The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-06
REV. GEORGE H. BALL.

He Vigorously Reaffirms the Truth of His
Charges Against Cleveland.
St. Paul tMinn Special to st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The Evening Journal, some days ago, pub
lished an editorial denouncing the author Of the
scandal against Governor Cleveland. To-day
the Journal received the following letter from
Rev. Geo. H. Ball, of Buffalo The gentlemen
to whom he alludes give him high reputation
for honor and strength of character.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug Editor journal: A
friend of mine in your city sends me the Even
ing Journal of July 26, in which you discuss the
Cleveland scandal. Allow me to say that it is in
no sense campaign lie. Mr. Cleveland was
first nominated for mayor of Buffalo, pledged to
enforce the excise law, and laws against gam
bling as well as toprotect the city from a system
of robbery that then prevailed. In view of these
pledges the temperance men put him on their
ticket. and elected him mayor-elected him be-
cause their ticket was made up Of selections from
various elements, and every man they
voted for was elected, and all the others
defeated. Mr.. Cleveland was unknown to
the temperance men, but his friends
assured us he would enforce the law, and we
trusted them. OF course, we were terribly sold
Our reform mayor did well on financial points,
but did nothing for the suppression of vice. We
were not pleased, of course, but what most
worried the clergymen who had been active in
the canvass were reports which began to come
TO Gn6lr ears Gldb MI. Cl6V6IaQQ was personally
a debauche. Then came the craze over the
Saratoga fraud and the rush which elected
Cleveland Governor of the State, The people
were angry and ready to vote for any one to
spite the ring managers The few clergymen
who knew of Mr.. Cleveland's debaueheries did
not vote for him the second time, | assure you
Then he began to be doomed for the presidency
as ''reformer' and man of superior moral
excellence" Religious journals began to praise
his rare virtues and to advise the Democratic
papt tv tn NON him Tho aoSo ,.aflx
considered by some of the pastors of the city
Investigations were made. The Halpin case, in
all its horrors was found to be literally true
His antecedents and subsequent life, down
to date, were found to be so
evil and low as to be actually loathsome and
impossible to describe. Letters therefore, were
written to Christian editors warning them not to
miSead the people in regard to Mr. Clevelands
morality. One of mine was telegraphed to San
Francisco, published, and went over the land
For this am branded as a vile slanderer in
your columns. If am a slanderer q dozen
other pastors,are under the same condemnation
and two-score more of them stand as indorsers
am not slanderer nor political sensational
ist, and had no design to do more by writing as
did than to protect Christian editors from the
shame of commencing one of the vilest men that
lives to be model of virtue. If politicians are
disposed to exalt ibertine to the presidency
they must bear the responsibility and l must
endeavor to do my duty to them and expose and
denounce their sin. Both Republican papers
here admit that the terrible story is true that
they were in possession of the facts and were
urged to publish them during the guberna
torial canvass, but concluded it was better
not to do so. The Democratic papers do not
deny the allegations. Mr.. Cfeveland's political
friends admit the scandal to be true, but suggest
possible mitigating circumstances such as that
the woman might not have been correct before
Mr.. Cleveland met her, that the detectives who
kidnapped her and took her to the insane
asylum transcribed Mr.. Cleveland's orders
ETC., but the essential facts are admitted; and
men here who know of Mr. Cleveland's personal
habits agree that the exposition Of the Telegraph
really desire to know who Rev. Geo. H. Balfis
refer you to Rev. Mr. Jordan and Rev. A. a.
Smith, of your city, and they ear give you
scores Of names among your neighbors who
know who am and whether i am likely to
hastily and falsely charge a man with vile con-
duct when he is not known to be guilty
"GEO H BAI.r,r