Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-08
THE CLEVELAND SCANDAL.
a plain Statements about the Matte
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THE CLEVELAND SCANDAL.
a Plain Statements about the Matter,
with various Letters aud Comments.
The charges against Gov. Cleveland's pri-
vate character havo assumed such a promi-
hence in the public mind, and have become
so distinct an issue in tho present campaign,
that thcro is n general dosiro to know just
what these charges are To answer this le-
gitimato questioning We state tho facts in
brief, and in doing no have before us a copy
of tho Buffalo Evening Telegraph which first
made the matter public in an article Of three
columns length.
The allegation Of the Telegraph in general
is that Gov. Cleveland is a man of lewd and
incorporate habits and instances are spec.
flied where no has been engaged in drunk
en- debauches with abandoned women and
their male companions. One such instance
Is alleged to have occurred since he has been
governor of New York. Tho main and spe-
cfc allegation relates to his treatment of
young woman named Maria Hslpin, whom
he seduced seven years ago. At that time
the woman was at the head Of the cloak de-
partment Of Flint a Kent, leading Buffalo
merchants. She was attractive in person,
we'll educated and q woman who knew oil
tho circumstances in the case says her con.
duct was above suspicion except in connec-
ton with MIR. Cleveland. i child "a boy was
born to her, whose paternity Gov. Cleveland
did not deny. The woman demanded that
Cleveland should marry hor and when he re-
fused she became desperate, finally took to
drink, worried her soducor with threats and
to escape her opportunities Mr.. Cleveland
had her forcibly abducted and sent to an in
sane asylum, while the child, then two years
old, was taken to an orphan asylum. When
the womans sanity became apparent sho was
released and secured possession of her child.
Milo A. Whitney, prominent lawyer Of Buff
falo, espoused her cause and she finally set
tied with Mr.. Cleveland and gave up her child
on the payment by him of $500.
This is the story in short. The details given
by the Telegraph plainly imply that this was
not single unfortunate lapse from virtue, but
that Gov. Cleveland, in the opinion of Buffalo
people who know him we'll, il an impure
man. The Boston Journal sont special
agent to Buffalo, who spent two days in in.
vestgating tho case, aud became convinced
of the truth of the charges
The worst thing about this whole matter
is the treatment accorded it by the indopend-
ont and Democratic press. Several Of these
papers, without taking the trouble to admit
or deny the truth of the charges, have
boldly and brnzenly said that the private
character of a man who has been nominated
for President of tho United States is not a
pertinent matter for discussion with reference
to his elevation to this high office. The
Springfield Republican put the case in these
words:
1--WE accept it truth that the chastity unchas-
tty OF pubic men Of national reputc and nominated
for Office before the people Of the whole country is
not proper subject for discussion
The position of the Boston Herald is sim
liar. Even the New York Evening Post,
paper which claims to hold itself to the
highest moral and political plane, after de-
claring in several issues thata libertne and
proved seducer OF women would not be fit
man to DO made President of the United
States, in its issue of Tuesday last printed an
ditorial in which it admits the truth Of the
story of Gov Cleveland's connection with
Maria Halpin, but condones it by saying that
she WAS a woman of doubtful character and
incorporate habits, and that Gov. Cleveland
removed her (his) child from her care be-
cause she was an improper person to have
charge of it, and had annoyed" him with her
opportunities. From this the Post goes on to
argue that chastity is not a requisite virtue,
and tn at nearly all the men who have left
their mark on their time have been unchaste
men.
Other independent papers follow the same
line of argument. Could any doctrine be
more demorslizing? Could the youth of the
country be exposed to worse influence than
to see proven and unrepentant seducer of
women-s man of acknowledged impure life
made President of the United States
What would the social life of tho White
House be under his administration What
course, except to ignore him, could self.re-
specting women take as regards any associa-
ton with him
No wonder the Womsns journal in q lead
ing article on 'Sins Against Women" says.
1.-The saddest feature in regard to the shocking
scandal about Gov. Cleveland is that moral appre-
henson Of is expressed by the press generally even
whore its truth is tacitly admitted The treatment
the matter shows debauched conscience In regard
of the most debasng vices. Admitting the essen
tal charges it is claimed that they do not initiate in
the least against candidate for President Of the Uni
ted States. one is shocked to see tho sins Of other
public men quoted q defence for the pres
ent case This revelation shows the need Of another
element in poltics-somethng that will demand puri-
ty in men who are to be ntrusted with public inter
osts II a woman against whom charges OF gross i'm
morality could be made should by any chance be nom
mated for position Of small public trust she
would be hooted from the list by popular reproach
and disgust That such is not the fact in the case of
men Is an alarming symptom Of the times"