The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-08-22
Haunted by a Terrible Fear.

The Evangelist, August 81.
Putting these i've reports together, and ex-
GLIDING all charges OF continued immortality
as improved; connning ourselves TO the one
solitary fact, which not even the Governors
nearest and dearest friond presumes to deny
what then? To repeat the question asked by
the Etening Post, at the head OF q long and
iabored article "a Ris defense, "what do we
think of 1t now?" We answer that we think
II Is very bad business. In saying this, we
do not Judge II by tho highest moral standards,
but by the standards OF common decency aud
common humanity; OF that respect which m an
hood owes 10 womanhood, which strength
owes TO weakness-to be its protector, and not
its destroyer. Disguise It as you will gloss It
over or call 1t by other names, II is sickening
story, which We cannot read without a feeling
OF horror and disgust. 1t has wrought a
womnn's ruin. Whether II was wrought by
ono alone or by many, matters not. The crime
10 done, and It's bitter fruits remain.
Knowing what we do In regard to Governor
Cleyelands past life, we must reason upon
probabilities. There is nothing In vico to re.
form itself. He who has not left his vicious
courses behind him at thirty Ave, can hardly
be expected TO leave them behind at forty or
foriy-lye: at least 30 long as he has no true
domestic life-no home, no freside-but lives
the life OF man about town, In hotels and
clubs and saloons. Our observation OF men
has led us TO this general conclusion that he
who has led dissolute life In his early man.
hood, is very likely to continue In It unless ar.
rested by one OF two powerful influences;
either the grace OF God convlcting him OF sin,
and working a moral revolution, making him
90 new man In Christ jesus" or puro at.
lection epfinging up in his heart and lifting
him out OF the slime OF his past life into q
true, noble manhood. That either OF these In.
nuences has yet come In Governor Gleyeland's
life, We have not been informed.
The absence OF any domestic life is certainly
a.public misfortune In the case OF one who
stands IN relations to a whole people. "He
who has wifo and children" says Lord Bacon,
"has given hostages 70 fortune" Yes, aud hos.
tages to character. The atmosphere of home
IS tho best true guardian OF public and private
virtue. The Governor seems to have felt this
when he was entering upon his present
duties. There Is something very touching IN
his letter 10 his brother, In which he says: "Do
you know that II mother were alive should
feel SO much safer? l have always thought
that her prayers had much to do with my sue
cess" Well may he have felt the loss OF that
guardian angel III scenes so now and trying.
And II he should enter the White House we
should feel that he was "safer," and that we
were safer II he had that sainted mother 10
preside over his household.
And now what does all this prove? That
Governor Cleveland Is Il man OF immoral life
by no means; IL proves nothing; but It cre-
atos suspicion OF many things which We
would rather not have to think ABOUT. We do
not wish 10 accuse any man wrongfully, or
even TO suspect him wrongfuly, and yet we
ore haunted by terrible fear. We are left In
state OF uncertainty, In which the heart sinks
people Of this country 10 look at those thugs
without passion and violence, but with open
eyesi and, without being swayed by party feel
ing, but acting "sOberly, diecreetly and In tho
fear OF God" 10 say whether man OF whom
they have such fears and fOrebodings f. the
sort OF man whom they wish 10 see elected
President Of the United States.