The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-24
HIS FRIENDS HOPE.
MR.. CLEVELAND's LETTER INSPIRES
HIS FOLLOWERS WITH NEW ZEAL.
No Longer ANY Fear That he Will Decline q
Nomination if rendered Him-Delega-
tions Claimed from Six States, With
Strength in tho South and the West.
New York Commercial Advertiser.

WASHINGTON, d. C., March 16.-Mr.
Cleveland's letter to General Bragg
is generally accepted by the demo-
Gratis in congress as declaration
from him that while he is not seeking
the presidential nomination, he is in
the hands of his friends, so to speak,
and that he will not decline if it is
thought desirable for him to take the
nomination.
1t is complete answer to the state
ments that have been made to the
effect that he would before long write
a letter Withdrawing his name from
the list of candidates, and it is regard
ed further as an indication that he
does not believe that the situation of
affairs in New York makes his case
hopeless.
The Cleveland men in congress are
today more hopeful than they have
been at any time since it became evil
dent that Mr.. Hill would control the
New York convention. The sudden
boost to conspicuous prominence
which this convention gave Mr.. Hill
has made him the target for attack
more so than he has been heretofore
and has occasioned closer scrutiny
of his political principles. AS a result
some of the shrewdest men in the
party have come to the conclusion
that whoever else may fail, Mr.. Hill
will certainly not secure the nomina-
ton.
One of the Massachusetts, democrats
in the house with whom your cores
pendent talked today, declared that
the outlook toward Mr.. Cleveland's
nomination was clearer than it had
been for months, and that he was per-
fectly well satisfied that Mr.. Cleve-
land would be the next democratic
candidate.
Massachusetts, he said, twill
send solid delegation. In fact, New
England will send solid delegation
for Cleveland, and every delegate will
60 there with but one purpose, and
will MOI be in the least affected by the
attitude of the New York delegates.
The New Jersey delegation, the Penn
sylvania and delegations from Mime
sotaand Wisconsin will be for Cleve-
land. do not know myself how Wes5-
ern States stand, but from talks with
members from that section 1 learn
that the Cleveland sentiment is in
control, and that it is not only favor
able to Cleveland, but determinedly
insists on his nomination.
II presume that Iowa and Indiana
and Illinois will send delegates to
support their favoIite sons, and that
Boies, Gray and Palmer will be put
before the convention. But the dele
gates from those States are at bottom
for Cleveland, and when the situa-
tion becomes clear the favorite sons
will be retired and they will come to
the support of Cleveland.
"On the start Mr.. Cleveland will
have more votes from the North, the
East and the West than Mr.. Hill can
muster to save his life. The Southern
people prefer Cleveland, and nearly
the solid Southern delegation will be
for him, but will not be disposed to
force his nomination, as they do not
wish TO take the responsibility of die
Eating who shall be the candidate.
They will be very glad, however, to
cast their votes for Mr.. Cleveland
when they find that he has majority
; of the delegates Of the rest of the
country, and have no doubt that the
! New York delegation will very soon
, see that it is useless to resist the pop
ular will.
"The fact is that the passage of the
J free coinage act by the house will
make it necessary for the democrats
to nominate man who will himself
be a platform for the party. The
fact that Mr.. Cleveland has once been
president, and that he is the great
leader of the party on the tariff will
be sufficient reason for those who do
not agree with him on the silver ques-
tion to look in friendly spirit upon
his nomination, and it is evident that
no one but Cleveland can hope for sue
cess in New York or Indiana in the
face of the attitude which the party
in congress occupies on the silver
question. After having outraged the
Eastern sentiment on the silver ques-