The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-09-03
PRIVATE MORALS OF PUBLIC OF.
FTCERS.


have been carried before the people,
and on which their suffrages should
have been sought, have been passed
to a secondary place, and the char
acters of the two leading candidates
have been made, so far, the chiei
subjects of discussion. This is the
most unworthy and unfortunate
kind of political warfare. 1t is the
reign of mud, rather than of reason
and sound Judgment.
There is but one thing that could
in any way reconcile us to such a
canvass-the implication that il
grows out of the jealousy of the peo,
pie for the good morals of their pub
lie officers. II we could be assured
that the making and publishing Of
such charges grew out Of an honest
purpose to prevent corrupt men
from getting into Office, We would
approve it most heartily. But such
is not usually the case. Ii is SIM
ply one mode of political warfare
1t belongs to the class of ''all things
fair in politics" Its design is 70
kill, without regard to Justice OF
mercy.
But there is another side to this
subject. I've cannot overlook the
moral characters of our public Off
GERS, nor, therefore, of the men VINO
are candidates for such offices. The
great majority of the people are un-
willing to elevate to Office men
whose morals are below par on any
line. They will not do so, if they
know the facts. But in such a
country as this but small minority
of the voters can have personal
knowledge of the private lives OF
their public men. The great major
ity must act on information received
from others, and especially, from
the newspaper press. II, therefore,
any man has certain knowledge OF
immoralities in candidate for office
he may not only make the facts
known. but he, as a true man and
loyal citizen, must do so. His ST.
lence in such case would be crim-
inal. The people ought to know the
characters of the men for whom
they are asked TO vote, and the man
who has the information is bound
to give it. In no other way can we
vote intelligently.
In the charges made against Mr..
Blaine there is nothing specially
new. They have been repeated from
time to time for years past. He is
accused Of dishonesty-of using his
official positions to secure dishonest
gains. We imagine that every one
who will read these lines has already
made up his mind as to the guilt or
innocence OF the ex-Secretary, and,
therefore, nothing we could say, if
We weret disposed to discuss the
question, which we are not, would
change his opinion. If Mr.. Blaine
is guilty of such an offense he ought
not to be trusted further in any posi-
ton. If he is innocent no false ac-
cusation should prevent men from
voting for him. Let every voter be
fully persuaded in his own mind on
this subject. and then vote accord
ingly.
Governor Cleveland's case is diff
ferent in some respects from that of
his opponent. The charge is of a
different nature. 1t is new, also. He
is accused of personal impurity-of
having been for years trifier with
female virtue. This accusation
brings a new element into politics.
Never before during this generation,
probably never during the history
of the Nation, has such a charge
been brought, in this form, against a
Presidential candidate. We cannot
think of anything sadder or more
unfortunate. If it is false, the MAX
ing of it was infamous. The effort
thus to blast the character of a .vir-
tuous man could not be too severely
punished. If, on the other hand,
the charge be true, then our indig-
nation turns against the guilty can
didate. He ought at once to with
draw from the ticket. He ought not
TO ask the honorable and virtuous
men of that great party to vote for
him and no man who regards fe-
male virtue, and honors the name OF
mother, wife and sister should sup
port such a man.
1t is not our province to determ-
inc the guilt or innocence of Mr..
Cleveland. We have not the knowl-
edge to enable US to do SO. Nor do
we express any opinion on the sub.
ject. We speak of the matter as al
ready a subject of public notoriety,
and with the deepest regret, whatev-
er may be the truth in the case.
We cannot but feel that it is ex,
ceedingly unfortunate that these
charges have been made and repeat
ed chiefly by papers of Gov. Cleve-
lands own party, and that they have
met with no adequate denial. In
deed, it can hardly be said that they
have been denied at all. Failure to
deny is not..always, in politics, a con-
fession OF guilt, but certainly when
the accusation is so serious as this it
demands attention; and frank and
manly denial would have been hall
the battle.
Far worse than silence, however,
is the defense made in certain quar-
tiers, viz: That a mans personal
character is not to be considered in
a case of this kind. 1t has been
boldly asserted that a candidate
may be privately corrupt and lech-
erous, but publicly pure and worthy
of support. An acknowledged lib.
ertine may then be a worthy Presi-
dent-a man whom virtuons peo-
pie would not receive into their
homes, may with propriety be made
the ruler of our great Nation. Such
teaching is utterly shameful and dis
graceful. 1t is a reflection on the
virtue of the people of the whole
country, and an insult to every home
in the land. 1t is an insult to the
great Democratic party, also, a party
that embraces almost half the pee-
pie of the Nation-an insult that
will make the blood boil in their
veins. 1t must be remembered that
the Democratic party has not made