The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-24
CLEVELAND AND RELIGION.
Gratified by the Prayers of the Pious, S"t
Hatiu. Everything Like Hypocrisy.

DS lnS eEs oA lhS I iS>lS, A'>.>
Hating Everything Like Hypocrisy.
(Wustington Letter 10 PUSJt!y LaGder)
"a very large per cent. OF The peo-
pie throughout the country seem TO be
bent on evangelizing President C!eve-
land" observed one OF the Gaiet EX-
ecutive's most intimate t.leHtis to-day.
"Mr. Cleveland was telling NE the
other dav thar he sometimes thought
there was an impression in the minds
OF too mauv good folks that lie pre-
sent>d a rare opportunity Tor the mis-
sionaries. l asked him why lie thought
so and he laughing!y replied: 'Oh,
if the advice given me was coEceh-
tra,ej on Africa, it would clvlllze and
ChristianiZe that whole wlld ana
wicked and dark country. l had 10
laugh, for there was 50 much Serious
ness and vet dry bumor in it all.
Cleveland realizes, as he is reminded
so often and so forcibly, that in GER
tain way he sets an example 10 the
World, but it worries him a little, |
can see, to be tod by hundreds OF peo-
pic, sometimes in one week, that he
ought to let his light SO shine, etc. He
believes that these people mnst tllnk
he is very wicked, or else that he IS
the guardian of fifty million of people.
Speaking of this point he said to me:
"A President OF king or other high ana
national officer should recognize the
supreme power in every act committed,
Arman or woman should never get SC
exalted as to fail to Go this. Now, few
public men have as little opportunity
to disseminate personal views Is l
have. Ii I were ever SO anxious to
make people believe | was the embodi-
ment Of goodness it would be uphill
work to create that impression, for a
President cannot cry his wares from
the housetops If this advice about
being Christian and all that, coming
in every form and from every direc-
ton, is for my own guidance, very
well. IF it is to change the general
course OF my public career, it is i'll
given. One thing am bound shall
never be made-the charge that | was
8 hypocrite. | like Christians; they
are the salt of the earth. a hypocrlte,
to INV mind, is the bascst Of sinners.
ssThe President must be little an
moved BY these opportunities, is he
not ? asked. "Net in the least. On
the contrary, he is gratitied for the
interest shown in him, if it is respect
fully shown. He doesn't seem TO COM
prehend the fact that all Presidents
have had to withstand this ordeal
The letters he receives are not the only
evidence given him Of i desire that he
shall be moral man. You would be
surprised how many Christian people
breathe an audible prayer for him,
however, when they grasp his hand,
and it all has very perceptible effect
upon Mr.. Cleveland. for he said he
didn't think any man or woman with
sense and a heart could fail to be
affected By the prayers Of an earnest
people, when he or she knew they
were so constantly delivered. 1T IS
something like love in its physical
effect said. Mr.. Cleveland one day.
Now, If one is very earnestly and
sincerelF,leyed that affection is sure, If
kept up and demonstrated, to have its
way, unless the suitor is absolutely
offensive. The mere fact that so much
confidence, and affection is pcrsiStently
bestowed will touch heart of stone.
SO the intense interest shown by so
many in mans spiritual welfare must
.seYentu ally touch him, if he thinks.
And the man or woman who cannot
be reached by the prayers of nation
5 is astrange being indeed" SIN his
private life do You think the President
observes any standard of Christian
sYes, he does. In all my inter
course with him I do not remember to
have heard him say anything i'm
proper. He sometimes becomes very
much perplexed, but he doesn't swear
about it. .ar. Cleveland believes that
honor between man and man is the
foundation of Christianity; that unless
one tellsthe truth and pays his dues
7he can layrno claim to morality"