Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1884-10-09
selves to the earnest consideration ot
our press and our legislatures.
BeeCher Believes Cleveland VIII be
Elected.

New YORK, September 2o.-Evi.
dently instlgsted by partisans of Mr.
Blaine, a youthful acquaintance OF
Henry Ward Beecher has addressed
to him :. letter making the following
inquiry
Can you advise young men TO vote
for Grover Cleveland? If the great
est and most eloquent OF Christian
ministers faVors the election Of
conceded hbert!ne. pray tell me what
is to be expected from 1onng men
who find that such acts are NOT To be
visited with reprobation and from
those to whom we have looked tor
years for counsel in morals and re-
ligion. 1t seems to me- that no great
Christian minister hns ever 40 palpa-
bly, held the destinies Of good morals
and religion in his hands as you do
at this moment.
To thisyounginquirer, and through
him to his instlgstors, Mr.. Beecher
has returned the following emphatic
and convincing reply:
PEEKsKIrL, N. Y, Sept. l6, 81
| Ny DEAR SIR.-When you are
older and have had larger expert
ence of public affairs and political
ethics you will regard the letter sent
to me with far different eyes than you
do now.
Who told you and by what autho.i
ty doyou state that Cleveland is
libertine-a notorious libertine3 Do
you regard slander as part OF mo
rality That story is slander. Not
particle Of evidence has been ad
dueed to prove that Cleveland is now
an immoral man. That he fell in one
instance, twelve years ago, be frankly
admits. All the stories OF continued
dissipation have been searched and
traced to the grogshops and the
brothel. Not a single witness has
even pretended that he knew any
hing personally, and only hearsay
evidence has been bruted by mel
who ought to be ashamed to oil I
their ears as Sewers to dens of inlamy
and to suffer their tongues 70 comm:l
adultery with notorious lies.
As regards the sin OF Cleveland III
the Halpin case, when Invested ol
the exaggeralions, SO tar from belna
en- encouragement to sin, it will bs ,
vivid example and warning to ambi.
tlous young men to avoid evil and t.
MAINTAIN social purity. Cleveland
has already suffered loss, mortifsa
ton and damage for the commission
OF a gleivous sin, and to-day it.standt
IN his path with rod Of chastisement,
and if he fails to gain the hIghes
place in this government it will ae
by reason of that very transgressioa
That he will be elected I both hope
! and believe, but the sshief danger t
50 ion to-day springs from that
years Eago IsA there
ssfsssh pa mas q
y'H3f If Ps1s bs7isrsa !
! libertine I would d.
! do not believe it. !s<Sel TO be
as grossly slandered maa tor pollti
cal purposes, and that abuse, insteac
of deterring me from supporting him
appeals very strongly to my generosi
ty and chivalry. That he is pru
dent man, honestly and earnest de
string to administer every trust faith
fully and Loyalty, have no doubt
My message to every young man ls
beware of his mistake of years age
and initiate his virtues Of to day.
HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
During the Plymouth Church ser
vices last evening, to an inquiry con
cerning the authenticity Of this letter
Mr.. Beecher replied emphahcally
Yes, sir, wrote it, and | stand bJ
every word of it.