The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-28
Religious Press Cannot Support
Cleveland.

The Ncw York correspondent OF the
Baltimore american, dated August q,
gives a list of Religious papers which at
first came out for Cleveland, but have re-
Gently withdrawn their support, and de-
mand that his name be taken down. 1t is
a significant indication of the drift of the
moral sentiment of the country:
This weeks comments of the religious
press of the country on the candidacy of
cleveland have chilled the Democratic
campaign managers, and the less sanguine
among them appear to take the view of the
New York Sun, that the defeat OF the De-
mocracy has been already decided. Even
the more enthusiastic Democrats have
been terror-stricken at the continued Ill
luck of their canvass. When the cam
naign started the Democratic Committee
expected the aid of large portion of the
religious press to make up for the detection
of the workingmen and other elements
estranged by the nomination OF Cleveland,
but the developments of the week now
show that it would have been far better
for the Democratic nominee had his nomi-
nation been received with less enthusiasm
bv those who now feel compelled to re-
pudiate him. Following the Independent,
whose article was published in to-day's
american, other religious papers who have
espoused his cause repudiate him this
week. Thus, the Congrggdta0ndtast, the
leading Congregationalist paper OF New
England. says: I'VE should be more than
glad # we could see our way to believe the
refutations, but we are constantly receiv-
ing new evidence on the matter, and the
better opportunities our informantS seem
to have had of knowing the actual facts,
the more emphatic is their testimony
against Governor Cleveland" and that
1.-THE party which nominated Governor
Cleveland should demand that he withdraw
from the ticket which his name now leads. !"
The Chicago Adva1lce said some time ago !:
ssThe intimation in some quarters that
citizens have nothing to do with the pri-
vate character of nominee for the pres
idency is u disgraceful intimatlon. We
should sincerely rejoice II Mr.. Cleveland
could clear his record. 1t is high time to
| do it. Every citizen who respects himself
will join the demand that he shall either
do it promptly and thoroughly or with
draw from the canvass"
The Christian. Union says s'Neither Mr..
Cleveland's reputation nor the cause which
he represents is helped by the defences
which have been attempted in certain
\ quarters. If the charges against Gov
ernor Cleveland are true, his friends should
counsel him to take himself off from the
ticket and if they do not the lovers OF
domestic purity should sweep him off. :"
The St. MGly's Institute Journal, a Catholic
newspaper of Amsterdam, New York, in
a lengthy editorial concludes as follows
1.-The only chance of success for the De
mocracy in the coming election lies in the
withdrawal OF Cleveland and the substitu-
l. ~ .,.l.p npO6
clean hands. The Democratic party is
rich in great men who would honor the
presidential office, and who would be we'll
nigh certain OF election The Zion s
Herald, a well known Methodist organ,
speaks in the same strain, and the Morn
ing Star, a Free Baptist newspaper OF New
Hampshire. speaks in language more en-
phatic than polite. The Catholic Unirerse,
Bishop Spalding's newspaper. whose arti-
ticle is republished in a New York paper.
as are also extracts from the other papers
named. says: THE imperative conditions
must be understood and contaminated :
Cleveland withdrawal from the ticket, OF
his vindication before the country. That
a candidates personal character is not to
be questioned, if not the argument OF q
mercenary OF of blind partisan, can only
mean that moral character is not to be
weighed in trusting and honoring public
official. TO such as have degenerated into
that contention we have no reply to make !;
no party could discipline us into such Il
tenet. What an insult to a party that
contains the pure and statesmanly Sey--
mours, Humans and Bayards exalted
in private as In public life"
The above quotations are the mildest
PORTIONS of these editorials, all the personal
references to the Democratic candidate
being omitted. Their republication here
has had a damaging effect. 1t has left
dependency where there was hope and
hopelessness where there was enthusiasm.