The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-01
HENRY WARD BEECHER

Hopes and Believes Cleveland VIII Be
Elected and Gives His Reasons.
Evidently instigated by psrtisans of Mr..
Blaine, youthful acquaintance of Henry
Wark Beecher has addressed to him letter
making the following inquiry:
'Can you advise young men to vote for
Grover Cleveland? If the greatest and most
eloquent of Christian ministers favor the
election of a conceded hbertine. pray tell me
what is to be expected from young men who
find that such acts are not to be visited with
reprobatlon from those to whom we have
looked for years for counsel in morals and
religion. 1t seems to me that no great Chris
tisn minister has ever so palpably held the
destinies of good morals and religion in his
hand as you do at this moment"
To this young inquirer, and through him
to his instigator, Mr.. Beecher has returned
the, following emphatic and convincing
reply;
PEkKsK11, n. Y, Sept 16, 1884.
Ny DEAR SIR-When you are older and
have had larger experience OF public affairs
and political ethics you will regard the letter
sent to me with far different eyes than you
do now.
Who told YOU and by what authority do
you state that Cleveland is libertine-a
notorious libertine? Do you regard SANDER
as part of morality? That story is SANDER.
Not particle of evidence has been adduced
to prove that Cleveland is now an immoral
man. That he fell in one instance, twelve
years ago, ne frankly admits. All the
stories of continued dissipation have been
searched and traced to the grogshop and the
brothel. Not a single witness has even pre-
tended that he knew anything personally,
and only hearsay evidence has been bruited
by men who ought to be ashamed to offer
their ears as sewers to dens of infamy and 10
suffer their tongues to commit adultery with
notorious lies.
AS regards the sin of Cleveland in the
Halpin case, when Invested of the exaggera-
tions, so far from being an encouragement
to sin, it will be 8 vivid example and warn
ing to ambitious young men to avoid evil
and to maintain social purity. Cleveland
has already suffered loss, modification and
damage for the commission of a grievous
sin, and to-day it stands in his path with q
rod of cbastisement and If he fails to gain
the highest place in this Government it Will
be by reason of that very transgression.
That he will be elected both hope and be-
lieve, but the chief danger to his ambition
to- day springs from that sin of twelve years
ago. Is there no warning in that? no voice
to young men?
If believed Cleveland to be libertine 1
woud drop him instantly. / do not believe
it. 1 regard him as greatly slandered man
for political purposes, and that abuse, instead
OJ oeterriDg me IrOm Supp9IJlnS nlins ap-
peals very strongly 70 my generosity and
chivalry. That be is a prudent man, hon.
estly and earnestly desiring to administer
every trust faithfully and loyalty, have no
doubt My message to every young man is,
beware OF his mistake of years ago and i'm
ltate his virtues of to-day.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
During the Plymouth Church service Sun
day evening, TO an inquiry concerning the
authenticity of this letter, Mr.. Beecher re-
piled emphatically: Yes. sir, 1 wrote it. and
stand by every word of it,"