The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-01
oLBVBLAND's ATONBMBEF.


The country is sick of the tWaddle concern
ing the ''suiferings' and "atonement' of
Cleveland for the ruin and abandonment of
Maria Halpin and his child. The disgusting
affair might well nave been dropped by his
friends; but they would not have it SO. Act
ing on the principle enunciated by Thomas A.
Hendricks-that, If true, it would make him
Notes.-The friends of Cleveland, and notably
independent Republicans, have endeavored
to keep it before the people that the story as
told was true, and ought to count in his favor,
since he himself has admitted it! 1t
has been rolled as a sweet mOrsel under the
tongue, and the changes have been rung on
it by every metropolitan Democratic paper,
far and near. Cleveland is guilty as charged,
but deserves support because no owned up
when he dared not deny it." The last person
to willingly, and, apparently with satisfaction
to himself, dabble in this nastiness and mat
ter Of infinite disgrace to all the people, is
George William Curtis-a man who, six
tlOuUuo dROg NOuuu 1O AhNo SA0bgH6 Ol
indorsing such a character than he would of
~thrusting his wife Or daughter into the arms
of a 'sorry" libertine. In an address to IRE
publicans and independent citizens" he says:
owe urge, therefore, that upright citizens,
of the ~strictest standard OF private morals, will
fail in their drty if they permit an early trans
erosion, frankly acknowledged and amply
nf1n..1 fnr oknt,% xuhiok hao haan r1x-a kba
network of lies defling the campaign, to pre-
vent their using the vote they hold in trust
for the whole people"
erosion was committed at the mature age of
forty years, a time Of life when men are gem
orally held accountable for their acts. To
plead in mitigation of this offense one must
confess that Mr.. Cleveland is not competent
to take care Of himself, much less to save a
people from themselves. That he has amply
'.atoned" fer his sin is a willful misrepresenta-
ton of the truth. If we may judge by the
"fippant manner in which he admits his guilt,
and the defiant manner in which his hackers
sustain him in it. Cleveland glories in his lust.
At no time and nowhere has he, by written or
verbal declaration, given even the slightest
evidence Of repentance. We challenge the
production of a line or word from him to show
that he feels the burden of the offense h.
committed. We defy anybody to show any line
or word from him that he even regards it as an
offense against society and womankind. With
the sang froid Of a roae Boosting Of his con-
quests and amOurs Cleveland dismisses the
whole affair with the words, 'I have never
denied it." For him to show repentance and
a disposition to repair the wrong would lose
him votes among his admirers. The cry is,
eve are all in one boat, let us hang to-
gether," and Henry Ward Beecher puts on
the cap-sheaf by shouting, '1f the libertines
of New York State voted for Cleveland, we
would have a majority of 200, 000" Not only
has Cleveland given no evidence Of contritiou,
but neither have the organs that support him
at any time admitted that his sin is wrong.
We challenge the reproduction from amy
Cleveland organ Of a line or sentiment to that
effect, while a paper of former responsibility,
the New York Post, declares that 'Cleveland's
offense is not incompatible with the possession
Of all the virtues hat go to ennoble mani" 1t
is astounding to what lengths Of infamy the
opposition has gone in defense Of an infamous
deed that must bring the blush Of shame TO
the cheek of every honest man and v~irtuous