The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-25
The Creed of Cleveland.

"a very large per cent. of the people
throughout the country seem to be bent
on evangelizing President Cleveland "
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 rare op::
portunity for the missionaries. [ asked
him why he thought so and he laugh
ipgly replied: ooh, if the advice given
me was concentrated 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 certain way he
sets an example to the world, but it
worries him little, l can see, to be told
by hundreds of people, sometimes in
one week, that he ought to let his light
so shine; &c. He believes that these
people must think be 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 committed. A man
or woman should never get So exalted as
to fail to do this. Now, few men have
as little opportunity to disseminate per.
sonal views as l have. If / were ever so
anxious to make people believe I was the
embodiment of goodness it would be up.
hill work to create that impression, 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 I am
bound shall never be made-the charge
that I was a hypocrite. ] like Chris
tians; they are the salt of the earth. a
hypocrite to my mind, is the basest of
sinners"
'The President must be little annoy
ed by these opportunities, is he not?" l
asked, "Not in the least On the con-
trary, he is grati6ed 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
this ordeal. The letters he receives are
not the only evidence given him of
desire that he shall be moral man.
You would be surprised how many
Christian people breathe an audible
pra, er for him, however, when they
grasp his hand, and it all has very per-
ceptible 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 ear.
nest people, when he or she knew they
were 60 constantly delivered. 1T is
something 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
demonstrated, to have its way, unless
the suitor is absolutely offensive. The
mere fact that so much confidence and
affection is persistently bestowed will
touch heart of stone. So the intent in
terest shown by so many in o mans
spiritual welfare must eventually touch
him, if he thinks. And the man or
woman who cannot he reached by the
prayers of a nation is strange being in.
deed.'"
"In his private life do you think the
Presiden. observes any standard of Chris.
tianity ?" eyes, he does. In all my in
tercourse with him do not remember to
have heard him say anything improper.
He sometimes becomes very much per-
picked, but he doesn't swear about it.
Mr.. Cleveland believes that honor be-
tween man and man is the foundation of
Christianity that unless one tells the
truth and pays his dues he can lay no
claim TO morality."- Washington Letter
to the Pittsburg Leader.