Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-01
MI. Cleveland's Letter.

The Star on Saturday expressed the opin-
ion that Mr.. Cleveland's letter on the sub
ject of his party's next presidential nomi-
nation was not as direct as 1t might have
been 1t pointed out that the deliverance
contained no reference to the third term
ouestion-which is the leading question dis
cussed in connection with the Cleveland
boom-and that there was nothing in II at
all which would initiate against Mr.. Cleve-
lands candidacy in case his party, setting
| aside his letter, should nominate him next
year for the fourth time. The suggestion
| was made that "Jeffersonian directness
/ on the subject would have improved the
| document.
| The Philadelphia Ledger takes the other
| view of the matter. 1t accepts the letter as
! final. and with many compliments to Mr.
Cleveland. declares that it fully covers the
| case. 1--WE doubt" says the Ledger, with
| gentle irony that Thomas Jefferson, or
The Star itself. could formulate declara-
ton more explicit. more decisive.
| The Star need not try. 1t need not even
| go back to jefferson for sample. Observe
how William Mckinley disposed of the
matter only little over two years ago. He
had been reelected President by an over
whelming majority, and had come to- be
So powerful peiSoiiduly liib SohlC pSol'AS'
with or without subsidiary purposes"
were already booming him for third
term On June 10, 1901, they got this very
| direct reply:
Il regret that the suggestion of "a third
term has been made. l doubt whether
am allied upon to give it notice. But there
are now questions of the gravest imper-
lance before the administration and the
country and their just consideration should
No aitrIi N, no
even the suspicion of the thought of a third
term. In view therefore of the reiteration
of the suggestion of it, / will say now
once for all. expressing long-settled con-
yiction. that / not only am not and will not
be a candidate for third term. but would
not accept nomina ton for it if it were
rendered me.
My only ambition is to serve through
| my second term to the acceptance of my
| countrymen, whose generous confidence
| so deeply appreciate, and then, with them,
! do my duty in the ranks of private citizen
ship"
That is the way to put an end to third
| term talk. But probably we shall be told
| that the cases are not similar: that Mr..
Cleveland would be. returning to power
after a service in the ranks of eight years.
| OF course. But upon the proposition that
| in twenty years the democratic party has
| developed but one man worthy of the conf
| ueilce VI the CouHlIy III tHe ONCE VI SHlei
| Magistrate! If that is not the dreaded one
| man condition so far as that party is con-
| cerned. what is it?
The New York World, and not the Brook
| Ign Eagle, was the original Cleveland
| boomer. and on Sunday morning, in a long
| editorial on the subject of Mr.. Cleveland s
| letter. it said:
| 1--WE fully believe that a demand for Mr..
Cleveland's candidacy may yet come with
| a spontaneity and power that he will
| find it impossible to resist. If the
| democratic party and the independent
| voters need and want and call Mr.. Cleve-
| land. in these circumstances and in this
| way. it would not be in human nature and
| a patriotic heart to decline the>s summons
The World knows its hero. It's head is
| Very level. Mr.. Cleveland's 'human ma
| ture' and patriotic heart are old cam
| paigners. and readily recognize, and never
| decline call to arms.