Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-08
ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN
Men Of National Repute Come TO Pres
ident Clcvcland's Defense.
DR.. Lansing's Statements Do
clared to Be Untrue.
rhs President Himself Gives His Oplaion Of
! tho Offending Clergyman.

NEW YORK., April S.-Tho World says
today: Indignation of tho intensest kind
has been excited among Democrats in
New York and other cities over the attack
made upon President Cleveland at tho
New England Methodist conference by
Rev. l. j. Lansing OF Bosom. charging
the president with drunkenness at pub.
lie dinner In New York.
Many OF the loading Democrats and Rc-
publicans who attended the threc DIM
pcrs at which Mr.. Cleveland was present,
between tho time OF the election In No
vember, 1902, and the inaugurations In
March, 1893. yesterday denounced the
story rs n lie, and In set terms expressed
their opinion of:the American citizen who,
without the shadow Of proof, OH simple
hearsay statement, would malign the
character Of the President'of the United
States.
The thrce dinners referred TO were those
OF the Chamber OF Commerce, given ut
Delmonico's on Nov. II, 1892; a:dinner at
the homo OF Henry Willard two days lator,
and that given by tho Reform club on
Dec. 10. 1892.
Chaunccy NJ. Dopcw said last night:
'"Thcre is only ono reply that Gan be made
to such story-it Is absolutely Contempt
ible and absurd. At the Chamber OF Com
merce dinner sat near Mr. Cleveland.
saw him from the time he came In until
he went away. / can say that he was alb
solutely sober ond In full command OF his
faculties. He conducted himself In the
way that tho
World st Largo Would Expect
from the President OF the United States"
h. Ellery Anderson said: II was one of
the guests Mt the dinner given by Mr..
Willard in honor Of Psosident Cleveland.
Incidentally, too, presided at the Reform
club dinner. On both these occasions, as
on every other on which have met Presi-
dent Cleveland during an acquaintance of
many years, he has conducted himself In
way, IL possible, to increase the admira.
ton and respect OF his fellow-men. We
all felt proud OF our president. He was,
as always, a gentleman"
Frederick X Coudcrt, who was one OF
the leading men men ut the Reform club
dinner Of 1892, had this to say on the sub
ject: "The suggestion or the assertion
that President Cleveland was drunk Is too
contemptible for notice. ! was present mt
the Reform Club dinner OF that year l
sat next or almoGs next to the president
and say that he, ,sfrom first to last, con.
Quoted himself as a gentleman and In a
manner befltting his office. 10 say that
he was the worse for drink Is to utter q
falsehood 1t seems almost incredible to
meet any man, Republican or Democrat,
claiming to be an Americsn, with the
credit of his country at heart, who would
so readily cast an unjust aspersion on the
character of the president. A possible ex-
planation of the story Is that DIR. Lam
ai m IL "A
saw all things as though through glass
darkly."
Rev. DR.. w. III. Vibbert of Trinity
chapel, said: "The story is ridiculous,
and worse, untrue. DR.. Lansing has been
misinformed. l was present Mt the
Chamber of Commerce dinner, sat next to
President Cleveland, talked with him,
heard his admirable address, and can say
that he was in the fullest command of
himself from first to last. How on earth
such story could be told puzzles me. 1t
is almost too absurd for denial"
President CIeveland's Indignation.
WASHINGTON, April g. 8-When the re-
port of speech made in Methodist con-
ference by Rev. DIR. Lansing, and his sub
sequent published interview. accusing the
president Of intemperance, was shown to
Mr. OleVcluuu iuSU cVcnluS, u0 SalQ Wlt0
considerable warmth:
'"rhis is simply an outrage, though IL Is
not the first time thing of this kind has
been attempted. cannot avoid feeling
of indignation that any man who makes
claim to decency, and especially one who
assumes the role Of Christian minister,
should permit himself to become dis.
seminator OF wholesale lies and cslumnies
not less stupid than they are cruel and
wicked
'I easily recall other occasions when
those more or less entitled to be called
ministers of the gospel have been instru.
mental in putting into circulation the
most scandalous falsehoods concerning
my conduct and character. The elements
or factors of tto most approved outfit foI
placing a false and barefaced accusation
before the public appeared to be first,
some ono with baseness and motive sufIi
Client to invent it; second, a minister with
more gullibility and love OF notoriety than
piety, greedily willing to listen to 1t and
gobble it; and third, q newspaper anx.
iously willing to publish IL.
"For the sake Of the Christia n religion,
/ am thankful that these scandal monger-
ing ministers are few. and OH every ac-
count am glad that the American people
love fair play and justice, and that In
spite of all effort TO mislead them, they
are apt to form correct estimate of the
character and labors OF their public sery-
ants"
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