The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-03-24

Tho Great Democratic Leader Valves
Personal Considerations and Consents
to Become a Candidate Before tho Con-
vention-Nts Letter In Full.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, March H.
General Edward $. Bragg, author OF the
famous phrase, eve love him for the
enemies he has made" has been urging
EX-President Cleveland to make public
an avowal Of his position in connection
with the approaching Democra tic
Presidential convention. Under date OF
March 5th he wrote letter to Cleye land
from Fond Du Lac containing the fol-
lowing paragraphs:
The danger to The public interests
which the failure of the Democratic
party would involve seems to me now
TO require the open avowai Of your will
inyEcss to submit to any service to
whl III your party may assign you. Many
entertain fear that you may decline
further public duty, which none but you
can cilcctually remove, and your voice
will be everywhere heard with benefit
and effect. L believe your usefulness to
the nation may be greater now than
ever III 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 tcllow-Democrat
and icllow-ctizen l ask you 10 say to
your party and people that your name
will be presented to the National Demo-
cratic Convention as a candidate for It's
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
party shall, as l believe they will,
choose you for that office"
In reply the eX-Presldent wrote as
follows:
LAKEWOOD, n. j., March 9, 1892.
Hon. Edward l.. Bragg.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 5th
inst. IS received. | have thought until
now that | 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
us true and trusted friend, you present
to me. Ii, III answering your questions,
l might only consider my personal
desires and my individual ease and com.
fort, my response would be promptly
made, and without the least reservation
or difficulty. But ifyou are right In
supEosinG that the subject is related to
the duty | owe to the country and to my
party condition exists which makes
such private and personal considerations
cntlrely J. -tlevaut. | cannot, however,
refrain from declaring to you that my
experience in the great Office Of Presi-
dent OF the United States has 80 inn
pressed me with the solemnity of the
trust and its awful responsibilities that
| cannot bring myself to regard candi-
dacy for the place as something to be
won by personal strife and active self
assertion. / hayc also au idea that the
presidency is prominently the peoples
office, and l have been sincere in my
constant advocacy Of effective participa-
tlon in political affairs on the part Cf all
our citizens. Consequently L believe
the people should be heard in the choice
OF their party candidates and that they
themselves should make nominations as
directly as is consistent with open fair
and full party organization and methods.
l speak Of these things solely for the
purpose OF advising you that my concep-
ton OF the nature of the presidential Of
lice and my convection that the voters
Of our party should be fee in the seiec-
ton Of their candidates preclude the pos
slbility of my leading and pushing a self
seeking canvass for the presidential
nomination even if had desire to be
again a candidate. Believing that COM
plctc supremacy of Democratic princi-
pies 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 oW reach, but believe this
Is II time for Democratic thoughtfulness
and dcllbcration, not only as to candi-
dates but concerning party action upon
questions OF immense interest to the
patriotic and Intelligent voters of the
land who watch for assurance OF safety
as the price Of their confidence and sup.
port. Yours very truly.
(SlSncd) GROVER CLEVELAND.