New-York tribune., 1890-07-17
MR. BRECKINRIDGE PTLLORTED.

II is no wonder that Mr.. Clifton k. Breckln-
ridge wanted " time to prepare MS repiy I"
the mastery speech in which the ex-Chlef-Jus-
tice Of Arkansas held him up to public lndlg-
nation. But Mr.. Breckenridge wants other
things more than time He is in especial need
of facts and of a clear conscience. The posi-
tion in which he is placed is most deplorable.
He is y man of genuine ability. lie has madc
himself felt and but for the tant or 1rand ana
the stain of blood which rest 50 darKIE upon HIS
title 70 the seat he holds he would nave Decil
distinctly a leader, and an honored leauer' u
his party. 1t is pitifu, and Shanelul loo' !"
500 q man of his mental strength the apoloeH'
Of fraud and the beneficiary of murder lie Is
. cIorinc witness of the moral blight which the
noliticol methods of the Southern Democracy
cast unon its public men. 1t Is blight that
cannot be escaped or thrown OH. III comes
with every Democratic nomination III the oou'n'
Il is accepted by every man who consents 10
carry the standard of the Bourbon party. II
no chorishes ambition, he must nurse dlShonOr'
The controlling element of every Bourbon con-
stituencv is a mob of negro-haters. 1t has DW
one nrincjplc-the suppression of the negro
vote. lis tools are fraud, outrage and aSSaS-
sina1on and the man who essays a poh''cd'
career through its support as he proh'S ny
these horrid devices must hold himself reauH
10 become their champion.
Mr.. Brcclinrdge having obtained the re-
wards of this McphiStOphelian bargain Is no"
chewing its incXorabe requirement. lie mas
richly earned the dcnunCatlonS with when ne
was overwhelmed on Tuesday Judge Mcclure
smoke with intense feeling, for he himself mas
had many warnings of the fate that met Gay
ton. but he spoke Justly too. The crimes D!
which Mr.. Breckenridge became adorned WIN
"the stolen mantle of the dead are possible III
any district in the Black Belt where Repub-
licans attempt to show the courage OF their
convictions. In the debates which have Just
taken Mace upon the Federal Elections blli
we have been constantly assured by Democrats
that the South is in a peaceful CONDITION. l"d'
whites and blacks are living side by Slde q'hci-
w. Where is that the case? No one VINO
knows the present condition of the south can
truthfuly deny that it is the case Only Where
the coored people have been a~ed ny force ana
robbed by fraud into patient submission 1T
is the case only where they have gwen mp the
struggle. But upon their slightest manlieSta-
tion of purpose TO exercise the rights 50
dearly bought and 50 Solcmnly guaranteed 10
them. ali the horrors Of the ku-kiuX and mte
Ieaoue era arc renewed. Not infrcqucnty do
we hear a frank Acknowledgement OF this tact
from Bourbon COngrcSSmcn On'Y the o'her
dav one of them significantly said We white
men must rule in the South or we must emf
crate and. bv heaven. we will not emlgr;ue
This means. if it means anything, that they
will do lust what the part>an> OF Brcckn1dGe
have donc-steal ballot-boXcS and murder re
publican leaders
We shall presently SEQ. when the vote Is
taken upon the motion to unScat Mr.. BreckIn-
ridge. how far this policy Is approved by the
Democracy as it is represented III Congress.
II would be agreeable 10 know that there are
democratic members of Congress who do not
ouurove political crimes as the agent OF po-
Gtjcal purposes. and who decline 10 acllnowl-
edge such a course as the test OF party faith
or party fcalty Among the representatives. OF
an organization which counts It's adhcIcntS III
millions there surely should be a few who can
afford 10 take an honorable stand. and TO de-
clare with the Democratic Circuit Judge III
Arkansas that assassination Is the result OF
the uolitical methods which have been en-
,lovnd in this country to carry the last clcc-
.on" and that .. the mcancSt OF men Is The
,rofcssiona politician who advocates or IN
lor.es such methods" We sadly fear that this
.cnocratic definition Of the meancSt OF men
,yjU have a numerous application when the rol
i called in the case of Mr.. Brccklnrdge.