Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-08-29
UncIean UncIean
THE INDEPENDENT DENOUNCES
CLEVELAND AS A MORAL
LEPER.

LEPER.
New YORK, August 2O.-The
Independent, Mr.. Bowen's great
religious weekly, which has hitherto
looked with favor on the candidacy
of Mr.. Cleveland, in to-morrow's
issue will say:
'We published last week, in our
correspondence columns a com
munication from DR.. Kinsley Twin
ing one ofour editorial staff, giving
the result of his investigation in
regard to the Cleveland scandal.
The grave and serious part of this
scandal, whick he declares that he
found to be true, is that which i'm
putes personal impurity to Mr..
Cleveland in the specific instance
that has come to the knowledge Of
the public. We cannot, in view of
all the facts, resist the conclusion
that this part of the scandal is true;
and this is quite enough to de-
termine our course.
This damaging charge came upon
us wholly unexpected and with the
sudden, stunning force Of athunder-
bolt out of clear sky. None were
more surprised and overwhelmed
by it than the Governors friends
and intimates among the 1nde-
pendents of Buffalo, and it was a
case that called for thorough and
fearless investigation.
THAT we felt this in every fiber,
and that we intended to impress
this feeling on our readers, and to
hold ourselves absolutely free to
act as circumstances required, is
the simple truth; and our silence as
to the Cleveland nomination from
that day was intended.
'We utterly refuse two standards
Of character. We sepudiate with
contempt the doctrine that public
mans private life is not to be in
quired into. DR.. Twining's invest
CATION went on the recognition Of
this principle.
'On this subject, as itnOw stands
we will not be slow to give ad-
vice. The conditions have wholly
changed since the Independent
conference. Then we were ready
a real enthusiasm to support the
tried and, as we then believed,
honest reformer, Grover Cleveland.
Now, without one word in dero-
CATION of his record as Governor of
this State, our enthusiasm is wiped
out by the discovery of the acknow-
lodged and awful facts.
I'VE hence desire to have all our
readers plainly understand, once
for all, that whatever has been
said in the editorial columns of the
Independent favorable to the elec-
tion of Governor Cleveland was
said prior to the recent sickening
disclosures in regard to hisprivate
character, which have justly shock
ed the moral sense of all pure and
right-minded people. The attempt
now to force such a candidate up
on the people would, in our opinion
disgrace the party which nomlna-
ted him, and the whole Nation, II
he should be elected. We WIKI
have no hand or voice in helping
on this matter, let the consequences
be what they may, and will not
advise the readers of the Indepen-
dent to smother conscience and
disgrace themselves by engaging
directly or indirectly in any such
movement.
sWe are now in serious difficulty
as a Nation in regard to the un-
checked progress of Mormonlsm;
and shall we now, in the face Of
threatening evils and perils be
plunged into deeper gulf by any
seeming Indifference as to the
prirate character Of one who has
been nominated to ell the highest
office in the gift of the people ? We
say No thousand times No
Governor Cleveland should posi-
lively decline to be candidate,
and withdraw Immediately from
the canvass, and be compelled to
do so if necessary. The party
which nominated him through its
chosen representative should then
reconvene and select new ticket
that will command the hearty sup
port of the people of all parties.-
There is time enough to do this,and
there is no hope or safety in any
other course. To stand still now;
or attempt to go blindly forward
with the present tickel would; in
our judgement, be on insult to the
Ruler of nations, sure death to the
Democratic party, including also its
leaders, and an everlasting dis
grace to the Republic
John Smith has gone and tied a
knot In my horses tall complained
a man to a lawyer the other morn