Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1909-10-21
CLEVELAND SAW
HOPE IN JOHNSON
LAST LETTER
RHFUTEs BRANDENBURG.
By EDITOR
T.. Prentiss Bailey, OF Utica, Gives out
Personal Message Received from
Former Chief Executive
Short Time Before
Death-Not
Pes aimiSt

UTICA. y. Special-E- Prentiss
Bailey. veteran editor OF the Utica OBJ
server. and close friend OF Grover
cleveland. prints in his newspaper
the text Of a letter he received from
the former President few days be-
fore MI Cleveland went TO Princeton,
y. j.. where ne later died. and which
Editor Bailey believes is the last let
/ ter of any length or importance that
| cleveland wrote.
The ex-Presidents letter 70 Mr.. Bal
/ ley is dated at Princeton. n J., March
ina. 1905. and its contents are particu-
larry interesting in the light OF the
controversy precipitated year age
by the so-called cleveland letter pre-
lduced by Broughton Brandenburg.
which was subsequently alleged to
have been forgery, and for selling
which Brandenburg was prosecuted in
New York
Brandenburg's Public Letter.
The letter which Brandenburg gave
( to the public made it appear early in
1 the last Presidential year that Mt.
p / cleveland. becoming hopeless OF his
3 party. turned a eulogist OF Taft, the
then expected nominee OF the Repuhli-
, cans
r Brandenburg testified In his own be-
half early this year that the letter
n was signed by the President and given
q to him about March 8. 1905
r The letter was written 20 the editor
F. OF the Observer about six days later
$ than that date. and il shows that the
.- eN-President was still with his party.
m and instead OF having Taft in mind
.e was contemplating with satisfaction
m the possible nomination OF John 4
IT. Johnson of Minnesota. for the Presi-
dency by the Democrats. The letter,
)f bon part. follows:
Ia u often recall past political con-
IA tests and those who were prominent
rs as leaders I'm days past In winning
be- Democratic victories. IL does not
IN Gem TO me that the successors OF these
cid leaders naturally give rise 20 great
confidence or hope. still, cannot
rid myself of the idea that our party
which has withstood so many clashes
&itl our political opponents rs not
- doomed az this time 20 sink TO a con
= iitiOn OF useless and lasting deca-
~ lence. 10 does seem TO me that move
ments have been set In motion which
though not az the present time al
~ large dimensions promise final relie
-rom The burden which has SO loni
weighed us down.
.th Hopes Rested on Johnson.
OF ED have lately come o. The conclu
OF sion that our best hope rests lpCn th
az. nomination OF Johnson OF Minnesota
Hu The prospects. 90 my mind, appear a
gao bright with him as our leader as Wit
any other. and whether We meet wit
sea success or not ] believe with sue
The leader We shall take long ste
"o IN the way OF returning 90 our Oh
arr creed and the old policies and the oil
SEES plans of organization which have here
tofore led us 20 victory.
laL "I received "a letter a few days az
'ss- / from Judge DOnOhue. of New York. :
and old war horse OF Democracy, no
. al eighty-four years old. but still acti'
tile in the practice OF his profession. l.
said TO me that though he was by
los number OF years older than /, he n
lent only hoped. but expected, 10 live
had see a Democratic President in q
Is White House
esl- 81 often think that with seventy-ol
aJes years 10 be completed in four da
TINS now. such a hope and expectation
IN my part can hardly reasonably be {
ono tertained; but / confess that ! z
Diaz somewhat ashamed OF such pessim
tic feeling when / read the CHEEKY a
dent confident words contained in this Z
DlaI veterans letter.
ang- 81 do not want You to suppose n
and a feeling OF pessimism toward poll
ON cal affairs is habitual with me.
J the the contrary. such a condition OF mi
is quite infrequent. and so tempors
that il yields quickly 20 a better me
and a settled conviction that our pa
before many years Will march fr
the darkness 10 the full light OF 6
ON ny: ? 5s::Ss s. 5,a II ss
Gently, believes the letter given alb
orer- was the last OF any length or imp
lance that the ex-President wrote.