St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-08-07
cIeveIand's Predicted Disaster.

|
The New York World recently pub
lished letter written in May, 1892,
by President Cleveland to Judge L.
Q. c. Lamar. 1t was written several
months before Cleveland's nomina-
ton at Chicago and shows that he
foresaw the present condition of the
democratic party. Theetteris as fol-
lows:
Lakewood, N. j., May l, 1892,
my Dear Mr. Lamar: First OF all, |
must tell you how pleased | am with the
report have from the press and other
sources concerning your improved health.
| hope and pray that you are on the
road to complete recovery and great
public usefulness.
"You will not, l think, consider me
elusive il | say that it seems to me that
the love of friends ought TO make you
well, though do not exactly see how
this result is to be worked out. | need
not say how delighted was to hear
from you again in your own hearty,
kindly style, and was especially touched
with your letter, written as 1t 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
personally, single allurement. shrink
from everything which another canvass
and its result involves. know what
another election means and | know as
well, the dark depth that yawns at the
foot of another defeat. | would avoid
either if should consult alone my peace,
my comfort or my desire. My discomfort
arises from a sense of duty to honest
people and devoted friends.
81 am alone with my own thought and
with the apparent trust and confidence
of my countrymen. They press upon me
hourly by night and by day. Am | mis-
taken in all this and are my country and
my party prepared to discharge me from
service?
Zone thing know forces are at 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 demo-
cratic principles can be saved, whether
party supremacy Immediately awaits us
or not.
"If folly is to defeat us, in any event
ought to be called upon to place my
self under the falling timber? This last
consideration smacks little OF care for
self, which perhaps ought to be discarded.
you shall know, my dear friend, my
inmost thoughts. shall be obedient to
the cause OF my country and my party.
Whatever happens, no one shall say that
| refused to serve in time of need or
abandoned those whom have been in.
strumental in calling to the field when is
waged the battle for democratic prin-
ciples.
"If l am given my discharge shall
thank God most fervently. | can easily
be disposed of, either by the selection of
a candidate more available or by the
adoption of campaign policy on the
financial question which am not willing
to further.
'In the first case l shall be a happy
helper. In the second, l shall sadly
await the announcement OF party de-
feat, which will be predetermined. Our
Southern friends, if they persist. will be
left alone with their free-coinage heresy.
The danger is that another Southern
idea, and a charge of heedessness for the
public safety on the financial question:
will do service in the place of the memo
ries of the civil war.
THE question is often and justi6ably
put by friendly Southerners, Can Cleve-
land carry New York? The answer is
ready as to Cleveland or any other man
if the democracy is at all weak on the
coinage question.
Gas one who loves his country and be-
ieves in her interest is bound up in demo-
cratic supremacy, | am most uncom-
Portable and unhappy in the fear that
the South will not see until too late the
danger Of their tnarring all. III should
read this, | hardly think | should send it,
but it goes, laden with affection and the
most tender memories.
Yours very atfectionately,
"GRovER CLEVELAND"