Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-14
the CHARGES SWEPT AWAY.
A Political Scandal Speedily
Settled.
Report of a Committee Of Independent
Republicans, Dwelling in Buffalo.
Concerning Accusations Against
Gov. Cleveland.

As Republicans and Independents re,
siding in Buffalo, and having peculiar
means of knowledge, we have been called
upon by private letter and otherwise for IN
formation IN regard to the scandals which
have been put in circulation respect
ing Gov. Cleveland's private life. We
have felt it to be duty imposed on US BY
circumstances to examine these stories in
detail and to make formal statement OF
the results. No such examination would
have been necessary to satisfy ourselves;
but it was due to those who had read the
charges against Governor Cleveland without
knowing personally his general character
and reputation in this community, and with
out knowing either the position or the
means of information Of those who have
made the charges, that We should not put
forth mere general statement without a
previous investigation.
We have, therefore, through a committee
appointed from our number for that pur-
pose,
Carefully and Deliberately Made
an investigation, and we have taken every
available means to ascertain the precise
facts in each case.
The general charges of drunkenness and
gross immortality which are made against
Gov Cleveland are absolutely false. His
reputation for morality has always been
good There is no foundation for any
statement to the contrary. He was sought
out and nominated for the MayOralty against
his will, and was supported for that posi-
ton BY the larger portion of the educated,
intelligent, and moral citizens Of But.
falo without regard to politics, and
on purely personal grounds. After he
had gone through this contest he was again
put forward as one Of the most distinguish
ed citizens of Buffalo as candidate for the
Governorship, and again received the sup
port Of the same class of his fellow citizens.
In this community, where he had lived for
% years and where his life was known and
his character well understood this support
would not have been given to him had he
been eitheria drunksrd or ibertine. We
are able to speak from personal knowledge
as his acquaintance of long standing, and
to say that his general private life has been
that of quiet orderly, selt,respecting, and
always
Highly Respected Citizen.
Since he assumed his present office his
visits to Buffalo have been few and short
duration. 1t is susceptible Of absolute
proof and has been proved to US, that upon
no one of these visits has anything occurred
10 Justify the statements which have been
made BY his detractors. The charge that
be has recently taken part in drunken
and heentiOus debauch in Buffalo on the
occasion of such visit is entirely false
We have been particularly careful and
thorough in our Investigations of the alleged
betrayal, abduction, and inhuman treatment
OF woman Of this city as detailed in To-
cal newspaper. The circumstances out Of
which this story was fabricated occurred
eight yaars ago. The woman in question
was at that time widow, between 30 aud
40 years Of age, with two children, the young
er Of whom was 10 years old. The facts OF
the case show that she was not betrayed,a and
that the allegations respecting her abduc-
ton and Entertainment are
Wholly False.
We deem these the only features of the
charge in connection with the matter which
constitute public question requiring any
declaration on our part
Our examination of the other charges
which have been made against Gov. Cleye-
land 5 private character shows that they are
wholly untrue. In every instance in which
the reports and insinustions have been
tangible enough 10 furnish clue to guide
us in our investigation they have been posi-
lively proved to be false.
The attack upon Gov. Clevelsnds char
acter is thoroughly disc=cdi:ed when We
consider the sources from which 1t comes.
1t was first publicly made in Buffalo by
newspaper OF no standing whatever. We
have twice called upon the editor of this
paper and asked him to produce his
proofs-the names, dates, and other
particularS-which he had publicly
stated he was at liberty to
show. He declines to do so or to facilitate
investigation into the truth of either his
own charges or those contained in the an
noymous letter which he published. He
admitted that he had no evidence to sup
port any accusation against Gov. Cleveland,
except in the one instance to which we
have particularly referred. He rested his
case on that story, and as to that story ne
is coutradicted by, the witnesses having per-
sonal knowledge
The Two Clergymen
whose profession has been invoked to give
weight to these charges have no personal
knowledge Of the facts, and under the cir
eumstsnces could not possibly have such
knowledge. They have ventured to state
as facts known to themselves stories which
rest upon the merest hereSay, and which,
when traced to their alleged sources, are IN
every case denied by the persons to whom
they are ascribed-
We have designed to make candid and
judicial statement of the results Of our In
yestigation Of this matter, without partisan
coloring. We have not thoughtit neces-
ssry or proper to repeat the charges against
Gov Cleveland in detail, or to present in
fun the evidence by which they have been
disproved
John II. COMING, JOSIAH c. MUNRO,
ASHLEY WILCOX, L. d. RUMSEY,
WILLIAM. T. KIP, G. BARRETT RICH,
THOMAS CARY, CHAS- p. NORTON,
GEO, P SAWYER, JN0. B. 0LMSTEAD
RALPH STONE, J., T. DAVIS,
John r RANSOM, HENRY. ALTMAN,
INV sPRAGUE, J. N. LAARNED,
BuFFALo, n Y, Aug. 3, 1884.
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