The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-20


Has Had Enough of Public Life-A Va
riety of Views.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 49, Especial =
How about the third termf have a num-
Der of letters from my readers asking for
information on this subject. 1t Is a very
interesting topic, both here and out through
tho country, but 1t is also very much of a
mystery. have made repeated attempts
to ascertain from Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet
officers what the presidents views are on
the subject of fourth nomination, with
what results will appear below. No one
assumes that Ii is certain the Democratic
party will nominate Mr.. Cleveland again.
Some of the leading men of the party think
il will, and Others are quite as positive in
saying it never will. Obviously that Is q
matter which cannot be determined for a
long time yet. We shall have to wait I'M
til the party meets in national convention,
or at least in state convention, for light on
this phase of the question.
MT. Cleveland Is Silent.
But whether or not Mr.. Cleveland would
accept such a nomination If offered him,
whether or not he intends announcing his
unwillingness TO be considered possible
candidate, could be very easily settled by
one man, and he not more than minutes
walk from where 1 sit writing. But Mr..
Cleveland is silent His cabinet officers see
him nearly every day. Senators and repre-
sentatives are constantly calling on him at
the White House. Yet not q word does the
president say to any one of them on the
subject. Not word comes out at any
rate and / know human nature we'll
enough and many of these men we'll enough
to feel sure something would come out If
anything there was TO come Do you not
think it odd that all this mystery should
obtain about such simple matterY
Yet mystery it is and the fact that it Is
made such mystery is the very thing
that leads many observers to conclude Mr..
Cleveland is waiting and listening; that
ne is in the hands, not exactly of his
friends, as we would say of a smaller poll
tician, but of the country. They argue
that if Mr.. Cleveland were not willing to
be considered candidate, If he had fully
decided TO close his public career with his
present term, he would come out and say
so, If not publicly, then in such manner
that it would be sure to reach the public.
But this deduction may be faulty. Mr..
Cleveland is peculiar man.
The Fear Of Cnsarism.
This much have observed: Before the
recent elections the near associates of the
president secuted the third term idea.
They would not listen to 1t. But imme-
diately after the elections some of them
talked in totally different strain. For
instance, a cabinet minister one night
talked to me for an hour about the party
outlook. He was sure Mr.. Cleveland was
the only man in his party who could carry
the country; he was sure Mr.. Cleveland
was the only man left who could go out
side the Democratic ranks and attract
votes he was sure the third term prejudice
did not amount to anything; that it had
been cultivated at time when the Repub-
lican party had little family quarrel of
it's own to settle, and at time when the
people were afraid of C8sarism, of the
man on horseback, and all that sort OF
thing he was sure this prejudice would
quickly disappear when the people dis
cerned that there could be no possible dan
ger in the election to a third or fourth term
of man like Mr.. Cleveland, who could
never be suspected of C9sarian ambition.
This cabinet officer was also sure the
Democratic party would nominate Mr.
Cleveland. At first he admitted the party
would not like the idea. 1t would be timid.
1t would fear the third term prejudice
might prove an insurmountable obstacle.
But in the end it would perceive Mr..
Cleveland 10 be the only man with whom
it could have even a chance TO win and
would place him in nomination. This
result was the more likely, he thought, be-
cause when the Democratic national con-
vention met there would be no strong force
there, no commanding personality, no we'll
organized following, excepting, of course,
that of Mr. Cleveland. Such opposition
as there was to the third term would, un-
der these circumstances, quickly disap-
pear.
Nobody Knows.
"But Mr.. Cleveland will not accept, will
hep asked.
81 do not know, - replied the cabinet
minister, "but think he will. That he
is tired Of public life know very well. He
wants TO rest. Mrs. Cleveland wants tc
get out of the White House with her chill
dren. If the president accepts another
nomination, 1t will be with great reluc
lance, against his personal desires But
believe he will accept"
"And whyP'
DUTY. The president Is one OF the most
earnest and conscientious men 1 evel
knew. Though l have never heard hin
say so, think he believes he has a duty t.
perform to his country and his party. You
must remember the president set out to &C
complish two great things during his pub
lie career, and he is not satisfied with tn,
result in either case. He wanted to reform
the tariff, and has not done so. He wanted
to reform the currency system, aud ha'
succeeded only in part. He did get thu
Sherman law repealed, but he will never
be content until he has secured retiremen
of the greenbacks also. d"
"Then you think il would he high
sense of duty, of mission incomplete tina
would induce the president to give up hi
personal preferences and accept anothe
nomination.
Eyes, that If anything"
Shortly after this conversation Secretar,
Morton was interviewed out west, and HI
talked third term very frankly. Then Bro
ker Benedict and Actor Jefferson, the
presidents intimate friends, said they die
not believe Mr.. Cleveland would accept