The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-04
The Scandal Mongers Must Go.

contemporary, the Chronicle, uses up
nearly column of space in its last is
sue in an effort to keep from publishing
the details of the BLAINE scandal. We
should commend its action in this in
stance if it had been as careful and con-
scientiOuS i'll regard to the alleged
CLEVELAND scandal.
The scandal mongers must go.
The Chronicle finds space to publish
Mr.. BLAINE's Theatrical letter to his
attorneys, but did not say that there
was no evidence to show that such a
letter had ever been sent or received.
The political scandal mOngers must
go.
The Chronicle says: .'Wewill publish
the BLAINE scandal just as soon as tits
substantiated by reliable evidence. "
Did it wait until the CLEVELAND scan
dial was substantiated by reliable evil
dence? Has it yet been substantiated?
The national republican committee
made haste to repudiate and denounce
the authors of it, and the immaculate
and sanity ELKINs did likewise. Gov
ernor HENDRICKS sums up the situation
in the following letter:
1.-The Cleveland scandal will not have
any weight with the people, and ought
not to have any weight. 1t is unworthy
the National contest. Three times
Governor Cleveland has stood the test
of popular canvaSses, once for the office
of Mayor of his own city, and each
time he received the endorsement of his
neighbOrs largely above his party
strength. Whatever there may have
been of the scandal existing before that,
it is not just to revive it. The
public welfare requires that he be
judged by his public record, by his ca
pab1ity and fitness for the discharge of
responsible and important public du-
ties, and not by an exploded private
scandal"
The partizan scandal mOngers must
go.
The Chronicle then asks these four
questions:
l. Don't you know that leading Dem
ocratic papers say there is no foundation
for the Blaine scandal?
2. Don't you know there is not reli-
able paper that dareS to make the charge
in manner for which it could be held
responsible?
3. Don't you know that for score of
years Mrs. Blaine has been well known
in Washington, not as a leader in fash
iOnable society, but as faithful wife and
mother and a good woman?
4. What is your opinion, clear down
in the bottom of your heart, of poll
tician or new Spaperman, who will make
against such woman when
there is no proof upon which to base a
direct charge?
No, we know no such thing. You cite
the COouier-J0urnal, of Louisville, KY,
as a paper which denied the story. a
few days ago the COuier-JO,anol stated
that it made no such denial. 1t did
state, however, that it would not lower
its dignity and tone by having anything
to do with so unworthy and cOntempti-
BILE piece of business. And democratic
journals over all the country have eX-
hibited a like manly character. 1t was
left to small republican sheets to dis
grace themselves by publishing matter
which should not be allowed to enter
the family circle. And worst Of all,
the publications were actuated by party
spite and prejudice and not by healthy
virtue. If a healthy virtue was the i'm
pelling force with Mr.. HART, he would
publish the BLAINE scandal. There
are just as good reasons for believing
the one as the other. As the good
Lord said to the PhariseeS some two
thousands of years ago: He that is
sin among you. let him first
cast stone at her."
,. There are plenty of papers that are
not afraid to make the charge, but they
think too much of themselves to do it. |
The Indianapolis Sentinel, however,
sticks to its story, and tells Mr.. BLAINE
to ''cOme on" Notwithstanding Mr.. |
BLAINE's alleged clustering letter, we
will wager Mr.. HART that the trial will |
not be held. And the defendant will
not pay cent to get it smothered.
8. Yes, we believe that Mrs. BLAINE
has been faithful wife and mother |
and good woman Because we be- |
ieve that we deprecate and denOunce |
scandal mOngers who have been so base
IS to reSurTect early indiscretions. But !
such men as Mr.. HART are, directly re- |
sponSible for such a result.
4. We will answer this question by |
asking you: What do you think of a |
politician or newspaper man who will |
insult the sacred memory of mother |
and wound and lacerate the hearts of |
tender, loving, trusting sisters?
Dishonest, narrow-minded scandal |
must go.