The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-27

NEW YORK, April 26.-The World
will tomorrow print the following
signed statement of Ex-Governor Will
liam E. Russell of Massachusetts in
response to question from one of. its
staff correspondents:
L am greatly surprised to hear that
the action of the Massachusetts con-
vention had attracted any special at
tentiOn outside of the state While I
greatly appreciated the compliment of
an endorsement by my state, L am not
seeking the nomination nor am l desir-
Gus of being the candidate, nor do I
wish any movement made in any state
in my interest.
ON the contrary, 1 have earnestly
requested that no such movements be
mine. My belief is that it is all-impOrt-
ant that when the Chicago convention
meets its delegates should
BE ABSOLUTELY FREE
to deliberate and act clear of all in
Structions or pledges of even expressed
preferences least so far as 1 am
concerned. I don't know that any
movement personal to me is contem-
plated. If it is I request and insist thai
it should not be made.
should send it's strongest men to Chi
cago and leave it to their good judg-
ment, in view of the situation, as it
then appears, to determine what is best
to be done.
THE important thing now is to make
every effort to have the Democrats take
an absolute sound position on the mon
ey question, without evasion or COM
promise 1 believe this is of vital ton-
sequence to the party for its present
and its future.
L am firmly of the opinion. as /
have recently said. that our natipna
platform ought,
EXPLICITLY AND EMPHATICAIsLY
to oppose the free coinage of silver or
it's compulsory purchase, or any COM
promise legislation in that direction.
and that it ought to indorse and com
mend the administration of President
Cleveland for its resolute work in main
tanning our present gold standard and
in preserving the credit of the nation.
Il think 1t would be neither right
nor wise TO attempt to avoid or strad-
die this question by any ambiguous or
meaningless declaration. The time
has passed for that. The issue must
be made and fought out
A Boston special to the World in
which the ex-governor is interviewed
at length, supplements the above
statement In the course of this inter-
view he saws:
1.-The position of president is one Of
RESPONSIBILITY.
1t involves so many things, requires
so much of the man who would fill it.
L doubt-yes, l doubt very much--if L
would care to take up the load were
it thrust upon me-
81 believe that a president should go
into office Unfettered. Therefore, L
hold firmly that 1 could never even
be a candidate on d platform that was
not in accordance with my own prin-
ciples. 1 would never consent to strad- .
die on finance or any other public
question 1 should not go into office
bound by hampering declarations, re-
stricted in the power of veto, helpless
in authority
Would you accept a nomination
upon a platform of your own beliefs ~
81 don't know. l should hesitate very
seriously But this is too far ahead.
[ tell you in all earnestness again, that
first the Democratic party must settle
these financial questions that are dis
turbing the country. I don't care what
other men may be doing about seek
ing a nomination, but of this one thing
1 am positive, no one shall go to the
convention pledged to me and unmind-
full of what is best for the party and
the country