National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-05
Personal INTEGRITY.
1t is the Great National Defcnse-A
Virginia Independent Declares for


Blaine.
The People (lldrisonburg, Vd)
There Is, there can be, no double stand
ards of character. Public and private life
cannot bc separated. A private sneak
thief cannot be public philanthropist,
An earnest, conscientious Christian,
whose inner life is correct, cannot be
public dobauchor. Thorns do not bear
figs Actions correspond with beliefs.
Ones behavior is seldom better than his
theory; he does no better than he desires
to do In tho main, a mans feelings and
desires are the epitome of his conduct, at
least they are the index Of his life.
man cannot get away from himself. He
is what ho is. He may assume another
character, he may play the roll well, but
some time the mask will fall.
In every calling the people are inter-
ested in having honest, pure mon fill all
stations. The pulpits should be filled by
ministers who practice what they preach,
and whose lives are but the reflex of the
doctrines of eternal truth. Charlatans
and tricksters are despiscd and con-
temned. In the school room teachers
whose morals none question are the only
ones that should be allowed to train the
youth of the land. In offices of trust and
honor is it possible to depart from the
rules that govern all departments Of life?
Does position remove responsibility
Rather do not increased responsibility
aud power come with all preferments?
Shall not the public exact from a public
servant fully as much as is required OF
Rn hnmhle citizen IN. the common walk
tue interest of society demand that pub
lie trusts be placed in the hands not only
of capable men, but also of pure men {?
From tho lowest to the highest office
every citizen, especially every Christian,
should demand integrity and uprightness
of character. A candidate for the presi.
dency, as well as for any other Office in
the gift Of the people, ought not only to
be politically upright, but socially pure
in his morality. The highest office in
this land should not DO filled by any man
guilty of gross immortality, we caro- not of
what party. The Christian, moral poop
of America, the class in whose hands
rests the perpetuity of our government,
owe it tn themselves to see that no liber-
tine ever becomes tho presidential patron
of one of tho worst vices that curses
American society. We mako these state
mcnts of self-evident facts, not from any
political considerations, but from sense
Of duty to the moral convictions of our
readers.
Grave charges havo been made against
both presidential candidates; charges that
are either true or false; charges that
admit OF no explanation, aud for which
crimes there are no palliating circum-
| stances
Mr.. Blaine has met his accusers with
prompt denial, and has taken the legal
course to vindcate himself fully. This
is what we consider the manly course for
any good man to take.
Mr.. Cleveland has made no denial, that
We have seen, and his friends spend their
efforts In finding extenuating circum-
stances or satisfaction in the fact that Mr..
Cleveland is no worse than many others.
The People has heretofore taken posi-
ton in favor of neither candidate We
have never expected to be II politi cal
organ. But when moral questions are at
issue with hundreds Of our readers, with
out reference to party. there can bc no
question or hesitancy as to our course.
There can be but one right course-tho
course that frowns down wrong and sus-
tains tho right.