The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-23
A CLEAN RECORD.
Governor Cleveland Denies the Impu-
tatiGms against his Character, and
Den0uncPs the Authors as Base
less Liars.

New YORK, Oct 22-The Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher in the course of a political
speech to night in the rink at Brooklyn,
Mr.. Cleveland's private life. Lies so
cruel, so base, so atrOciOus, have never
before been set in motion. They are like
the cockatriccs eggs, and hatched by rash
and credulous clergymen. They couldn't
go 10 Mr.. Cleveland with an honest in
quiry but opened their ears to the harlot
and to the drunkard, and promulgated a
letter to poison the faith of holy men and
innocent women. Do timid ministers
ever reflect that the guilt of the voice or
the crime measures the-gmlt of him who
charges it falsely2" Mr. Beecher then
paused and stepping to the desk and in
trembling tones said: my honored and
beloved wife, quite unknown to me, made
cuttings from newspapers, all Of which
are in respect TO the life Of Gov. Cleve
land in Albany. She sent them to him
with letter that will not be published
but which would be a gem in English
literature if it were published. As quick
as the mail could return she received a
letter ffom Cleveland which | have had
between two and three week and which
was meant to be and marked ''Drlvate," ;"
but such complexion has the canvass
taken that telegraphed him two nights
ago to ask if l might use my discretion
with regard toit. His reply was, Ger
tainly, if it is your Judgment. " Now I
will read Cleveland's letter. Mr. Beecher
then read the following letter from Cleve,
land to Mis-. Beecher:
Your letter. as you may we'll suppose,
has affected me deeply. What shall say
to one SO like my mother? | say so like
my mother. but | don't altogether mean
that, for she died in the belief that her
son was true and noble as she knew
be was dutiful and kind. I
am shocked and dumbfounded
by the clippings that you send
me because it .purp0rts to give what a
man actually knows and not mere res
port as the other four or five lies do
which | have heard about my life in Al
bany | have never seen in Albany a
woman whom have had any reason to
suspect wass in any way bad. do not
know where any such woman lives. In
Albany have not been in any house eX>
cept the executive mansion, the executive
chamber the first Orange Club twice at
receptions given and one, think, or two,
other occasions, and the residences Of
perhaps fifteen or twenty of the best cit
liens to dine. OF course I've been to
church There never was man who has
worked harder or more hours in the day.
Almost all my time has been spent in the
executive chamber and | hardly think
there has been twenty nights in the twen-
ty-one months | have lived in Albany, ,un-
! less | was out Of town, that have left
my work earlier than midnight to find my
bed at the mansion | am at loss TO know
how it is that such terribly wicked and
utterly baselcss lies can be invented. The
contemplate creatures who coin and pass
these things appear to think that the af>
fairs which have not denied makes me
defenseless against any and all slanderers.
As to my outward life in Buffalo the man
Hesitation of confidence and attachment
which was there rendered me much be
proof that have not led disgraceful
life in that city ana as to my life in AL
bany all statements that tend to show
that it has been other than laborious and
correct are entirely and in every shadow
untrue"