Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-03-04
WAS NO POLITICS IN IT
George W, ChiIds Tells About
Gresham's Appointment.
The Great Republican Ed tor Frankly Com
mends the Course OF cleveland...Cor.
respondence Between the Judge
and President Elect.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Shortly after
the election Mr.. Cleveland, TO escape
the opportunities of Office seekers, ac'
cepted an invitation of the editor OF
the Philadelphia Public Ledger to join
him in hunting expedition. The pres
ident-elect and the editor went to Hog
island and were secluded for several
days. 1t seems that the idea of Judge
Gre sham for the cabinet originated
during the stay on Hog island. The
editor of the Ledger, who engineered
the outing publishes statement
and also an extract from Mr.. Clcve-
lands letter asking Gresham TO accept
the place. The statement is as follows:
The truth about the appointment OF
Judge Gresham 10y Mr., Cleveland-and
the Ledger has exact knowledge oE
when, how and by whom and in ac-
cordance with what high purposes it
was suggested, considered and made
is that neither the politicians who
managed Mr.. Cleveland's campaign,
nor any other persons or person, either
advised, pleaded for or had share or
part in suggesting To Mr.. Cleveland, or
All lHuuClUR MN w stl0GI
Gresham for secretary of state. The
suggestion was wholly and solely Mr..
Cleveland's own, and instead of being
himself surprised about it, the poll
ticians who managed his campaign, as
well as others, were surprised when he
announced that he had considered and
determined upon the appointment of
Judge Gresham. The propriety and de-
l..T -. Al tN1 e
self to Mr.. Cleveland's mind not about
Christmas. but an entire month before,
or a brief fortnight after his election,
and IL was spontaneous suggestion OF
good public policy which Mr.. Clcve-
land warmly welcomed and TO which
he gave the most serioYs consideration.
All that time no politician nor anyone
In or ont of politics had in any man.
ner, nearly or remotely limited TO Mr..
Cleveland anything about the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Gresham. Instead of being
purely the result OF . political
maneuver', it was purely a personal
inspiration, II was suggestion of pure
public spirit and craftsmanship, of
wise politics and pa triotic principles,
1t was q suggestion 10 obey which
required the highest courage
and strongest convictions Of public
duty. These Mr.. Cleveland had, and
without suggestion. pleading or pres.
sure from anyone, or the knowledge of
the politicions who managed his cam
paign, MIR. Cleveland determined 20 ask
Judge Gresham to accept the first place
in his cabinet In his letter TO Mr..
Gresham rendering to him the portfolio
of state. Mr. Cleveland said: In what
may be called an emergency in the af-
fairs of the country, il needs you. In
my efforts To subserve the interests of
the people, need you. Win you come
TO us?
I'm these few strong words, every
one of which is sentient with the
purest public spirit, is to be found the
sole cause of the appointment of Judge
Gresham by Mr.. Cleveland. Judge
Gresham is reported to have
said in respect to the offer
of the post: L accepted the sec
retaryship Of state purely from
sense of duty. I've had all that care
for in politics. know its shallowness
and its intrigues, and it was not the
glamour which prompted me To accept
j had no desire to return TO Washing
ton, and whatever may be said, j ac-
cepted merely because the Office was
urged upon me as duty | owed the
The above extract Of the letter from
Mr.. Cleveland to Judge Gresham and
the latter's reported statement of the
reason which induced him to reply af'
firmatively to Mr.. Cleveland's request
themselves demonstrate the absolute
inaccuracy of the charge that the APP
pointment of Judge Gresham was po.
litical maneuver or suggested by politi-
clans. Instead of being that, it was an
act of purest and wisest craftsmanship,
and it was AIR. Clevelands own sugges-