The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-09-03

availability was the sole reason that
controlled the Democrats in passing
by such men as Messrs. Bayard,
Thurman, Randall and others oflike
stamp, and nominating Governor
Cleveland as their candidate for
President. Their theory was that
he would run best, and be surest to
carry the great State of New York,
and, especially, that he would bring
to the party large accession of Re
publican votes. This theory at the
time looked plausible. We are not
surprised that the Democrats adopt
ed it, and put forward Mr.. Cleveland
as a political reformer, hoping, by
the cry of reform, to get possession
of the Government.
| 1t turns out, however, even before
the active work of the canyass has
fairly begun, that, as to most vital
Question of personal morals, the
private character of this so-called
reform candidate has been one of
such rottenness as Justly to destroy
all claim in his behalf to the conf
dence and respect of the American
people. Whether the members of
the Democratic Convention were
acquainted with the facts, in
his private life, when they
nominated hin, we do not know (;
but for their sake we will assume
that, if they had known them, Mr..
Cleveland would not have been the
candidate of the Democratic Party.
To nominate such a man with this
knowledge, would imply a most as
founding lack of common sense, and
an equal lack of moral and political
integrity.
Certain it is that the Independent
Republicans, who ignorantly indors-
ed Mr.. Cleveland, and publicly de
elared their purpose 10 support him,
did not know the man as the record
of his private life has revealed him
to be. and which record, by Gods
lightning voice, has been sen. with
flash to every village and hamlet
OF the nation, and thence TO the very
ends of the earth. These Republi-
cans cannot, in view OF what they
now know, give him their support,
without the grossest self-stultifica-
ton, and, indeed, without Justly ex-
posing themselves to the charge of
gross and senseless hypocrisy. The
simple and plain truth is that the
admitted ofiense of Mr.. Cleveland
touches upon a domain of family
and public morals so vitality and
so dangerous to the public good
as utterly to disoualify him for the
Office of President, or any other
Office in the gift of the people. This
Is the position The Independeat, after
a due consideration of the facts and
our duty to God and man, took last
week, and means sternly to main
tain. Any effort to evade this con-
clusion only makes the duty the
more obvious.
If it be said that what is true of
Mr.. Cleveland is no more than has
often been true of other public men,
then We reply that it is high time
that ali public men should be taught
that personal and private virtue is
not an immaterial question with the
people of this country. This lesson
should be so emphasized and pro-
claimed to the world that there will
be no mistake now or here
after, as to what is meant by
it
The immoralities of a mans pri-
vate life are matters which do con-
Germ the public, when that public,
with the knowledge of these immor-
alities, is asked to make him the
Chief Magistrate of great nation.
A debauchee, known to be, or to
have been, such, is not the man to
be elevated to the Office of President
of these United States. This one fact
should be fatal to him. The people
should not, and, as we bilieve, will
not, so disgrace themselves in the
sight of God and man, and defy the |
imperative mandate of sound NOR
ais as to bestow this nonor on any
such base profigate. What is our
common Christianity worth, and
what is our boasted civilization
worth, ifsuch a black stain in the |
character of a candidate for tbs
Presidency is, in the popular esti-
mate, to be deemed matter of no |
special consequence? What a |
strange spectacle such law breaker,
if elected, would present in the par
lors of the White House, What an |
opportunity it would give to Nor
mon polygamists to sneer and laugh |
there at the efforts of the General |
Government to suppress the mon |
strous denominations in the Territory |
OF Utah What demoralizing lesson |
it would be to the young men of the |
country What a barrier to the !
successful teaching of morality from
the pulpit or political platform, or
in the halls of Congress All decent |
people, not to say Christian people,
would have to hide their heads with |
profound sense of shame and dis
gust. mol NoIl the majority of the !
voters of this country will not and
cannot approve of any such beast |
ly and heathenish standard of NOR
ality.
At any rate, The Independent will |
do all in its power to prevent the
election of Governor Cleveland, not |
from passion or any personal ami
mostly to the man, not because it is |
a Republican paper and believes in |
the general principles of the Repub-
lican Party, and does not and never |
did believe in those ofthe Democrat
ic Party, but solely in the interest of |
sound morals. especially those of
the family. Whoever may be elect
ed or defeated, let Governor Cleve-
land, with the knowledge the public
now have of his private character,
have the mark of Cain pnt upon
him as the fitting end of his public !
career. We call upon the religious
press of the nation. and also the
Christian pulpit, to speak out in
bold and emphatic language against
his election. The issue now is a