Morris tribune., 1884-09-03
THE MORAL ISSUE.
The "Independent" on Political Nor
ality.

The "Independent" on Political MOT
ality.
There is no doubt that supposed
availability was the sole reason that
controlled the Democrats in passing by
such men as Messrs. Bayard, Thurman,
Randall, and others of like stamp, and
nominating Governor Cleveland as
their candidate for President. Their
theory was that he would run best and
be surest to carry the great State OF
New York, and especially that he
would bring to the party a large acces-
sion of Republican votes. This theory at
the time looked plausible. We are not
surprised that the Democrats adopted
it, and put forward Mr.. Cleveland as a
political reformer, hoping by the cry OF
reform to get possession or the GOVERN
ment.
It turns out, however, even before
the active work of the canvass has
fairly begun, that, as to most vital
question of personal morals, the private
character of this so-called reform cam
didate has been one of such rottenness
as Justly to destroy all claim In his be.
half to the confidence and respect OF
the American people. Whether the
members of the Democratic Conven-
tiOn were acquainted with the facts in
his private life when they nominated
him we do not know; but for their
sake we will assume that, if they had
known them. Mr.. Cleveland would not
have been the candidate of the Demo-
cratic party. To nominate such man
with this knowledge would imply
most astounding lack of common sense
and an equal lack of moral and poltlc-
al integrity.
DID NOT KNOW THE MAN.
Certain it is that the Independent
Republicans, who ignorantly Endorsed
Mr.. Cleveland and publicly declared
their purpose to support him, did
| not know the man as the record OF his
| private life revealed him to be, and
which record. by Gods lightning voice,
has been sent with a flash to every VII
! lage and hamlet of the Nation, and
| thence to the very ends of the earth:
These Republicans cannot, in view of
what they know, give him their support
without the grossest disqualification,
and. indeed, without justly exposing
themselves to the charge Of gross and
senseless hypocrisy. The simple and
plain truth is that the admitted ofense
Of Mr.. Cleveland touches upon a do
main of family and public morals so
vitality and so dangerously to the public
good as utterly to disqualify him for
| the office of President or any other Of
| flee in the gift of the people. This is
the position the Independent, after a
| due consideration of the facts and our
| duty to God and man, took last week
and means sternly to maintain. Any
effort to evade this conclusion only
| makes the duty the more obvious.
If it be said that what is true OF MI.
Cleveland is no more than has often
reply that it is high time that all pub
lie men should be taught that personal
and private virtue is not an immaterlal
question with the people of this coun-
| fry. This lesson should be so empha-
sized and proclaimed to the world that
| there will be no mistake now or here
! after as to what is meant by it.
| A MANS PRIVATE LIFE OF PUBLIC
| CONCERN.
The immoralities of a mans private
life are matters which do concern the
public, when that public, with the
knowledge of these immoralities
is asked to make him the Chief
Magistrate of great Nation, A
debauchee, known to be or to have
been such, is not the man to be elevat-
ed to the Office of President of the
United States. This one fact should
be fatal to him. The people. SHOULD
not. and, as we believe will not, so dis
grace themselves in the sight of Goo
and man, and defy the imperative man
date of sound morals, as to bestoW
this honor on any such base profigate
What is our common Christianity
worth, and what is our boosted civiliza
ton worth, if such black stain in thu
character of a candidate for the Presl
dency is, in the popular estimate, to bt
deemed a matter of no special conse.
quence? What a strange spectacle,
such law-breaker, if elected, would
present in the parlors of the White
House! What an opportunity it would
give to Mormon polygamists to sheer
and laugh there at the efforts of the
General Government to suppress the
mOnstrous denominations in the Terri
tory of Utahl What a demoralizing
lesson it would be to the young men of
the country! What a barrier to the
successful teaching of morality from
the pulpit, or political platform. or in
the halls of Congress! All decent
people, not to say Christian people,
| WOulu have W niue GnolT MEANS Win
profound sense of shame and disgust.
No! MOI! the majority of the voters of
this country will not and cannot ap-
prove of any such beastly and heathen-
ish standard of morality.
At any rate the Independent will do
all in its power to prevent the election
of Governor Cleveland, not from pas
sion or any personal animOsity to the
man, not because it is q Republican
paper and believes in the general prin-
ciples of the Republican party, and
does not and never did believe in those
of the Democratic party, but solely in
the interests of sound morals. especial
| ly those of the family. Whoever else
may be elected or defeated, let Govern
OF Cleveland, with the knowledge the
public now have of his private charac-
ter, have the mark of Cain put upon
him as the fitting end of his public
career. We call upon the religious
| press of the Nation and also the
Christian pulpit to speak out in bold
| and emphatic language against his
election. This issue now Is moral
one, and that, too, of the gravest
| character; and this is no time for any
| timid, half-hearted, or halfway utter
ances. When the religious press and
the pulpit shall cease to teach and
preach good morals, then both will be-
come alike unworthy of respect or sup
port.