The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-20
AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE.
C@,veland Absolutely Unfit To Be President
of the United States.

o. veland Absolutely Unfit To Be President
of the United States.
New York independent.
1t is difficult 10 think of a more grotesque and,
in some respects, revolving spectacle than thatnow
presented to the American people by the candi-
dacy of MI. Cleveland. What adds to its singu-
larity is the fact that those who figure conspicu-
ously in the scene do not seem to appreciate
either its real eharater or their own position, or,
IL they do, evince a power of concealment as rare
and marvellous as the scene itself.
Grover Cleveland. who, less than four years
ago, was merely a common place lawyer in Buff
falo, about forty-three years of age, suddenly
jumped into the mayorality of that city, ard
then, by another jump, mounted to the chief
magistracy of this State; and when his guberna-
tcrial term is about half completed we find him
before the people as the Democratic candidate
for President Of the United States. Such Acorn
bination of circumstances was never before seen
in the history Of a small man. If
the age of miracles has passed, that of
political accidents has not. Four years ago no
one saw anything in the anteeedent record of
Mr.. Cleveland fitting him for the presidency, or
giving the renotest hint that any party would Sc
lect him as a candidate for this high Office. He
happened to become the mayor Of Buffalo, then
he happened, under the peculiar circumstances,
to be nominated and elected as the Governor of
this State, and then, when the Democratic party
wanted a candidate for President, he happened
to be the man who, as the nominating cOnVen-
ton thought would be most certain to carry the
State of New York, especially in view of the
objections of many Republicans to the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Blaine. These streaks of sheer good
luck, and not the abilities of the candidate, and
.1k owx4bipo ~ HE H1h1so raonr1 axpla1n xuI-r
the Bayards, the ThuFmans. and the Randalls of
the Democratic party are invited to play second
fiddle to a man In all respects immensely their
inferior.
The grand rallying cry with which the people
were to be carried by storm and Mr.. Cleveland
was to be shouted into the presidency We have
in the two words. purity and reform. These
words were to do the business. Personal purity
was to take the lead, as the guarantee of reform.
MIR. Cleveland was to be paraded before the peo-
pie as the very paragon of the idea. and, through
him, and especially through his clean and Hnsul-
lied purity, the Democratic party, so often re
iected by the people, was, at last, to win the
long coveted prize. The conscience of the peo-
pie would be satisfied with the purity Of the
candidate; the independent Republicans would
come to his help, and Christian voters could, for
once at least vote as they pray, and pray as they
vote. The campaign would be mainly one of
personal character, and, for the purpose of such
q contest, Mr.. Cleveland's stainless record left
nothing TO be desired.
Alas! alaSi IOf Rundn CALCULATIONS ana nOpe5l
The campaign had not fairly opened when it be-
came known TO the general public that this pure
man, whose persoualc character was to be the
charm of his candidacy and the pledge of his
success, was himself soiled with a gross and dis
gushing immortality, uniting him to be Presi-
dent or to fill any other office in the gift Of the
people. The facts were not and are not denied eth
or by himself or his friends; and there is no evil
dence before the people that the admitted facts
arc not specimen facts in the private history of
this man. Such facts do not usually go alone.
They live in. serial groups, and have a way of
repeating themselves The strong presumption
from one group is, that there are other undis-
covered groups 0 fthe same kind
The independents the moment the disguise
was thrown off and the real character OF Me.
Cleveland was,disclosed, took the position which
it maintains to-day. and will maintain to the
end of the Canvass. That position is that the
facts, as known and admitted on all hands, ut,
teriv and absolutely unfit Mr.. Cleveland to be a
candidate for the presidency of this greatNatioh
Common deceDcy, to say nothing about Chris
tiaHity. demanded that. his name should at once
have been withdrawn, and some one put IN his
nGsee whose candidacy would not be an insult to
tae people; and whose election would not be a
disgrace to the country. We should depIore
more than we can express, his political success
We call upon the ministry of the land 10 teach
1heir people that partisanShip cannot o0llterate
the seventh commandment from the law OF
God; that the family, environed by the sacred
rloralities which alike define its function
and guard its purity and honor, Is
She unit of the state and sheet
0ncAor OF the social system, and that