Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-09-12
The Question OF Morals.

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The Question OF Morals.
There is no doubt that supposed
availability was the sole reason that
controlled the Democrats in passing by
such men as Messrs. Bayard, Thurman,
Randall and others of like stamp, and
nominating Governor Cleveland as their
candidate for President. Their theory
was that he would run best, and bo
surest to carry the great State of New
York, and, especially. that he would
bring 70 the party large accession of
Republican votes. This theory at the
time looked plausible. We are not SUR
priscd that the Democrats adopted it,
and put forward Mr.. Cleveland as a
polit cal reformcr, hoping, by the cry
of reform, to get possession of the Gov
eminent.
1t turns out, however even before
the active work of the canvass has fair
ly begun, that, us to most vital oues-
ton of personal morals, the private
character of this so-called reform candi-
date has been one of such rottenness rs
justly to destroy all claim in his be-
half to the confidence and respect of
the American people. Whether the
members OF the Democratic Convention
were acquainted with tho facts in his
private life, when they nominated him,
we do not know; but, for their sake, we
will assume that, if they had known
them, Mr.. Cleveland would not have
been the candidate of the Democratic
party. To nominate such man with
this knowledge would imply most as
founding lack of common sense and an
equal lack Of moral and political integ-
rity.
Certain it is that the Independent Re-
publicans, who ignorantly indorsed Mr..
Cleveland and publicly declared their
purpose to support him, did not know
the man as the record of his private life
has revealed him to be, and which record
by Gods lightning voice has been sent
with flash to every village and hamlet
of the Nation and thence to the very
ends of the earth. These Republicans
can not in view OF what they now know
give him their support without the
grossest disqualification, and, indeed,
without justly exposing themselves TO
the charge of gross and senseless hypoc-
risy. The simple and plain truth is
that the admitted otfense of Mr.. Cleve-
land touched upon a domain of family
and public morals so vividly and so dan
gerously to the public good as utterly to
disqualify him for the Office of Presi-
dent, or any other Office in the gift of
the people. This is the position the In
dependent, after due consideration of
the facts and our duty to God and man,
took last week, and means slernly to
maintain. Any effort to cvade this con-
clusion only makes the duty more
obvious.
If 1T be said that what is true of Mr..
Cleveland is no more than has often
been true of other public men, then we
reply that it is high time that all pub
lie men should be taught that personal
and private.yirtue is not an immaterial
question with the people of this couu-
try. This lesson should be SO empha-
sized and proclaimed to the world that
there will be no mistake now or here
after as to what is meant by it.
The lmmOralities of mans private
life are matters which do concern the
public, when that public, with the
knowledge of these immoralties, is
asked to make him the Chief Magistrate
of great Nation. A debauchee,
known to be, or to have been, such, is
not the man to be elevated to the office
of President of these United States.
This one fact should he fatal to him.
The people should not, and, as we be-
lieve, will not, so disgrace themselves,
in the sight of God and man, and defy
the imperative mandate of sound NOR
ais as to bestow this honor on any such
base proiligate. What is our common
Christianity worth, and what is our
boasted civilization worth, if such a
black stain in the character of Il candi-
date for the Presidency is. in the pop
ular estimate, to be deemed matter of
no special consequence What e
strange spectacle such law breaker, if
elected. would present in the parlors of
the White House. What an opportunity
it would give to Mormon polygamists
to sneer and laugh there at the efforts
OF the General Government to suppress
the monstrous denominations in the
territory OF Utah! What a demoraliz-
ing lesson it would be to the young
men OF the country! What barrier to
tho successful teaching of morality
from the pulpit or political platform or
in the halls of Congress. All decent
people, not to say Christian people,
would have to hide their heads
with profound sense of shame and
disgust. No! MOI the majority of the
voters of this country will not and can
not approve of any such beastly and
heathenish standard of morality.
At any rate the Independent will do
all in its power to prevent the election
OF Governor Cleveland, not from pas
sion or any personal animosity to tho
man, not because it is Republican
paper and believes in the general prin-
ciples OF the Republican party, and
does not and never did believe in those
OF the Democratic party, but solely in
| the interest of sound morals, especially
those of the family. Whoever else may
be elected or defeated, let Governor
Cleveland. with the knowledge the
public now have of his private charac-
ter, have the mark of Cain put upon
him as the lifting end of his public ca
reer. We call upon the religious press
of the Nation, and also the Christian
pulpit, to speak out in bold and en-
phatic language against his election.
The issue now is moral one, and that,
too, OF the gravest character; and this
is no time for any timid, half-hearted or
half way utterances. When the relig-
ious press and the pulpit shall cease TO
teach and preach good morals, then
both will become alike unworthy of re-
spect or support-M y Independent.
~s~-
Ditto Hendricks.
Mr.. Hendricks follows Mr.. Cleveland,