New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-28
INCONSISTENT INDEPkNDENTS.

Do the Independent leaders, who claim to OPP
pose Mr. Blaine for conscientious reasons, wish
to be believed and respected Then, surely,
they should act like honorable men. But do
they think it honorable to magnify overy trace
of evidence against Mr.. Blaine, at the same time
suppressing all evidence against Mr. Clcve-
land Suppression of truth, they well know is
the suggestion of falsehood. If they are rot
honest in their treatment oe candidates, how
are men to think them honest in their choice
These professed Independents do not wish to
discuss Mr.. Cleveland's private character We
do not blame them. But why do they carefully
suppress all notice of Governor Cleyeland's
official acts that are most gravely censured
Why do they pretend, day after day, that his
official integrity" is unquestloned, when they
know it is not?
Governor Cleveland is charged with the
grosscst offence of which a public official can
be guilty. The charge has been made publicly
for weeks, and is supported by great body of
evidence. But the prOfcsscdly honest protested
Independents have not been honest enough to
mention nor brave enough to investigate this
charge. 1t is charged that the Governor
shielded official criminals, in order TO get votes
for himself. 1t is shown that Il mass Of evil
dence against the Sheriff caused his indictment,
but that the Governor has refused TO act upon
the formal complaints against thar Sheriff. 1t is
shown that vast body of evidence against
Hubert O. Thompson so convinced the Lcsisla
tule that a bill to turn him out of Office was
passed. and that the Governor vetoed it. His
excuses in both cases have been shown to be
frivolous. The real reason was displayed be-
fore disgu ted country when Hubert o.
Thompson and his ring, and Sheriff DayidsOn'S
ring, secured the nomination of Governor
Cleveland for the Presidency. And to this day
the Governor refuses to do anything to bring
either of those p!underers to justice, because
Thompson is managing for him in the National
Committee. and Davidson is using the powers
of his office, both striving for Cleveland and
Reform
This is the shameless prostitution Of official
power which the prolcssed independents refuse
10 mention or to investigate. They know the
facts They know that it is not possible to
recommend the Governor honestly, if these
facts are not met and fully explained. Yet
they refuse to make or to seek explanation,
suppress mention of the charges and proofs as
far as they can, and persist in prating about the
Governors "ollicial integrity" which, they
with glaring untruth imply, is quite unques-
toned.
1t is to be said of men who are guilty of such
behavior that their influence with honorable
and intelligent people cannot go very far He
who has not some regard for common deccncy
aud common fairness, even in striving to satisfy
his private grudges, or in battling for free
trade theories, does not move the minds Of
men who have minds of their own. Unless the
Independent lead rs change their behavior
radically, and probe accusations against Gov
ernor Cleveland as zealOusly as they insist upon
ancient ISLANDERS against Mr.. Blaine, they are
likely to come out of this campaign the most
thoroughly despised men in the country.