The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-15
THE sANnTITY on HONE.

1
has felt obliged to attempt diversion by as
sailing the character Of the Republican nomi-
nee. This was to be expected; for while the
Republican party was in nowise responsible
about Mr.. Cleveland, and which have not yet
been unqualifedly denied, it was but natural
that the wrath Of his discounted friends must
find vent in taking revenge upon his honora-
| BILE opponent. Actuated by this fell spirit the
Daily Sentinel Of this city gave publication to
| one Of the foulest most scurrilous libels that
could possibly be charged against any man, q
libel, too, the falsity Of which had been thor
oughly exposed by the abject confession Of its
author 1t is altogether probable that Mr..
Blaine would have passed over this attack
upon his personal honor as be has the almost
numberless others that have come up against
him as the inevitable consequence Of his
prominence and aggressiveness, had not
! the writer seen fit to invade the sanctity of
Mr. Blaine's home and to attempt to put the
brand of shame upon his wife, the mother of
his children. In the righteous wrath that
then aroused him, firing his indignation as
nothing else could, he promptly undertook
the only lawful means open to him, and insti-
tuted suit for libel against the shameless
invader Of his freside.
In the name Of decency; in the sacred name
of wifehood and motherhood, shall human
vultures be permitted to go on battening on
political capital made only at the expense of
woman's virtueY The same paper that gave
utterance to this most infamous story apollo
gized for Cleveland and CLOSED over his
offense by assailing the reputation Of the
unhappy woman involved, as if that altered
the character Of his guilt In the brutal
warfare now waged to sustain the Democratic
campaign, the good name Of woman, wife and
mother is being ruthlessly trampled on. The
ire of Mr.. Blaine, as he contemplates
the dastardly assault made upon those
who look to him for succor and
defense, may be imagined by any
man who loves his wife, his children and his
home. What to him are honors Of state
what the dignity Of the presidency, or the
wealth Of the world, if the name of her who
has been so noble, so patient, so helpful, so
loving, is to be trailed in the mire by any
adventurer who chooses to lay sacrilegious
hands upon it, The cause of this bold and
brilliant man, fighting for his home and the
honor Of his wife, is the cause Of every hus
band and father in the land. If the home of
James G. Blaine can be rayished and de-
spoiled, there is no household safe, no freside
secure; a premium is put on rufianisrn, and
the wifely honor Of every woman in the land
is placed at the disposal Of those who hold
womanly chastity IN contempt
It is no sufficient apology to say that this
attack has been invited blythe stories made
public against Mr.. Cleveland. There is no
parallel between him and Mrs. Blaine. The
infamy of invading her household and rudely
dragging her forth will bring its own punish
ment in drawing down upon the perpetrator
the contempt of every honorable man and the
condemnation of decent people everywhere.
The question thus raised is not one Of politics
nor Of any relevancy whatever to the issues
Of the campaign. It is simply the unlicensed
brutality of partisans gone mad Of having no
honorable recourse. In meeting this savage
invasion Mr. Blaine turns from his duties as a
candidate to his obligations as a husband and
father, for as a man must it affect him; and
in the defense of all that are near and dear to
him he will have the sympathy Of every fair
minded man, Of whatever partisan bias.
The poor satisfaction that he can get out Of a
libel suit would be too pitiful to consider, were
not the beating off Of human hyenas in
1 volved The man who rouses in the night to
repel the ravisher Of daughter or wife gains
little, even though he slay him; but striking
him down, as one would a dog, he knows that
the wretch is incapacitated for doing like
harm to others The Democratic party will
yet discover that the unfortunate nomination
Of a candidate whose private life invites the
criticism Of people not partisans, is no ex-
cuse for wanton attack upon the virtue of
women and the good name Of an honorable
wife and mother. james G. Blaine is man
husband and father--the same as millions
of honored and honorable citizens all over the
land. His wife and children are as dear to
him as are those Of many man who has done
murder in defonse Of his own. That he
should forget ambition and the tempting
honors 50 near upon him, to rush to the help
Of those who need his help is
but q new tribute to his man