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The Writings of Carl Schurz/To Henry Ward Beecher, July 30th, 1884

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TO HENRY WARD BEECHER

New York, July 30, 1884. 

Since I wrote you yesterday I have once more gone over the whole ground, reexamining carefully the stories told ​by the Buffalo Telegraph as well as the statements Mr. Richmond made to me; and the more I study the case, the more do I become convinced that Governor Cleveland is a much calumniated man. The stories as told bear all the signs of artful inventions either by a political trickster or by a journalistic sensation monger who persuaded himself that the fourteen-year-old offense, which forms the substratum of them, would deter Governor Cleveland and his friends from ever attempting to challenge the fabric of falsehood built upon it. I think you will find it so upon further investigation. Meanwhile it looks to me as if the Buffalo ministers were permitting themselves to be used for ends which they would not approve, and in a manner which they would ultimately be sorry for. I have written Mr. Richmond to acquaint them with the facts so that they may know the whole truth. But as Mr. Richmond has probably stopped at Albany on his way to Buffalo, my letter may not reach him for a day or two.

As to my meeting and speech, I have concluded to let the preparations go on. The affair is to come off on Tuesday of next week and has already been advertised. Before that day I shall have further advices from Buffalo. If they show that my view of the case is wrong, it will be time enough to draw back. But I do not think it would be justifiable to order off a meeting already advertised and to create confusion and doubt by such a demonstration of distrust, as things now stand. I suppose you would not advise the rejection of Cleveland, that is, virtually, the giving up of the campaign as to practical results, if nothing could be charged against Cleveland except what is admitted—this having been followed by an eminently useful life. At least Mr. Metcalf told me that you had said you would not.

I assure you, I do not take this matter lightly and ​should be glad to have your view of the case as it presents [itself] to you on fuller information.[1]

  1. ↑ In a short time Beecher came to agree with Schurz and likewise made campaign speeches in behalf of Cleveland.
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