The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-04


SUPPORTING CLEVELAND, DEMANDS
HIS WITHDRAWAL FROM TIE DEMO
CRATIC TICKFT.
Immediately after the nomination of
Cleveland as the Democratic nominee for
president, the New York Independent,
one of the leading religious papers Of the
country, came out in his advocacy. and
has espoused his cause ever since. The
Democratic politicians and newspapers
rejoiced at this acquisition to their col
umn, and were emphatic in their declara-
ton that the nomination of Cleveland was
a moral, rather than a political move.
These and like accessions to the Demo
cratic party encouraged the Democratic
and independent dailies at their mud
Singing occupations Every effort of
the Republican leaders to draw the atten-
tion OF the country to live issues and make
the fight one of principles was rejected by
the Democrats. who have treated the tar
iff question as of no consequence, ana pre-
ferred to make the canvass one Of person
alities. When the charges against Gov
ernor Cleveland were made public by
Buffalo paper and the Cincinnati ENQUIRER,
the Democratic organ Of Ohio, the Re-
publican papers, as q rule, did not notice
them, and the Independent, anxious to
probe the matter to the bottom, commits
stoned Dr. Kinsley Fwining, one of it's
staff, to go to Buffalo and make the nee
essary investigation. He performed his
dnty, and reported that the grave parts of
the charge were true. In the issue of the |
goth the Independent takes back every
word it said in praise of Cleveland; de-
clines to support him any longer, and de-
clares that his election would be dis
grace to the nation. The Esdependent's
editorial in full is as follows:
THE CRISIS AND OUR DUTY.''
ssWe published last week in our CORES
pondence column a communication from |
DR.. Kinsley Twining, one of our edito- |
rial staff, giving the result of his investi- |
CATION in regard to the Cleveland scandal. |
The grave and serious part Of this scan
dial, which he declares that he found to be |
true, is that which imputes personal i'm |
purity to Mr.. Cleveland in the specific in |
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 determine our course.
sThis damaging charge came upon us
wholly unexpected, and with the sudden,
stunning force of a thunderbolt out Of |
clear sky. None were more surprised and |
overwhelmed by it than the Governor IS |
friends and intimates among the Indepen-
dents of Buffalo, and it was case that
called for thorough and fearless inyesti- I
cation.
THAT we felt this in every fiber, and
that we intended to impress this feeling |
on our readers, and to hold ourselves alb
solutely free to act as circumstances re-
quired. is the simple truth and our
silence as TO the Cleveland nomination
from that day was intended.
1--WE utterly refuse to accept two stan
dards OF character. We repudiate with /
contempt the doctrine that public man S
private life is not to be inquired into. DR..
TWining's investigation went on the rec
ognltion of this principle.
"On this subject, as it now stands, we
will not be slow to give advice. The con-
ditiens have wholly changed since the In
dependent Conference. Then we were
ready with real enthusiasm to support
former. Grover Cleveland. Now, without
one word in. derogation of his record as
governor OF this state, our enthusiasm is
wiped out by the discovery of the ac-
knoWledged and awful facts.
1--WE hence desire to have all our read
ers plainly understand, once for all, that
whatever has been said in the editorial
columns of The Independent favorable to
the election of Grover Cleveland was said
prior to the recent sickening disclosures in
regard to his private character, which
have justly shocked the moral sense of all
pure and high-minded people. The at
tempt now to force such candidate upon
the people would, in our opinion, disgrace
the party that nominated him, and the
whole nation, if he should be elected. We
will have no hand OF vote in helping on
this matter, let the consequences be what
they may, and we will not advise the
readers of The Independent to smother
their conscience and disgrace themselves
by engaging directly or indirectly in any
such movement. ta
I'VE are now in serious difficulty as a
nationin regard to the unchecked progress
of Mormonism and shall we now, in the
face OF threatening evils and perils, plunge I
into deeper gulf by any seeming indif-
ference as to the private character of one
who has been nominated to fill the highest |
office in the gift of the people? We say
No a thousand times No! Governor
Cleveland should positively decline to be a
candidate and withdraw Immediately /
from the canvass, or be compelled to do
SO, if necessary. The party which nomi-
mated him through it's chosen representa-
tives should then reconvene and select
new ticket that will command the hearty /
support 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 90 blindly
forward with the present ticket, would,
in our judgment, be an insult to the Ruler
OF Nations sure death to the Democratic |
party, including also its leaders, and an
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