The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-09
LANSING APOLOGIES
BOSTON's PREACHER WAS HAST IN
CRITICIsIyG THE PRESIDENT.
He Withdraws the Statement that
Mr. Cleveland Was Drunk and Ex-
presses His Regrets.

BOSTON, April S.-Rev. Isaac J. Lansing,
pastor of the Park-street Church, in this
city, who. in an address before the New
England Methodist Conference. at Salem,
last week, accused President Cleveland of
intemperance, to-night declared himself as
follows on the subject:
My allusion made in a temperance sad-
dress, at Salem, on Thursday. April 4, to
the drinking habits of the President of the
United States We're based partly on COM
mon report and partly on the testimony of
an eyewitness. From various Independent
sources, which / believed to be wholly re-
dent had been seen on different occasions,
ana IN the presence of many persons, in an
stantiaI and detailed character of these
statements, / supposed there was no doubt
as to the facts alleged. 1, therefore,, made
port, basing my confidence on the testi-
mony of personal. and, as l supposed, cred
IDLE witnesses. The names of these wit
reveal, since; sharing their knowledge in
common with many others, they might
justly shrink from being singled out and
called to verify that which not only they,
but others equally with themselves, had a
my statement reproducing such testimony
IS not IN harmony with the facts l regret
having made it. 1 could have neither de-
sire nor motive for saying anything unkind
or uncharitable of the President or of any
party whatever.
The case being one of the conflict of
testimony between witnesses of equal credi-
bility, l cannot decide which, and since /
have no personal knowledge apart from the
testimony, 1 withdraw the temen and
tender apologize and sincere regrets to the
President of the United States and to the
public
what Depew and others Say.
NEW YORK, April S.-The World to-day
says Indignation of the intensest kind has
been exhibited along the Democratic side
of New York and other cities over the at
tack made on President Cleveland at the
New England Methodist Conference by the
Rev. I. j. Lansing, of Boston, charging the
President with drunkenness at a public din
ner in New York. The three dinners referred
to were those of the Chamber of Commerce,
given at Delmonico's on Nov. 10, 1892; a
Inner at the home of Henry Willard, two
days later. and that given by the Reform
Chauncey M. Depew said last night:
There is only one reply that can be made
IDLE and absurd. AT the Chamber of Com
merce dinner / sat near MIR. Cleveland. /
til he went away. l can say that he was
absolutely sober and in full of
his faculties. He conducted himself in the
way that the world at large would expect
from, the President of the Gnitel States"
Frederick X. Coudert said: The sugges-
ton or the assertion that President s,leve-
land was drunk is too contemplate for no
tice. | was present at the reform Cup
n next to OF the .na PRESIDENT ssaE a and n / say that he
from first to last conducted himself as a
gentleman and in a manner BETTING his
office"
E.. Ellery Anderson said: 81 was one of
the guests at the dinner given by Mr.. VII
lard. Incidentally, too, l presided at the
sions, as on every other one which l have
met President Cleveland during an ac-
quaintance of many years, he has con-
Quoted himself in a way, if possible. to in
crease the respect of his fellow-men. We
all felt proud of our President. he was al
WayS a gentleman"
\The Rev. w. H. Vibbert, of Trinity
Chapel, said: THE story is ridiculous and
worse than untrue. DR.. Lansing has been
misinformed. I was present at the Cham
Der of dinner, sat next TO
President Cleveland, talked to him, heard
his admirable address, and can say that he
was in the fullest command of himself from
could be told puzzles me. 1t is almost too
absurd for denial"