New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17
A CLEVELAND LETTER.
Probably the Last Political Utterance of the
Ex-President.

The following letter OF ex-President Cleveland
to E. Prentiss Bailey. editor Of The Utica OBJ
server" was probably the last political connunlca-
ton written by Mr.. Cleveland:
Princeton. n. J., March Il. 1905
hsCe read Win great deal of sat action
your last exceedingly friendly letter REGARDING
you as one Of my oldest and best personal friends
as well as one OF the stanch political comrades
cause your solicitude concerning my health and
the kind expressions contained in your letter are
tests and those who were prominent as leaders in
day, past in winning Democratic victories DO
not know but your thoughts are often led In the
same surprise that do IN Being able to recall so
few who yet survive. 1t does not seem to me
That the Successors OF these u4d leaders haLaIsi,y
not rid myself Of the idea that our party. which
has withstood so many clashes with our political
condition of useless and lasting decadence- In
ing light ahead for Democracy. / cannot
help feeling at this time that the light Is still
h. set in motion which. though not at the pres
ent time Of large dimensions promise final relief
our best hope re It's upon the nomination Of John
son. of Minnesota. The prospects TO my mind
appear a. bright with him as our leader as with
not believe with such a leader We shall take
ons step in the way OF returning to our old creed
cation which have heretofore led US to victory,
received a letter few days Ego from Judge
Donahue cf New York old warnorse of De-
mocracy, new eighty four years DID, but still active
that. though he was by a number Of years older
than l, he not only hoped but expected to live TO
SCI Democratic President in the White House.
often think thAt with my seventy-One years to be
completed in four days now such hope and eX-
pectation on my part can hardly reasonably be en-
tertaned; but / confess that ] am somewhat
ashamed OF such pessin1istic feeling when / read
the CHEEKY and confident words contained IN this
old veterans letter. do not want you to suppose
that feeling Of pessnism toward political az
fairs is habitual with me. On the contrary such a
condition of mind is quite infreQuent and tenn
porarH that II Yields quickly to better mood and
a settled conviction that party before many
years win march from the darkness 10 the full light
of glorious 3chieV Cment.
/ too. very recently had a letter from our old
friend. DR.. Miller of Omaha. II is an astonishing
thing that at his age his vigor Is SO unimpaired
his mind clear and his readiness to do political
battle so keen.
I frequently see General James's letters in The
Observer and cannot help congTatuating you on
the fact that you have personal friend so charm
ing and one who is willing to contribute in an
exceedingly interesting and instructive way to the
columns OF your paper. myself certainly feel very
much favored that have gained his good opinion
wish there were few who like him. could
love their country in Unselfish and disntereste
msnner and were willing to do something 10 re-
mind their fellow countrymen of duty and oppor-
tunity. Yours very sincerely
GROVER CLEVELAND
Z. Prentlss Bailey. Esq. Utica. n. Y