The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-08-16
a noe..er Esefence q. C,eyeInnd.
The Independent Republicans of Buff
falo Investigate and Report.

it to be duty imposed on us by cir
to examine these stories in
detail and to make formal statement
of the results No such examination
would have been necessary to satisfy
ourselves, but it was due to those who
have read the charges against Gov.
Cleveland without knowing personally
his general character and reputation
in this community, and without
knowing either the position or the
means of information of those who
have made the charges, that we should
not put forth more ffeneral state
ment without previous investigation.
We have, therefore, through a COM
mittee appointed from our number for
that purpose, carefully and deliberate
ly made such an investigation, and
we have taken every available means
to ascertain the precise facts in each
case.
The general charges OF drunkenness
and gross immortality which are made
against Gov. Cleveland are absolutely
false. His reputation fer morality has
always been good. There is no foun-
dation for any statement TO the con-
trary. He was sought out and nomi-
mated for the Mayorality against his
will, and was supported for that posi-
ton by the larger portion of the edu-
Gated, intelligent, and moral citizens
OF Buffalo, without regard to politics,
on purely personal grounds. After he
had gone through this contest he was
again put forward as one of the most
distinguished citizens of Buffalo as a
candidate for the GOvernorship, and
again received the support Of the same
class of his fellow citizens. In this
community, where he had lived for
twenty-nine years, and where his life
was known and his character under.
stood, this support would not have
been given to him had he been either
a drunkard or a libertine. We arc
able to speak from personal knowledge
as his acquaintance of long standing
and 10 say that His general private life
has heen that Of quiet, orderly, self
respecting, and always highly respect
cd citizen. Since he assumed hi
present Office his visits to Buffalo have
been few and Of short duration. 1t i,
susceptible OF absolute proof, and has
been proved to us, chat upon no ONT
Of these visits has ANYTHING occurred
to justify the statemants which have
been made by his detractors. Thu
charge that lie has recently taken par
in drunken and licentous debaucl
in Buffalo ON the occasion OF such I
visit is entirely false.
We have been particularly careful
and thorough in our Investigations o
the alleged betrayal, abduction, ant
inhuman treatment OF woman il
| this city, as detailed in local newspa
per. The circumstances out Of whicl
this story is fabricated occurred eigh
years ago.A The woman in question
was at that time widow, between 3
and 40 years Of age, with two childral
the younger of whom was ten year
old. The facts OF the case show tina
she was not seduced, and the allega
tons respecting her abduction and il
treatment are wholly false. We deer
these the only features of the charg
in connection with this matter whic
; constitute public question requirin
, any declaration on our part. Our e,
animation of the other charges whic
have been made against Gov. Clevt
I lands private character shows that the
are wholly untrue. In every instanc
t in which the rcnorts and insinuatior
have been tangible enough to furnis
} clue to guide us in our investigator
they nave been ,ositively proved to |
false.
The attack upon Gov. Cleveland
| character is thoroughly discredite
: when we consider the source froI
which it comes. 1t was first publicl
made in Buffalo by newspaper of L
q standing whatever. We have twit
t called upon the editos of this pap
t and asked him to produce his proof
the names, dates, and other particula
which he had publicly stated he vi
!, at liberty to show. He declines TO {
SO or to facilitate investigation in
a the truth OF either his own charges
those contained in the anonymous Il
ter which he published. He admitt'
4 that he had no evidence to suppo
n any accusation against Gov. Clevelan
except in the one instance to whi(
we havo particularly referred I
& rested his case on that story, and as
that story he is contradicted by Il
witnesses having personal knowiede
The two c!ergymen, whose professi'
has been invoked to give weight
. these charges, have nopersonalknoy
x edge of the facts, and, under the C
cumstances, could not possible ha
: such knowledge. They have ventHr,