National Republican., 1884-08-25
THE MUD THROWING QUESTION.
The Remarkable Change That Has
Come Over the spirit OF Democratic
Orators on the subject OF Scandal.

Globe. Democrat.
It is easy TO believe that Hon. Thomat
A. Hendricks is, to given extont, sin
ccro in oaying that no regrets the per
sonal mud throwing which has becom,
such q conspicuous feature of the present
canvass There are other democratic
leaders Of the Same mind, no doubt, and
II the thing were to do over again, 1t ID
very likely they would not inaugurate O
process of that kind. II was Mr. Hen
bricks himself who set an example Of per-
sonal assault and vilihcation by charg-
ing in his speech Of acceptance that
republican officials in Washington werc
practically band of robbers and do
faultors. lie knew such q statement to
be false and slandorous, but he thought it
would bo a shrowd thing to divert atten-
tion from the glaring faults and weak
nesscs of his party by hurling loose and
violent accusations against persons on the
other side The trick did not turn out
as he anticipated. He has discovered
that mud throwing is two-sided affair,
and IL now suits him to deprecato that
sort Of thing in terms Of admirable vigor
and gravity.
1t Is notorious that the campaign was
begun by tho democrats in general on
the theory that calumny and misrepre-
sentation would do for them what thoy
knew could not bo ACCOMPLISHED by rea-
son and an appeal to the sober sense and
discretion Of the people. Mr.. Blaine was
very vulnerable man, they chose to
think, and therefore they would open the
flood -gatOs of dctraction and calumnia-
tion upon him in particular, supple
mcnted by similar attacks upon other
prominent republicans and upon ropub-
lican methods aud practices. Tho word
was given out in on emphatic and grand
Eloquent way that the contest was to be
waged on the issue of personal character,
and Mr.. Cleveland was presented Ms u
man of surprising moral worth aud
strength, whose election would difiuse
purity and reform over everything.
and ring In halcyon condition of
affairs from all points of view. IL is
very clear now that this was blunder.
Consequently, Mr.. Hendricks and others
like him find it advisable to denounce
mud throwing, and assume sudden
preference for cleanliness and deccncy.
There, was no objection to personal
abuse by Mr.. Hendricks or any other
democratic leader so long rs it fell upon
Blaine and served TO belittle and bespatter
the republican record. 1t was all legiti.
mate aud deleusiblo in their eyes until
they were asked TO take some of their
own medicine, aud meet troublesome
stories about their own candidate. So
long as Cleveland's shortcomings were
not brought to light. they wore entirely
content to see private character scrutin-
lied, and scandal made popular and
abundant. 1t is only since his marked
and undenablc social corruption has been
disclosed that they find it convenient to
lament the prevalence of mud throwing,
and to lift up their self-righteous voices
against tho policy of searching out and
dwelling upon the moral delinquencics of
candidates. If Cleveland's son, beeotton
according to tho European plan, had not
been discovered, and the betrayed widow
had been securely retained in the insane
asylum to which her seducer sent hor, we
should have heard nothing from Mr.. Hen
bricks or any other democratic statesman
about the shame and cruelty Of personal
upon party leaders.