The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-19

MILWAUKEE. March 14-Gen. Edward
s. Braggs, author Of the famous phras,
ave love him for the enemies he ha
made" has been urging ex. Presiden
Cleveland 10 make "a public avowal OF hi!
position in connection with the ap
preaching democratic presidential con
v~ention. Under date of March 8, Et
wrote a letter to Cleveland from Fond du
Lac containing the following:
81 ask you to say TO your party and
the people that your name may be pre-.
sented to the national democrat conven-
ton as q candidate for its nomination to
the presidency and that you will accept
that nomination if the convention shall
make it, and again undertake the duties
Of president if the people shall, as | be
lieve they will, choose you for that Of
Ace"
In reply the ex- president writes As
follows:
LAKEWOOD, n. j., March 5, 1892.
Hon. Edward 5. Bragg. My Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 9Th instant is received
| have thought until now that | might
continue silent On the subject which un-
der the high sanction OF your position
a. my fellow democrat and fellow citizen
and in your relation as a true and trustee
friend. YOU present to me II, in answer
lnE your question, | mi mt 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 suppp-ing that IN" subject is re-
lated to the duty | owe to the country
and 10 my party Il condition exists which
makes such private aud personal cOnsId-
erations entirely irrelevant. | cannot,
however, refrain from declaring to you
that my experience in The great Office of
president of the United States has ST.
Impressed me with the solemnlty of the
trust and its awful responsibilities that
| cannot bring myself to regard the can
dldacy for the place as something to
be won by personal strife and
active self assertion. | have also the
idea that the presidency is pre-eminently
the peoples office and | have been sin
ccre in my constant aivOcacyO f effective
participation IN political affairs on the
part Of all our citizens. Consequently
J believe the people should be heard in
the choice Of their party candidates, and
that they themselves should make the
nominations "a directly as is consistent
with an open. fair and full party organ
izatiOn and metho is. | speak Of these
things solely for the purpose Of advising
you that my conception Of
the nature Of the presidential office and
my conviction that the votes of our party
should be free in the selection of their
candidates preclude the possibility of my
leading and pushing a seif-seckIng can
vass for the presidential nomination.
even if | had the desire to be again a
candidate. Believing tn, complete
supremacy Of democratic principles
means increased national prosperity and
increased happiness Of our people, | am
earnestly anxious for the success Of the
party. | am confident SUCCESS is still
within our reach but | believe this is a
time for democratic thoughtfulness and
deliberation, not only ras to candidates
but concerning party action upon ques-
tons of immense interest to the patriotic
and intelligent, and to Others OF the and
who watch for an assurance OF safety as
the price Of their confidence and support.
Yours very truly,
GROvga CLEVELAND.