Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-27
Grover Cleveland
HANDLED WITHOUT GLovEs.-SHARPW WORDS
FOR SCHURZ AND BEECHER.

HANDLED WITHOUT GLOyES.-SHARP WORDS
FOR SCHURZ AND BEECHER.
From the report of Mr. Evarts' great speech
in Brooklyn
Now, in order to be impartial, / may say
something about moral issues with respect to
the democratic candidate. | have not the
least desire that any topic of that nature
should be introduced into a political conten-
ton. 1t was introduced by nobody but the
independents or by the rivalries and animos-
tiles in the democratic party. have read a
description of a man rolling sin like a sweet
morsel under his tongue" but never before
heard of man rolling another mans sin
under his tongue. Laughter and applause
will only alude to a most interesting agent
in this examination, and point out to you that
whatever the division of candor and SANDER
among the independent accusers was, to the
editors it should be a sign to backen Blaine.
and to clergymen to clarity Cleveland. DIR
Freeman Clarke. being in very great doubt
on that point, concluded that the way to find
out was to go and ask Governor Cleveland
and SO DIR. freeman Clarke, as | make it
out, travelled to Albany, boldly charged
Governor Cleveland with being-a good
mani laughter and Governor Cleveland
frankly admitted the charge. | remember
in the House of Representatives, some years
ago. shrewd man from Vermont said to a
leader of the republican party from Ohio.
both being lawyers pointing to another Ohio
man, who was also lawyer, II understand
that that gentleman is the best lawyer in
Ohio" well, " said the other Ohio man,
"he is a good lawyer; although cannot say
that he is the best lawyer in OHIO" But"
says the other 81 know that he is the best
lawyer there" "Well," said the Ohio man.
since YOU are so persistent about it, will
YOU tell me how you know so much about it?
Why do you say that he is the best lawyer in
Ohio?' why" says the Vermont lawyer
"he admitted it himself" Laughter,
Well, this is a matter that | am content to
leave to the people of this country. Without
urging single aspersion of any kind, and
dlscrediting every exaggeration, | will leave
that question tor the determination of those
who think it is not unsuitable that quality
an | trait thus brought into notice should b.
passed upon The matruns of the land may
we'll have an opinion. and they NAV have a
means of expressing it; but if they have not
an opinion upon that question, and cannot
exert a influence in determining that ques
ton. what under Heaven would be the use of
extending the suffrage to the matrons of the
land
But as to the question of Governor
Cleveand's relations TO the prostitution of
his duty in the administration of public
affairs seeking for and resulting in the nom
ination--that, gentlemen, is a question which
Won can pass upon All need say is that
| being on the committee of Fifty three. that
undertook by the popular voice of the City of
/ ~, Wit disflnpfinn nf
either in the composition of the committee,
| or in the voices of their approval behind
| them, we undertook to carry through a series
of measures and so far as blows at the
! repuh lican party were struck, and blows at
| Tammany were struck, the Governor was
| firm as rock; but when he came to the
| situation where the completion of the rest
made valuable aud powerful the whole
scheme he broke: we leaned upon him as a
staff but he broke in our hands and pierced
our side. Ask the committee of tifty-three-
republicans or democrats-ask the members
of the meeting which voiced the impulses and
convictions of the mass of the people of New
York. whether they think that they have been
gratifed by the treatment by Governor
! Cleveland of the 1899 contracts and the
unbalanced bids of Mr.. Thompson; or, in
respect to the accusations of MIR. Davidson.
by his inability to find time to investigate
them until after his nomination, and not
even then until within a week. Well, when
| Thompson and Davidson, and that alliance,
controlled the force that nominated Cleve-
land, you need no foot note to "show where
the Niger got in" Laughter and applause. !
/ RHETORICAL ARGUMENT REFUTED.
There is one rhetorical argument ia the
speech of Mr.. Schurz that perhaps ought
not to pass over He undertakes to make a
very impressive appeal to the criticisms which
nave been made upon General Washington
and upon Abraham Lincoln, in respect to Ger.
tain letters which he ascribes (of course ar
Vumentatively) TO those eminent men-tht
Father and Savior of our country. One OF
his letters is from Washington, thanking
contractor for offering him share in the pur
chase of beef for the army: and another i,
from Lincoln, thanking another for gvinl
him a share in a supply of rifles to the army
Now if he wanted to point this argument, why
didn't he find letter of Mr.. Blaine's? II
You reason fairly. why don't YOU print a lettel
from Washington or Lincoln conceived in tn,
same spirit AS those letters of Blaine? And
Mr. Blaine answers with triumph, showing
that General Washington would have kicked
this man out of his headquarters Schurz said
Il don't think General Washington woulo
have done so; that is, | don't think he would
have kicked him out himself" and ht
thinks that Mr.. Lincoln would have thrown
him over the stairs of the White House
Now will tell you what think would have
happened. If any letters had been writer
to General Washington or Mr. Lincoln of tina
nature, they would either put them in the fire
as contemplate, or if they fund there wa,
working a scheme to break down the grea
COMMANDMENT Chief and the great head OF
the American Nation, Mr.. Lincoln or Genera
Washington would have either handed hin
over as traitor or spy; and Mr.. Lincoln
would have Just been over on the other side