Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-05-14
CLEVELAND REDIvlMUS.
Grover has them guessing.

ton next Year,
This is the question that Democrat;
are anxiously asking the country over
win Cleveland try TO run again--fol
the fourth time?
1t has all along been supposed that
our only living ex-president had nc
further ambition in public life, and
that he would be content to round out
his days in the shady environments OF
Princeton. For several years, in fact,
ever since his retirement from the
presidency in 1897, Mr.. Cleveland has
studiously kept himself in the back
ground. During the Bryan movement,
he was necessarily relegated, for he
had no sympathy with that brand OF
so-called Democracy, and his counsels
were not called for. He stood in the
position then of false and discredited
prophet, who had not only brought re-
proach on his party, but lugged it with
him to the verge OF ruin. The most
venomous things were said about him
by his own party men, and he was be-
rated as perhaps no living American
has ever been, for bringing on eco
nomic ills and despair to his own
party.
During all this, which lasted years,
Cleveland maintained silence. He
never talked TO the ubiquitous news
paper man, or replied to his savage
critics. He bided his time. Now he
reappears on the stage in a manner
that suggests the possibility that the
country may yet see more of him.
From a silent stole, he has become vol
uble talker,Iand displays that happy
quality Of being able to talk without
saying anything-that is, anything to
crafty the curiosity Of his friends or
the malevolence of his enemies.
Cleveland's recent appearance at
st. Louis. where he made a speech
at the dedication ceremonies, set all
tongues wagging II was not so much
the mere fact that he took this part,
quite proper under the circumstances.
as that he exhibited a warmth and
cordiality and responsiveness 10 the
aeelaims of the people that sug-
gested to the suspicious student of
politics that he had something up
his sleeve" The natural query arose,
is Cleveland looking for another
? The question being
put to him, he coyly banded
1t about and gave no direct answer
While not announcing himself as a
he took the utmost pains
not to say that he would not accept
a nomination il rendered, and that
he entertained no hopes of again
being the nominee. lie could have
put an end to the talk in a moment,
and he would have done so, without
a doubt. had he so desired.
The truth appears to be that Cleve-
land has hopes of once more leading
the Democratic hosts. At first thought
1t seems incredible. But yesterday
1espised OF men, he now aspires to
the Office from which he was sum
marily retired, with scarce a mourner
at his heels. Yet it is not incredible.
after all. Cleveland is human, and
humanity likes prominence and adul-
alton and power. These are pre-
ferred to the hermit life. And Cleve-
land would like to lead again, not
only to win, but to humble those
who have humbled him and consign
them to the outer darkness through
which he has CROPPED. He would like
10 take revenge especially on Bryan,
who has scored him numerically on
every occasion, reserving the bitterest
walls of wrath for his unreyerenced
head. Ii would be worth a good
defeat at the hands of the opposite
party to give Bryan a drubbing in
the convention. Cleveland might be
the willing sacrifice to a regeneration
of the Democracy and the retirement
OF the elements that have lately
hampered it.
What are Cleveland's chancesP At
present, poor; but they may improve
Bryan, representing the other extreme,
looks to be an impossibility. 1t is
realized that he could not make even
a respectable run. Tom johnson and
Carter Harrison represent radical
factions and have no national follow
ing. German isn't popular with the
Hill cannot carry the ban
ner. Olney is a bare possibility
Parker is unknown. But Cleveland
still has hold on many, very many,
Democrats. He has a prestige en-
L