National Republican., 1884-08-23
THE oLnvE1ANp SCANDAL.
Comments OF the Religions Press
The Charges Fairly Proven by the
Dofonso-Thc Democratic Candidate
Condemned.

ligious newspaper in New England OF the
dol mination from which it takes its
name, reviews the several so-called rofu-
tations Of tho charge that Mr.. Cloveland's
private lifo has been licontious. Wo
quote its conclusions:
Ifit were true that Gov Cleveland could bo
shown to have abandoned evil courses seven
or eight yoars ago and to have lived slmce,
and TO be living at present, an upright lile,
very many people, while not falling to con
dOmn that past sin aud to regret that any can
ddatc who has such dark inct IN his history
should have been nominated Tor tho presl.
dcncy, would refuse to bring II up against him
now. The question whether he is q man OF
correct life nj present, Therefore, mas inc
utmost Importance. Upon this point testi-
mony differs, but the wright of II certainly Is
adverse TO Gov. Cleveland.
The authors OF the various relutations de-
clare that he Is not corrupt, and, OF course
believe, 80. But their testimony Is neither
more sincere nor moro weighty thAn that
even leaving out oi account the Bulnlo Ercl-
fng Telegraph aud the Roy, Dr. Ball, whose
evidence has not been discrcdited-oI nu-
metous other gentlemen, ministers, and lay
men In Buffalo aud elsewhere, who contradict
them squnrely. We should be more than glnd
If we could see our way TO believe the refuta'
tlons, but we are constantly receiving new
evidence on the matter and the better oppor..
tunitlcs our lnformants seem 10 have had OF
knowing the actual incts the more emphatic is
their testimony against Gov Cleveland.
In q recent issue, discussing tho evil
donco against Mr.. Cleveland as IL under
stood the facts then aud as 1t understands
them now, the CongregdtiondIia said;
Common decency, the morals Of the young,
regard for the sacrcdness of home life, and the
very maintenance of our national existence
require that the president OF these United
Statcs--our iormOst representative olhcial ne
| fore the world-should be q man of pure pri.
yatc morals as well as of public integrity. If
these charges be untrue II ought to bc easy to
| show the fact They are definite and person.
| ally indorsed. If they be not disprovcd, then
| the indignant public sentiment OF the nation
] should be given voice, and the party when
| nominated Gov Cleveland should demand
that he withdraw from the ticket which his
| name now leads.
The 81. Mdry's Institute Journal, q Roman
Catholic newspaper published at Amster-
dam, N. Y, calls for the withdrawal of
Mr.. Clevelands name from the demo
cratic ticket and the substitution of that
of some statesman with clean heart
and clean hands,"
| No man with Clevelands bad record in prl-
| vate life can hope for election at the hands OF
| the American people. The religious and moral
elements In our life are too powerful to admit
/ of such result The chief reason that Aaron
Burr's memory Is held in execraton is the
| record of his lecherOus life. The people can
not be brought to favor any candidate for pub
lie honors whose licentious habits preclude
tate of American manhood in the presidential
chair. The American people Will not take
kindly to another Burr
The only chance of success for the democ-
racy in the coming election lies In the with
drawal of Cleveland and the substitution of a
statesman with clean heart and clean hands.
The democratic party is rich IN great men
who would honor the presidential office, and
who would be woll-niGh certain of election.
The Morning Star, Free Baptist news
paper printed in New Hampshire, remarks
that If Mr.. Cleveland is licentious, "the
nero mention of his name in connection
with the white house is q gross sacrilege."
The Methodist organ, lions Herald
says: Here is what one of the most
respected clergymen In Buffalo write;
to us; The Cleveland scandal you may
believe without one jot or little OF
abatement. / don't think there /:
an intelligent citizen of Buffalo who
knows Cleveland but believes the story
of his immortality as published by the
Telegraph The religious papers ought tC
look after him faithfully" The Christia
Union remarks: Neither Mr.. Clcveland's
reputation nor the cause which he repre-
sents ia helped by the defenses which
have been attempted in certain quarters.
If the charges against Gov. Cleveland are
true, his friends should counsel him to taxi
himself off from the ticket; and If they d.
not the lovers of domestic purity and tho
respectors of womanhood should SWEEP
him off," Some time before the admis
sion by Clevelands friends of the mali
facts charged against him, the Chicago
|, Aduance said:
The intimation In some quarters that citi
zens have nothing to do with the privat
character of n nominee for the presidency is
disgraceful intimation. We should sincerel
rejoice If Mr.. Cleveland could clear his record
1t Is high time to do 1t. Every citizen VIII
} respects himself will join the demand that h
shall either do 1t promptly and thoroughly O
. withdraw from this canvass.
Passing over number of expression
Of similar import, we shall quote only on
: more opinion, that of Bishop Spalding'
newspaper, tho Catholic Universe, printed
in Cleveland, Ohio:
The imperative conditions must be unde
| stood and cousummated: Cloveland's witt
4 drawal from the ticket or his vindication b'
' fore the country.
That a candidates personal character is M
to be questioned, If not the argument of
merconary or of II blind partisan, can onl
mean that moral character is mot TO he weighe
in trusting and honoring public official. I
n such us have degenerated into that contentio
/ we have no reply TO make; no party could di
4 cipline us into such tenet.
The virtue OF our women Is the basis OF u
family and tho family Is the cornerstone
A state. We dare not present an inebriate
u wine and lust as the mold OF American r
IS form, the exemplar to our youth, and the ca
V dldate for the most exalted post within the 81
of our galaxy of proud commonwealth,
Is the habitual enemy of woman's virtue
go charged, so ouncontradcted-tob be enthront
above all the virile purity of this land. and |
stalled with executive mastery over all tn
10 broad confederation Our mantul Americi
d boast OF respectful homage 10 ourwomen cou
never be repeated during his administration.
What an insult TO u party that contains Il
4, | pure and statesmanly Seylnours, Thurman
4, and Bayards!-exalted In private as In publ
life.
Is even republican newspapers are reluctant
m ventilate this Cleveland story.
We wish TO unyeil no mans private vic
The best of us are frail But for Gods rig
IS arm extended to all who seek II, our scorchii
\. passions would wither every yirtuous inclli
tion as the midsummer sun dries up the DIR
of dew. Neither would we constitute ol
a selves public tribunal TO pass sentence
10 strictly private guilt; but candidate, by th
% fact, fiaunts his personal record In the pub
face and then the right and duty OF the ole
n tor are as clear as that Ofthe father of u flmi
As who protects his dreside from all evil contal
nation.
We are we'll aware that considerab
VI class of politicians think that IL does n
weaken u candidate for the presidency
u be known us gross and liccentious ma
In but Mr.. Cleveland occupies a position We
Is, different from that of ordinary cane
90 dates. He Is running on the suppos
purity and elevation of his personal cha
fl acter, and what might be Of comparative
mt little effect when alleged by innuenti
ol. Christian journals, against an irreligio
man Of tho world, Is probably fatal VIII
alleged against him. And in this case,
'rS must be remembered. tho main facts o
N, admitted and fully established.
ny The final truth is that the only chan
Of democratic success in tho present cal
DIS paign lies in the course indicated by t
up Independent The withdrawal of CleN
fer land and tho substitution of Allen
Thurman's name on the democratic tick
rs would make sure victory that otherwi
lin is hopelessly thrown away.