Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-08-26
POETIGAL

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MISCELLANEOUS.
Their Personal Character.
Aside from the great and permas
nent issues between the essential
principles upon whichthe two parties
of our land are based, there remains
a very important matter to be taken
into account during the present cam-
paign, and that'is:thc personal char
acter and ability of the two candi-
dates, and their consequent fitness
for the Office of President. But an
Investigation of this sort should be
conducted with great delicacy and
discretion, as the common tendency
lis undoubtedly towards. too much
license when dealing with the private
affairs of public men. we have one.
great advantage, however, in the pres
ent case; since such criticism as has
been already passed upon the candi-
dates for the presidency is as full and
complete as is possible, and We only
desire to call attention to some of the
more prominent features on either
side.
James G. Blaine has been an:offfce-
holder ever since he entered public
life; he has had no other profession
or occupation. And yet it can be
said, with a reasonable amount of Ger
tainty, that he. is worth q million
None of his apologists have estimated
his wealth at less than half that
amount. Thisitsclf plainly indicates
what is, indeed, conclusively proven.
by his own letters, that he has used
what official authority he may have
had for his personal advantage
When the matter came to be inves-
tigated in 1876, he not only. told re-
/ 70 !
markablc combination of falsehoods
with regard to it, (that is, his connec-
tion with the Little Rock 6 Fort Smith
Railroad, but he also pcrjurcd hin=
self upon the. witness stand. Can it
be expected that inc people Of etFlis
land will make man so utterly lost
to all notions of public and private
honor their chief executive officer?
If this should happen, We should sure
ly be nation of rascals, for it is inn
possible that the mass of the people,
or even any large proportion of them,
can be ignorant of such fragrant Of
fences on the part of man so prom
incnt as the candidate of the Repub-
lican party. And the rascaIty, as
manifested, will inevitably become
more prevalent. Such contagion of
dishonor and immortality in the ad-
ministration cannot be confined. to
politics, but will spread through every
profession and occupation, until na-
ttonul honor becomes an empty name.
It is not our purpose to enquire into
Mr.. Blainc's craftsmanship. We are
only concerned with the question
whether he is the man to secure to US
an honest and upright administration
of our national affairs. And after a
candid examination of his record in
public life, as embodied in his own
letters and speeches, the only conclu-
sion that can be reached is, that the
election of such a man would be not
only gross outrage to all. ideas Of
public honesty and morality. but an
open Endorsement on the part of the
people, of the corrupt influences and
methods to which our politics are al
ready too much subject, and a guar
anty of the extension of that corrup-
tion to business matters of every class.
OF Grover Cleveland it is unne-
cessary to say much. In his some
what limited experience in public life,
his course has been uniformly honor
able, andhc has manifested the highest
integrity. His conduct gives per-
feet assurance Of his desire for honest
administration and his ability to carry
out the same; and he may be relied
upon to do what is right, without re
4 spect of persons or parties.
Let these matters be considered
well by the people, and the result will
infallibly be a glorious victory for the
Democratic party-the party of re-
form and honest goyerument-in the
coming Presidential election.
Gilt-edge Butter.-Keep your cows
in sound and healthy condition by
the use of Days Horse and Cattle
4 Powder. The flow of milk will be
3 increased from 10 to 20 per cent
: &. 4