National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-28
A BAD PRIVATE RECORD.
Another Terrific Lrralgnment OF Grover Glove.
land-Iils Election Would be a National Dis
Eraco-.The Issne Clearly q MoraI One.


grsco-The Issue Clearly q Moral One.
Ne,O York Independent dug 2s.
There Is no doubt that supposed availability
was the sole reason that controlled tho demo
Gratis In passing by such men as Messrs. Bay
ard, Thurman, Randall and others OF like
stamp, and nominating Gov. Cleveland as
their candidate for president. It turns out
however, even before the active work Of the
canvass has fairly begun that, az TO n most
vital question Of personal morals, the private
character Of this socalled reform candidate
has been ono Of such rouenuess as Justly 70
destroy all claim In his behalf to the conf
dence and respect OF the American people.
Certain II Is that the independent republi-
cans, 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 has revealed him to be, and
which record by Gods lightning voice, has
been sent with fash to every village and
hamlet OF tho nation and thence TO the very
ends of the earth. These republicans cannot,
in view Of what they now know, give him their
support without the grossest Standardization
and indeed without justly exposing themselves
to the charge of gross and senseless hypocrisy.
The simple and plain truth IL that tho admit
ted oiltnso OF Mr.. Cleveland touches upon a
domain of fnmily and public morals so vitality
and so dangerously to tho public good "a
utterly to disqualify him for the Office Of pres
ident or any other office In the gilt OF tho
people. This is tho position the Independent,
after due confederation Of the facts and our
duty to God and man. took last week, and
means stcrnly to maintain. Any effort to evadc
this conclusion only makes the duty tho more
obvious.
II II be said that whit "a truo Of Mr.. Cleyo
| land Is no moro than has often been true Of
other public men, then we reply that it is high
time that all public men should be taught
that personal and private virtue is not an I'm
material question with tho people OF thi'
country. This lesson should be 10 emphasized
and proclaimed to the world that there viii
be no mistake now or hereafter as TO what l!
meant by 1t.
The immoralities OF mans private lifo are
matters which do concern the public, whcr
that public, with the knowledge OF these i'm
moralities, is asked to make him tho chic
magistrate Of great nation. A debauchee
known to be or to have been such, is not the
man TO be elevated to the ofIice Of president o
these United States. This one fact should bC
fatal to him. The people should not, and, al
We believe, will not, SO disgrace themselves
in the sight of God and man, and defy tho
1 imperative mandate of sound morals as e
bestow this honor on any such base proAigatc
What is our common Christianity worth, ant
what is our boosted civilization worth, II sucl
a black stain In tho character Of a candidate
for the presidency is, in the popular estimate
TO DO deemed O matter of no special conse
qucnce2 What strange spectacle such law
breaker, II elected, would present in the par
Tors OF the white house What an opportunity
1t would give to Mormon polygamists TO snee
and laugh ut tho efforts Of the general govern
mont to suppress the monstrous abomination
in the territory of Utah What dcmoraliz
ing lesson 1t would be to the young men of thu
countryi
Al any rate the Independent, will do oil in IL
power TO prevent the election of Gov. Clevo
land, not from passion or any personal ami
mostly TO the man, not because II Is a rcpubll
can paper and believes in the general prin
ciples of the republican party, and does no
and never did believe in those Of the demo
cratic party, but solely in the interests o
sound morals, especially those Of the family
Whoever else may BIO elected or defeated, lo
Gov. Cleveland, with the knowledge the pub
lie now have Of his private character, hav,
the mark Of Cain put upon him as the fittinl
end Of his public career. We call upon the re
ligious press of the nation, and also the Chris
tian pulpit to speak out in bold and emphatic
language against his election. Tho issue nov
, Is moral one, and that, too, of the graves
! character; and this is no time for any timic
halEhearted, or halfway utteranccs.
e