Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-28

The Moral Issue.
There is no doubt that supposed
availability was the sole reason that con-
trolled the democrats in passing by such men
as Messrs. Bsysrd, Thurman, Randall and
others of like stamp. and nominating Gov
ernor Cleveland as their candidate for Pres
ident Their theory was that he would run
best, and be surest to carry the State of New
York, and especially, that he would bring to
the party a large accession of republican
votes. This theory at the time looked plaus-
ible. We are not surprised that the demo-
Gratis adopted IT, and put forward Mr.. Cleve-
land as political reformer hoping, by the
cry of reform, to get possession of the gov
ernment.
Ii turus out, however, that before the
active work of the canvass mas fairly begun,
that, as to the most vital question of personal
morals, the private character Of this So
called reform candidate has been one of such
rottenness as justly to destroy all claim in
his behalf to the confidence and respect of
the American people. Whether the men,
bers of the democratic convention 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 democratic
party. To nominate such man with this
knowledge, would imply most astonishing
lack of common sense and an equal lack of
moral and political integrity.
Certain it is that the independent republi-
cans, who ignorantly indOrsed MIR. Cleve-
land 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 a fash to every
village and hamlet of the nation, and thence
to the very ends of the earth. These repub-
licans 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 is that the admit
ted offense of Mr.. Cleveland touches upon
domain of family and public morals so vitality
and so dang erously to the public good as
utterly to disqualify him for the office of
President, or any other office in the gift of
the people This is the position The
INDEPENDENT, after due consideration of
the facts and bur duty to God and man, took
last week, and means sternly to maintain.
Any effort to evade this conclusion only
makes the duty more obvious.
If it be SAID that what is true of Mr..
| Cleveland is no more than has 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 immaterial question with the people of
this country. This lesson should be so
emphasized and proclaimed to the world
that there will be no mistake now or hereaft
er as to what is meant by it.
The immoralitips of mans private life
are matters which do concern the p bic,
when that public with the know ledge of
these immoralties is asked to make him the
! Chief Magistrate of a great nation. debau-
chez, known to he. or to have BEEN such, is
not the man to be elevated to the office of
| President of these United States This one
! fact should be fatal to him. The people
should not and. as we believe, will not so
| disgrace themselves, in the sight of God and
man, and defy the imperative mandate of
sound morals as to bestow this honor on anv
such base profigate. What is our common
! Christianity worth, and what is our boosted
civilization worth, if such black stain in the
character of candidate for the Presidency
is, in the popular estimate, to be deemed
matter of no special consequence? What
strange spectacle such law breaker if elect
ed. would present in the parlors of the White
House. What an opportunity it would give
to Mormon polygamists to sneer and laugh
there at the efforts of the General Govern
ment to suppress the monstrous denominations
in the Territory of Utah What a demoral-
izing lesson il would be to the young men of
the country! What a barrier to the success
full teaching of morality from the pulpit or
political platform or in the halls of Congress,
All decent people, not to say Christian peo-
pie, would have to hide their heads with
profound sense of shame and disgust No!
Mo-. the majority of the voters of this coun-
try will not and cannot approve of any such
beastlv and heathensh standard of morality.
At any rate the Independent will do all in
its power to prevent the election of Grover
Cleveland, not from passion or any personal
luminosity to the man, not because it is a
republican paper and believes in the general
principles of the republican p rty, and does
not and never did believe in those of the
democratic party but solely in the interests
of sound morals. especially those of the fam
lily. Whoever else may be elected or defeat
ed, let Grover Cleveland, with the knowledge
the public now have of his private character.
have the mark of Cain put upon him az 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.
The issue nov is a moral one, and that, too,
ofthe gravest character, and this is no time
for any timid, half-hearted or half way utter
ances. When the religious press and the
pulpit shall cease to teach and preach good
morals, then both will become alike UNIV orthy
of respect or support.