When you wrote before, you were able to say the charges against him were not proven.  But you know now that they are proven, and it seems to me that that bars you and all other honest and honorable men (who are independently situated) from voting for him.

It is not necessary to vote for Cleveland; the only necessary thing to do, as I understand it, is that a man shall keep himself clean, (by withholding his vote for an improper man) even though the party and the country go to destruction in consequence.  It is not parties that make or save countries or that build them to greatness—­it is clean men, clean ordinary citizens, rank and file, the masses.  Clean masses are not made by individuals standing back till the rest become clean.

As I said before, I think a man’s first duty is to his own honor; not to
his country and not to his party.  Don’t be offended; I mean no offence. 
I am not so concerned about the rest of the nation, but—­well, good-bye. 
                                   Ys Ever
          
                                   Mark.

     There does not appear to be any further discussion of the matter
     between Howells and Clemens.  Their letters for a time contained no
     suggestion of politics.

Perhaps Mark Twain’s own political conscience was not entirely clear in his repudiation of his party; at least we may believe from his next letter that his Cleveland enthusiasm was qualified by a willingness to support a Republican who would command his admiration and honor.  The idea of an eleventh-hour nomination was rather startling, whatever its motive.

To Mr. Pierce, in Boston: 

Hartford, Oct. 22, ’84.  My dear Mr. Pierce,—­You know, as well as I do, that the reason the majority of republicans are going to vote for Blaine is because they feel that they cannot help themselves.  Do not you believe that if Mr. Edmunds would consent to run for President, on the Independent ticket—­even at this late day—­he might be elected?

Well, if he wouldn’t consent, but should even strenuously protest and say he wouldn’t serve if elected, isn’t it still wise and fair to nominate him and vote for him? since his protest would relieve him from all responsibility; and he couldn’t surely find fault with people for forcing a compliment upon him.  And do not you believe that his name thus compulsorily placed at the head of the Independent column would work absolutely certain defeat to Blain and save the country’s honor?

Politicians often carry a victory by springing some disgraceful and rascally mine under the feet of the adversary at the eleventh hour; would it not be wholesome to vary this thing for once and spring as formidable a mine of a better sort under the enemy’s works?

If Edmunds’s name were put up, I would vote for him in the teeth of all the protesting and blaspheming he could do in a month; and there are lots of others who would do likewise.