Democratic party depends on the fortunes
of no one man; the managers and tacti.
clans, of whom | am not one, have deter
mined that he shall not be nominated,
and | know enough OF them and of con,
v%entions to be certain they will achieve
their purpose"
New York is necessary to the success
of a presidential election. and nothing can
be more disastrous than the nomination Of
Hill over Cleveland followed by a bitter
factioual fight IN the Empire state and
widespread discomfort among the Demo.
Gratis throughout the country. Vest says
It the nominee is to come from New
York, Roswell p. Flower is the strongest
candidate. II, however, the controlling
element of New York Democracy persists
in forcing Hill upon his party, a candi-
date should come from the west. In that
event his Vests personal preference is
William b Morrison of Illinois. But
Palmer, Carlisle, Gray or Boies would de-
mand a full Democratic vote.
Congressman Breckenridge of Ken
lucky IN a letter, said, in part: The
name of the club recalls the condition OF
the Democratic party in 1880. Our mis-
take during that year and our consequent
defeat. Our present condition Is curl
ouslv similar to what it was then and i'm
pending danger may be made actual by q
similar mistake"
Ex-President Cleveland, in a letter,
says in part: This is the most excellent
and appropriate time to recall the virtues
and attributes Of Samuel j. Tilden, the
latest great leader of Democracy of any
land.
In these days our party may remember
with extreme profit his pure patriotism
his ambition permeated with a desire for
the welfare of his fellow country men. bis
splendid organizing ability stimulated by
his love of country, and untaiuted With
ignoble motives; his unyielding resistance
to all that was undemocratic and unsafe,
and his stubborn insistence upon every.
thing which had the clear sanction OF
party principles"
Letters were also read from Gov. BOYD
of Nebraska, ex Mayor Grace of New
York. and others