Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-20
CLEVELAND AND RELIGION.
Gratified by the Prayers of the
Pi0us, But Hating Everything
Like Hypocrisy.

Washington Letter to Pittsburg Leader
ga very large per cent. of the people
throughout the country seem to be bent
on evangelizing President Cleveland, y
observed one of the Chief Executives
most intimate friends to-day. "Mr.
Cleveland was telling me the other day
that he sometimes thought there was an
impression in the minds of too many good
folks that he presented a rare opportunity
for the missionaries. / asked him why
he thought SO and he laughingly replied ::
ooh, if the advice given me was con-
centrated on Africa, it would civilize
and Christianize that whole wild and
wicked and dark country [ had
to laugh, for there was so much serious
ness and yet dry humor in it all. Cleve-
land realizes, as he is reminded so
often and so forcibly, that in a certain
way he sets an example to the world, but
it worries him little, / can see, to be
told by hundreds of people, sometimes in
one week, that he ought to let his light
shine, etc. He believes that these peo-
pie must think he is very wicked, or else
that he is the spiritual guardian of fifty
million of people. Speaking of this point
he said to me: "A President or King or
other high and national officer should
recognize the supreme power in every act.
A man or woman should never get so ex-
alted as to fail to dothis. Now, few public
men have as little opportunity to dissemi-
nate personal views as have. If were
ever SO anxious to make people believe I
was the embodiment of goodness, it
would be uphill work to create that i'm
preston, for President cannot cry his
wares from the housetops. If this advice
about being Christian and all that,
coming in every form and from every
direction, is for my own guidance, very
we'll. If it is to change the general course
OF my public career, it is i'll given. One
thing 1 am bound shall never be made
the the charge that was hypocrite. like il
Christians; they are the salt of the
earth. A hypocrite, to my mind. is the
basest of Sinners"
'The President must be little annoyed
by these opportunities, is he not?" 1
asked. ''Not in the least. On the con-
trary, he is gratifed for the interest shown
in him, if it is respectfully shown. He
doesn't seem to comprehend the fact
that all Presidents have had to withstand
the ordeal. The letters he receives are
not the only evidence given him of a de-
sire 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 |
ali has very perceptible effect upon Mr.
Cleveland, for he said he didn't think any
man or woman with sense and heart |
could fail to be affected by the prayers of
an earnest people, when he or she knew
they were so constantly delivered. Tt is
like love in its physical effect
said Mr.. Cleveland one day. Now, if
one is very earnestly and sincerely loved
that affection is sure, if kept up and dem
onstrated, to have its way, unless
the suitor is absolutely offensive. The
mere fact that so much confidence
and affection is persistently bestowed
will touch a heart of stone. So the in
tense interest shown by so many in
mans spiritual welfare must eventually
touch him, if he thinks. And the man
or woman who cannot be reached by the
prayers of a nation is strange being in
deed" "In his private life do you
think the President observes any standard
Of Christianity" eyes, he does.
In all my intercourse with him
do not remember to have heard him
say anything improper. He sometimes
becomes very much perplexed. but he
doesn't swear about it. Mr. Cleveland
believes that honor between man. and
man is the foundation of Christianity
hat unless one tells the truth and paws
lis dues he can lay no claim to morality"