The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-30
PROPHETIC LETTER WRITTEN
-FOUR YEARS AGO BY GROVER
CLEVELAND.
HE feared THE FINANCIAL FOLLY.
Would Ruin the Democratic Party, and
That. His Southern Friends Would
BE Left Alone With Their Free
Silver IIcresy.

JHtkSOn, Miss, July -i.-buPHT >
Wilson, manager of the Picayunc's Mis-
sissippi bureau, former secretary of thu
late Hon. l.. q. G. Lamar, tonight wrct
sthc following to the New Orleans Plea
.yune:
ia May, 1892 several months before
tClevcand was nominated for President
nj Chicago he wrote the late Judge La
mar letter. the original of which is now
preserved in this city, being in the pos
session of Hon. l.. Maycs, Judge Lamar'>
son-in-aw and biographer. The cXccp
tionaIly afcctionntc and confidential re-
lations between these great statesmen
who were in full accord, admitted Of no
reservations. The letter above referred
10 was in reply to one from Judge La
mar, written in pencil on n sick bed, from
which he never arose. What was
prophecy then is history now. Patriotism
will never find n iGft;er expression than
IN this letter, which follows:
Lake View, y. j.. May /, 1S02-Aly
Dear Lamar-f'irst of all. | must tell you
how pleased am with the report | have
from the press and other sources con
corning your improved health. | hope
and pray that you are on the road to com
pletc recovery and great public useful
ness. You will not, ! think, consider me
seffusive if say that it seems to me that
the love of friends ought to make you
well. though don't exactly see how this
result is to be worked. ] need not say
how delighted | was TO hear from you
again in your own hearty, kindly style,
and | was especially touched with the
setter, written, as it was, when you were
so sick. | have, within the last few
months, passed through much that has
been trying and perpleXing to me. The
office of president has not to me- per-
.SOnally. single allurement. | shrink
tflom everything which another canvass
and its result involves. know what
another election means, and | know as
well the dark depths that yawn mt the
foot of another defeat. ! would avoid
either if | should consult alone my peace,
Eny comfort or my desires. My discom-
fort arises from n sense of duty to hon
est people and devoted friends. | am
alone with my own thoughts and with
the apparent trust and confidence of my
~,ountrymen. They press upon me hour
by by day and night. Am | mistaken in
all this and are my country and my party
prepared to discharge me from service?
One thing ! know, forces are mt work
which certainly mean the complete turn
ing back of the hands on the dial of de-
mocracy and the destruction of party
hopes. 1t is ordained that ] am to be
the instrument through which democrat
dc principles can he served, whether party
supremacy Immediately awaits us or not.
III folly is to bring ON defeat, in any event
ought | not to be called upon to place
myself under the falling timber? This
last consideration SmackS II little of care
for self, which perhaps ought to he dis
Cnrdcd. You shall know my dear FRIEND
my inmost thoughts. | shall he obcdicnt
TO the cause of my country and my party,
and whatever happens, no one shall say
Sthlt | refused to serve in time of need
or abandoned those whom | have been
instrumental in calling to the field when
it wagcd the battle for democratic prin-
ciples. If | am given my discharge |
shall thank God most fcrvcntly. | can
easily he disposed Of either by the sccc-
ton of candidate more availab bic or by
the adoption of campaign policy on the
financial question which | am not willing
to further. In the first case | shall be Il
happy helper; in the second | shall sadly
await the announcement of Il party de-
feat. which will be predetermined. Our
southern friends, if they persist, will he
left alone with their free coinage hcrcsy. |
The danger is that another southern idea
and change of heedlessness of the pub |
lie on the financial question will do ser |
vice in the place of the memories of the |
fctyil war. The question is often and JUS |
ltiiiahly put by friendly southerncrs: Can
cleveland carry New York? The an
Swcr is ready as to Cleveland or any other |
IMAM if the democracy is all weak on the |
country and believes that her interest is
boun1 I'M in 1pmOrrntir SunrpmncV | am |