The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-04

\ We notice that the VALLEY VIRGIN
MN, the ablest Republican paper in Vir-
ginia, has not published the vile and false
Islander set on foot by the INSCRIPTIONS
tools of the Republican party. to injure the
life and candidacy of Gov Cleveland. Mr..
Yost is bitter partizan and Republican.
but in this case. as in others, he has proven
that he values his own manhood, and the
character Of his paper too much to publish
what was not only untrue. but too filthy to
appear in paper that makes any claim to
decency.- Salem Register.
When we first saw the publication about
Mr.. Cleveland, as it appeared in the Buff
falo Telegraph and the Cincinnati Enquirer,
we took the precaution, before making al
fusion to it, to write to a gentleman in
Rochester.N. Y who is mo way connect
ed with politics, and whose political identi-
ty we really do not know but who is active
ly engaged in business. to learn something
Of the truth OF falsity of the statements.
The party addressed, we know, would state
answer came. 1t says 'sMr. Cleveland's
record in the vicinity Of his home. as
man of morals, Us recently made public. is
thoroughly consistent with his previous
local reputation. 1t proceeds to recite
that the story, as published by the Tele-
graph was known during the canvass for
Governor, but for reasons stated it was
not made public. Other events and oc-
currences in Mr. Cleyeland's life, years
subsequent to the Maria Halpin affair, and
Of ra1at "a N
the bad moral character of the man, and
forcing the conclusion that Mr.. Cleveland
is not q fit man for the American people
to select as the Chief Magistrate of this
great christian Nation. 1t is not too
harsh to say that, from the facts stated
he is both u libertine and a debauchee.
The scandal business is style of liter
allure we make it u rule To exclude from
our columns. Bnt when it is proposed to
make choice Of q President of the United
States, it lifts the case out of the ordinary
channels, and it becomes our duty to at
least weigh and consider authenticated
facts connected with the character of
the man designated by one of the
great parties of the country, for that
exalted position. No plea of bad prece
dents can justify this generation in
fixing q stigma upon our national charac
ter, whatever may have been the action of
generations before lis. And to say that a
mans private moral character has nothing
to do with his public relations, and that
regardless Of offensive and disgraceful
acts, the party mandate must be obeyed
rather than the moral instincts and chris
tian sentiment of the Nation, is an insult
to the virtue, the intelligence, the courage,
the manhood, the womahood of this
country.
We should never have called attention to
the charges preferred against Mr.. Cleye-
land, had we not first satisfied ourself from
private and perfectly reliable sources, that
they were substantially true. Not only
true: substantially, as stated, but the half
has never been given to the public, that
we have ever seen. We, however. do not
propose to burden our columns with what
might be called sensational allusions.-
What has been said is enough. If the
people are not prepared to form a cOnclu-
sion from what already has been given pub
licit y, no amount of evidence of a kindred
nature could enlighten them, or affect
their sense of duty. n
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