New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-06
THE QUESTION OF HONOR.

Do Governor Cleveland and his friends real
ize in what position he is pacedf 1t Is that or
irving to obtain Office under false pretcnces.
Some may call these harsh words. lhey imply
dishonor. But no greater dishOnOr is possible
than that to which Governor Cleveland daily
exposes himself Shall it be said that it Is a
foul and criminal thing to steal ham or purse,
but worthy and honorable thing to steal the
greatest Office in the gift of the people IL
Governor Cleveland is, as we affirm, deliber-
ately trying to get that high Office by false pre-
fences as to his opinion or his political relations
he is n more dishonorable man, and TO the coun-
try a more dangerous criminal, than any OF the
common knaves. Is not this strictly and abso-
lutely true?
What are the facts Is il not true that Gov
crnor Cleveland is this day being advocated, by
the most conspicuous members and organs oil
his party in different sections. on pretences aD-
solutely irrcconcilable, and of which one or tine
other must be false 7 At the East his most con-
spicuous advocates pretend to be Protectionists'
and deny that he has any sympathy with the set
of men who framed and tried to pass the Nor
rison tariff At the West his most conspicuous
advocates declare that he is a Free / raider or
as they phrase it, n believer in "a tarIf Tor
revenue only" and they assert that he not only
favored the Morrison tariff. but helped to secure
votes for it by his personal influence rs Gov
crnor of New-York II is not possible That
these pretences on opposite sides are both true.
word froIl Governor Cleveland de-
claring that he did OF did not favor
the bill in question, that he would or
would not sign such bill if hc were
i'm
honorable position he now occupies. That word
he refuses 10 speak. He knows that his position
il dishonorallc if ne is capable of seeing dis
honor in seeking votes by false pictcnces. let
he chooses to remain in that position. So long
~ he does there is no help for it. lie must per
force bc held responsible for the representations
of his supporters. which he not only permits bat
which get their only force from his refusal ia
speak
Thi. i the man whose election is urged ~ u
measure Of reform; who H. expected to biing
honesty into politics; who Is recommended by
mon pf high icputo as certain II elected 10 deal
honorahly with all public ihtcreNs. Docs not
the common sense OF every voter answer lhd'
the man who does not get power honoIably can
not DC trusted or expected 10 use IT with honor
| Is il nor plain that the mcn of high repute. who
are recommending n candidate on the ground
that he is II man of honor and rclor mcr, whrn
in fact before all the world he is trying to get
| Office by false pretenccs make themselves
parties to his wrong doing and sharcrs i'll his
| dishOnori
1t will be said that this is common that can
didates and parties are expected to deceive II
they can. That has not been true OF the ke-
publican party which has frankly stated ITS
purposes, and nominated candidate who Is
known to represent those purposes. But II II
were true Of any other party, or of all parties
I it is not the less q fraud that the man placed
before the people on the ground that he can
be trusted to be honorable is the man of all
others who is most conspicuously trying to get
Office by dishonest representations There is III
help for it the offence of Others, if Others nave
offended, does not make Governor Cleveland
the more honorable. The worst and most
dangerous offence against the people that can
be committed is the attempt to obtain by lou
means the power which they wish to give as q
| fms