The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-15

Utica. N Y, Dot. 14-E. Prentiss
Bailey. veteran editor Of the Utica OBJ
server. and close friend of Grover Cleve-
land, tonight prints in his newspaper the
text OF a letter he received frcn the
former President a few days before Mr..
Cleveland went to Princeton. N. J., where
he later died. and which Editor Bailey
believes is the last letter OF any length
or Importance that Cleveland wrote.
The ex-Presidents letter to MI Bailey
IS dated at Princeton. y. J.. March Il.
1sOS, and its contents are particularly in
teresting in the light OF the controversy
precipitated a year ago by the so-caned
Cleveland letter produced by Broughton
Brandenburg. which was subsequently
alleged to have been q forgery. and FOR
selling which Brandenburg was prose
cuted IN New York
Brar denburg's Public Letter.
The letter which Brandeuburg gave to
the public made it appear early in the last
Presidential year that Mr. Cleveland. be-
coming hopeless Of his party. turned a
euloSist Of Taft, the then expected nomi-
nee Of the Republicans.
Brandenburg testified IN his own behalf
early this year that the letter was signed
by the President and given to him about
March s. 1905.
The letter was written to the editor of
the Observer six days later than that
date, and It shows that the ex-President
was still with his party and instead of
having TAFT in mind was contemplating
with satisfaction the possible nomination
OF John \. Johnson. OF Minnesota, for
the Presidency by the Democrats. The
letter. in part follows:
II often recall past political contests
and those who were prominent as leaders
in days past in winning Democratic vic
tories. It does not seem 70 me that the
successors Of these old leaders naturally
give rise 90 great confidence or hope.
Still. cannot rid myself OF the idea
that our party. which has withstOod so
many clashes with our political op-
ponents. is not doomed at this time to
sink 20 a condition Of useless and last
ing decadence. II does seem 10 me that
which. though not at the present time OF
large dimensions. promise final relief from
the burden which has so long weighed US
down
Hopes Rested on Johnson.
Il have lately come to the conclusion
that our best hope rests upon the nomi-
nation OF Johnson, OF Minnesota. The
prospects to my mind. appear as bright
with him as our leader as with any other.
and whether we meet with success or not
] believe with such a leader we shall
take a long step in the way Of return
ing 10 our old creed and the old policies
and the old plans Of organization which
have heretofore led us to victory.
''I received a letter a few DAYS ago
from Judge DOnohue. OF New York an
old war horse Of Democracy. now eighty
four years old. but sun active in the
practice Of his profession. He said TO
me that, though he was by a number OF
y'ears older than I. he not only hoped.
but expected, TO live to see a Democratic
President in the White House.
Il often think that with seventy-one
years to be completed in four days now,
such a hope and expectation on my part
can hardly reasonably be entertained:
but I confess that I am somewhat
ashamed OF such pessimistio feeling
when read the CHEEKY and confident
words contained in this old veteran s
letter.
II do not want you to suppose that z
feeling OF pesslmism toward political Of
fairs is habitual with me. On the con-
trary. such a condition OF mind is quite
infrequent. and so temporary that Il
yields quickly TO a better mood and a
settled conviction that our party be-
fore many years viii march from the
darkness to the full light OF glorious
achievement"
Dr. Joseph d. Bryant, Mr. Cleve-
lands physician. who was in Utica
recently, believes the letter given above
was the last Of any length OF impor-
tance that tn ex-President wrote.