Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-08
RURNED.
The Press OF Colonel Breckenridge.

The situation in the Ashland District,
unfortunate as 1t is unprecedented, makes
II imperative that every journal which
has the good OF The party at heart, which
cherishes the honor Of its state. and
which appreciates it's obligations to socie-
~, shall protest with all its power against
the reelection Of Colonel W. G. T.. Breck-
inridge. We do not miderrate what he
has done for his party and the cause
OF tariff reform in the past. But even
IL his ability for future usefulness were
not destroyed by the miserable scandal
which has darkened his name, the party
could not afford TO accept his services
at the price ii would be forced to pay
1t H. idle to attempt to obscure the
issue with sophistical distinction between
Colonel Breckinridge's public and private
life. The case has gone far beyond
the possibility OF that. The question sim
ply is do the people OF Kentucky pro-
pose to send as a representative to Con-
gress the man whom Colonel Breckenridge
confessed himself to be in his testimony
before a Washington jury? II is a ques-
ton which transcends the limits of the
Ashland District. and Of Kentucky itself.
II Is a question in which the people OF
the entire nation are deeply interested.
Tha part OF his speech yesterday de-
voted to the scandal in which he has
figured were better passed over in pity.
1t Is a strange exhibition Of marvellous
effrontery, wretched taste, and mentally
and morally oblique casuistry.
Charlotte IN. c. Observer
We are surprised TO read that when
Colonel W. C.. +. Breckenridge arrived
at his home, Lexington. Ky, Friday, he
was received by a crowd OF 500 citizens.
who gave not only three cheers for him,
but three times three. The incident Illus
rates the different processes OF thought
or shall we say the different moral stand
ard?-in different sections OF the country.
Mr.. Breckinridge Is self-condenned. on
the witness-stand, under oath, he con-
fessed his falling away. That might be
pardoned--as good men as he have fallen.
but they have had to bear the penalty.
No man in this country yet has Haunted
his shame in the face OF the people. anc,
without apology for ii, asked vindication.
That is wha, he is doing. 1t is to the
eternal shame Of Kentucky that 800 peo-
pie can be found to welcome him upon
his return home. m 1t will be an indy,
ing scandal to his people If he is returned
to Congress. as, indeed, there seems
some danger that he may be. The de-
cency OF the nation rebels against this
manifestation at Lexington. 1t IL a conf
HlOu SudIItr Oi tNRa
voters are called to blush.
(New York World)
The conditions under which Colonel
Breckinridge will conduct his campaign
for denomination In the Ashland District
are already pretty clearly defined. The
Federal ofRce-holders who owe their APP
pointment to him.. the politicians VINO
have constituted the Breckenridge me-
chine in the district, and the political
"boy,' are for him. That the moral
forces of the district are arrayed against
him Is shown by the protest adopted the
other day by the local Ministers Union
and by the petition which the women
OF the district are circulating against him.
Colonel Breckenridge Is a~ggravating his
original w~rong-doing by forcing such a
contest. If he should win II would be
dIsgraceful to the district and Its people.
His own disgrace would be accumulated
bv the rebuke which he has invited and
should receive. IL he Is ~renoninated by
the Democratic Convention IL Is to be
hoped that some clean and reputable
man will be put up against him as an
Independent candidate. and that he will
be overwhelmingly beaten at the polls.
CNew York SUM-
Colonel Breckinridge sounded at Lexing-
ton the keynote Of his campaign for re-
nomination to Congress. He Is running
on the penitent-sinner issue. There Is as
much humbug and hypocrisy In this plea
for votes as there has been In Breckin-
ridges past life. 1t is not as a penitent
sinner that this man stands before his
constituents. but as a detected sinner.
There IL a great difference between the
two kinds Of sinners.
MADE A SENSATION.
A dispatch from Lexington on Sunday
night says tha the editorial article In
this mornings Courier-Journal calling for
q retirement Of Colonel Breckenridge
made a sensation among the politicians
there. and Colonel Breckenridge declined
to make any statement regarding II. He
will answer 1t at Paris. As this In the
first time the Courier-Journal has ever
interfered In q party fight 1t II expected
to rave great weight.
The Rev. II. c. Morrison, State confer
ence evangelist for the Methodist Eptsco-
pal Church. South, tonight declared that
church people ought to see to IL tina
Breckenridge Is defeated. Two Baptist
clergymen and n Presbyterian minister
referred to the matter in their sermons,
and said that his repentance should be
accepted.
Before III Church-Cosfsssss and Asks to
Ne yofgivsn.
A Dispatch from Lexington says: AZ the
solicitation Of . prominent Presbyterian
gentleman. Colonel Bssckinrtdge to-day
confessed his sins before the oficen and
pastor Of Mt. Horsb Presbyterian church,
Of this county. which WI founded BY his
father, Robert J. Brsckinridgs.
He kept hack nothing from the repre-
s~entatlvss Of the church. and asked their
forgiveness 81 his sins. The soflcsrs will
! consider The matter Tor soue time befens
' any action will be taken. It had been