The state journal., 1884-08-30
CLEVELAND'S CANDIDACY.
THE RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE OF THE
COUNTRY
Protests, and Calls on Cleveland to With
draw-SOme COgent Reasons. from Good
Democratic Authority, Why He
Should Retire from the Ticket
He Now Heads--&c., &c.
From the New York sun. Dem.

We have hitherto paid no attention ~
the attitude of the religious journals OF
different denominations toward the so
called Buffalo scandals, but their declara-
tions are important and constitute most
noteworthy feature in this unprecedented
canvass. The most striking utterance is
perhaps that Of the Independent, of this
city, hitherto a paper of Republican pro.
clvities, but devoted since the nomination
of Mr.. Blaine and the Republican revolt
to the success Of Mr. Cleveland. Now
the Independent tlnds that it cannot sup
port Cleveland any longer. THE edi-
torial from the independent Withdrawing
its support from Cleveland was published
in full several days ago.l
The CoagregdtiondtIst, tie leadin
hgious newspaper in New Englandrets
denomination from which it takes the
name, reviews TO day the several SO.
called refutations Of the charge that Mr.
Cleveland's private life has been licen.
tiOus. We quote its conclusions
eff it were true that Governor Clevc.
land could be shown to have abandoned
evil courses seven or eight years ago, and
to have lived since, and to be living at
present, an upright life, very many peO-
pie, while not failing TO condemn that
past sin and to regret that any candidate
who has such a dark fact in his history
should have been nominated for the
Presidency, would refuse TO bring it up
against him now. The question whether
he is man Of correct life at present,
therefore, has the utmost importance.
Upon this ponttestimony differs, but the
weight of it certainly is adverse to Gov
ernOr Cleveland. -#
f'The authors of the various refutations
declare that he is not corrupt, and, of
course, believe so. But their testimony is
neither more sincere nor more Weighty
than that-cven leaving out Of account
the Buffalo EpeniAg Telegraph and the
Rev. DR. Ball, whose evidence has not
been dscredited--of numerous other gen
tlemen, ministers and laymen in Buffalo
and elsewhere who contradict them
squarcly We should be more than glad
if we could see our way to believe the
refutations, but we are constantly re-
CeiVing new evidence on the matter and
the better opportunities that our inform
ants seem to have had Of knowing the
actual facts, the more emphatic is their
testimony against Governor Cleveland. "
In a recent issue, discussing the evi-
dence against Mr.. Cleveland as it under
stood the facts then and as it understands
them now, the COngregGtGOnGltSt said:
Common decency, the morals of the
young, regard for the saeredness of home
life, and the very maintenance Of our ma.
tional existence require that the President
of these United States-0ur foremost rep.
resentative official before the world
should be man Of pure private morals
as well as Of public integrity If these
charges he untrue it ought to be easy 10
show the>fact. They are definite and
personally endorsed. If they be not dis
proved, then the indignant public senti-
ment of the nation should be given voice,
and the party which nominated Governor
Cleveland should demand that he with
draw from the ticket which his name now
leads"
The 81. Mury's Institute Journal a
Roman Catholic newspaper published at
Amsterdam, New York, calls for the with
drawal Of Mr. Cleveland's name from the
Democratic ticket and the substitution of
that of some statesman with clean
heart and clean hands,
'.No man with Cleveland s bad record
in private life can hope for election at the
hands of the American people. The re-
ligiOus and moral elements in our life are
too powerful to admit of such a result
The chief reason that Aaron Burr mem
ory is held in eXecratIOn is the record of
his lecherous life. The people cannot be
brought to favor any candidate for public
hOnors whose licentious habits preclude
the possibility of his representing the best
estate of American manhood in the PTesi-
Dental chair The American people will
not take kindly TO another Burr.
'The only chance of success for the
Democracy in the coming election lies in
the withdrawal of Cleveland and the sub
stitution of 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
We'll nigh certain of election.
The Morning Star, a Free Baptist news
paper printed in New Hampshire, remarks
that II Mr.. Cleveland is licentious, 'the
mere mention of his name in connection
with the White House is gross sacri-
lege. The Methodist organ, Zion' s
Herald, says Here is what one of the
most respected clergymcn in Buffalo
writes to us: ''Hhe Cleveland scandal
you may believe without one lot or little
of abatement. / don't believe there is
an intelligent citizen of Buffalo who
knows Cleveland but believes the story
of his immortality as published
by the Telegraph. The religious
papers ought to look after him faith
fully. >" The Christian Union remarks:
Neither Mr.. Cleveland's reputation nor
the cause he represents is helped by the
of
certain quarters. If the charges against
Governor Cleveland are true, his friends
should counsel him to take himself off
from the ticket; and if they do not, the
lovers of domestic purity and the respect
ers OF womanhood should sweep him of. .
Some time before the admission by Cleve-
lands friends of the main facts charged
against him, the Chicago Ad0dnce said:
The lntimatiOn in some quarters that
citizens have nothing to do with the pri-
vate character Of a nominee for the Pres
idency is disgraceful intimation We
should sincerely rejoice If Mr.. Cleveland
could clear his record. 1t is high time to
do it. Every citizen who respects him
self will join the demand that he shall
either 90 It promptly and thoroughly or
withdraw from this canvass"
Passing over number of expressions
of similar import, we shall quote only
one more opinion, that of Bishop Spauld
ing's newspaper, the Catholic Unirerse,
printed in Cleveland, Ohio
"The imperative conditions must be
understood and consummated Cleve,
lands withdrawal from the ticket or his
vindication before the country.
That candidates personal character
is not to be questioned, if not the arcu.
ment of mercenary or of blind paTti
san, can only mean that moral character
is not to be weighed in trusting and hon
oring public official. To such as have
depenerated into that contention We how