The Portland daily press., 1884-10-24
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Gov. Cleveland to Mrs. Beecher.
Extract from the speech by Rev. Henry Ward
Rrachar

Gov. Cleveland to Mrs. Beecher.
Beecher)
1.-THE air Is murky with shameless stories OF
Mr.. Cleveland's private life. To our sorrow
and shame we find cocatrice eggs hatched by
rash and credulous clergymen. They could
not go to Mr.. Cleveland with honest inquiry,
so they open their ears to the harlot and
drunkard. They have sought BY irresponsible
slander to poison the faith OF holy men and in
nocent women. Do these ministers ever re-
fleet that the guilt of vice or crime meas
nres the guilt Of him who charges II falsely?
My honored and beloved wife, quite unbe-
SHOWN 10 nae, cut many clippings from the
newspapers, all of which reflected on the life
OF Mr.. Cleveland at Albany, aud sent them to
him with letter that will not be published,
but that would be a gem in English literature
# II were publishef. As quick as the mail
could return she received from Governor
Cleveland letter Whioh l have had between
two and three weeks, and which he meant to
be private aud marked "private," but such
com piexion has the canvass taken that 1 tele-
graphed to him two nights ago to ask II be
would allow me to use nay discretion in regard
to that letter. His reply was "CertAiDly, II 1t
is your judgment" (Applsuss) Now / will
Ny DeGl Mrs. Beecher;
Your letter, you may well suppose, has affected
me- deeply. What shall say 10 one who writes so
ike my mother? l say so like my mother, but 1
don't altogether that for she died in the be-
lie that her true and nobe as she knew
he was duIiful and kind. am shocked and dumb
founde1 by the clippings from the newspapers tnAt
you sent me- because ihey purpoft to give what
man actually knows, and not mere report rs the
other four or five lie do which have read or heard
about my life in Albany 1 have never seen Ia Al
bai a woman VIII m 1 have any 20 suspect
was in anv way bad. | don't knOw whore any such
woman lives in Albany. have never been in any
N Albany eXcpnt the manaiOn- fh0
executive chamber, the First Orau1e Club House.
twice at receptions given TO me, and on 1
citizens TO dine. OF course 1 have
been to church. There never was man who has
worked harder or more hours in the day. Almost
ali my time has been spent in the Executive Cham
ber and hardly think there have been twenty
nights in the year and nlre months have lived in
Albsny-unle-s was out of town, that have left
my work earlier than midnight to find my bed at
tDe tlanson am at loss to know how IL Is that
such terrib Q, wicked and utterly baseess lies can
be invented. The cOntempti llo creature who coin
and these lhi gs appear to thi0k that the affair
which have not deried makes me defencsless
aeAiDst any and all slsuders. AS to my outward
life in Buffalo, the manifestation Of conf
dence and attachment which was rendered
there by all the citizens must be pro,f that
have not lived disgraceful lie in that city.
AS to my life in Albany, ali statements that tend
show that it has been other than laborous aud per-
fectly correct are utterly ana in every shade un-
true. 1 don't wonder that your good husband Is
perplexed. | honestly think desire his good
opinion more Lnan auy alO ne Is Olsp SEQ 10 render
ne. don't usnt him TO think any better OF me
than | deserve, to be deceived. Cannot
manage to him and to tell him what cznuOt
wrile. 1 shall DO 10 New York Wednesday and
Thursday morning, suppose, Of next Weex.
Thursday afternoon and evening 1 cha spend In
Brooklyn. Having written this much. it occurs 70
me that such long letIer to you is unnecessary
and unexpected. IL is the most have ever written
on the subj referred TO and beg you TO fors
me II your kind and touching letter mas led mo into
any improperly.
Yours very sincerely, GROVER CLEVELAND.