Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-15
If His Party NominateS Him,
But He Declares He Will
Never Stoop to
SCRAMBLE FOR THE PLACE.
The Peoples Party Warned to Be-
ware of Packed Primaries.
ITS MACHINERY PUT IN MOTION.
Gilroy Says Mcclure Isn't Posted on New
York Politics, and
CLEVELAND CANNOT CARRY TIE STATE

MILWAUKEE, March 14.-Hon. Edward
S. Bragg, author of the famous phrase "We
love him for the enemies he has made, "
has been urging ex-President Cleveland to
make public avowal of his position in con-
nection with the approaching Democratic
Presidential convention. Under date of
March he wrote letter to Mr. Cleveland
from Fond du Lac, containing the following
paragraph:
The danger to the public interests which q
failure of the Democratic party would in
volye seems to me now to require the open
avowal 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 further public duty, which
none but you can effectually remove, and
your voice will everywhere be heard with
benefit and effect. 1 believe your useful
ness 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 TO our people;
and as your fellow Democrat and fellow cit
izen, ask you TO say to your party and the
people that your name may be presented to
the National Democratic Convention as
candidate for its nomination to the Presi-
dency, and that you will accept the nomina-
tfoa if the convention shall make it, and
again undertake the duties of President, if
the people shall, as 1 believe they will,
choose you for that office.
The Answer OF Mr.. Cleveland.
In reply the E1-President writes as fol-
lows:
LAKEWOOD. n. j., March 9, 1892.
Hon. Edward S. Bragg:
MY DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 5th in.
stant is received. 1 have often thought
until now that 1 might continue silent on
the subjects which, under the high sanction
of your position as my fellow Democrat and
fellow citizen" and in your relation as a
true and trusted friend, you present to me.
If, IN answering your questions, 1 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 re-
lated to a duty / owe to the country and to
my party, a condition exists which makes
such private and personal consider
ations entirely irrelevant 1 cannot
however, refrain from declaring to you
that my experience in the great office of
President of the United States has so i'm
pressed me with the solemnity of the trust
and its awful responsibilities that l cannot
bring myself to regard a candidacy for the
place as something to be won by per-
sonal strife and active self-assertion.
The Presidency the Peoples Office.
have also an idea that the Presidency is
pre-emfnently the peoples office, and have
been sincere in my constant advocacy of the
effective participation in political affairs on
the part of all our citizens. Consequently,
/ believe the people should be heard in tine
choice of their party candidates, and that
they themselves should make nominations
as directly is consistent with open, fair
and full organization and methods.
speak OF these things solely for the pur-
pose of advising you that my conception of
the nature OF the Presidential office and my
conviction that the voters of our party
should be free in the selection of their can
didates preclude the possibility of my lead
ing and pushing selfseeking canvass for the
Presidential nomination, even If had q de-
sire to be again candidate.
Believing that the complete supremacy
OF Democratic principles means increased
national prosperity and the increased happi-
ness of our people, l am earnestly anxious
for the success of the party. l am confident
success is sill within our reach, but 1 be-
lieve this is time for Democratic thought
1ulness and deliberation, not only as to can
didates, but concerning party action upon
questions of immense interest to patriotic
and intelligent voters of the land who watch
for the assurance of safety as the price of
their confidence and support.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.