Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-09
Cnlnnel RreckinrIlge'. Candidacy.

Uenry Wat'ers1n's second sitorial IN
the -Journal-May 7th)
The time has come when no risht-n'ind-
81 Kentucklan can afford by silence
% even Indirectly countensnce the
candidacy Of Colonel ". {. p.
sreeklnrldre for reelection 70 Con-
gress. Recognition OF his past public
services. admiration Of his clJp1ence. per
sonai sympathy. and friendship must give
way 70 tnat sense Of PATRIOTS olty. END
% social and moral Obligation which
should dominate every true citizr1-
The Courier-Journal In retaining until
yesterday from expressing condemnation
II Colonel Brecnnridge's course has
stretched courtesy ami charity 10 the Ut
most When the ugly charges were
brought against him nearly year ego
We announced our purpose 10 await his
side OF the case. During the long trial
We Withheld all editorial opiDi1n. leaving
70 the court and jury the investigation
and the Judgment Even upon the an
nouncement Of the verdict We abs'aIned
from saying anything which could add
ridges wrong-3oing had brought upon
him. We had no disposition to pass jUdg-
rnent upon him. We were more than
willing to close sorrowf'illy "A most i1el5n.
choly chsp,er OF a bright career, and 10
leave 20 his own conscience the Jun'Fh-
meat OF his error and 20 his 'wn gocd
Sense the redemption 81 7Is Futpre. Ne
were ready 70 concede the fralkne-s Of
hts confession and the genuinencss n T.
peni'ence, and concecinf theFe We have
forbOrnc from saying one wor,: witch
could wound him In HIS niisf9r,ine. We
have carefully guarded cur colusrns
against the fiprnn' 1uips. Tho malicious
jeera the impure license which have dis.
credited - rnanY Journals. -ona1in1 cur
selves 70 report Of he facts brOught
out IN the trial and assuming that ,ho4e
would not only point their own moral
but would leave in the mind Il The 1lsfn
guishe1 defendant NJ dout, az 10 the
proper course for him 70 pursue rs re-
ari7 h's rrti'c relations
Colonel PrrcN'1r'fee however. refuses
u &C. The sir1iiicarce 81 the facts which
were disclosed 10 the world during that
trial Apparently Nc fails 10 understand
the character OF his own tcgiirnony-ani
there IS no need 20 go beyond his own
v"lk attempting to prove tho sincerity
OF his reDitnnrc and his ultimate WORTH
ncss for further public honors In the flu
ture. he declines TO recognize the business
Of public verdict compelled by his own
evidence. md aupeols 10 the electors Of
his congressional district for reversion
In other words. confessing his error and
procaiming his penltcncc therefor. he
proposes himself to ST in righteous judg-
ment uDoa those who do not accept his
confession and penitence as full and in
Simultaneous absolution and immediate re-
storatiOn 20 all his rights Of public con-
donce and honor. According TO his phi
losophy. all that IS necessary for complete
e1culpation TO any transgressor is cop-
fession. and the voters who do not there
upon consider him as In every way worthy
20 represent them must themselves he
put upon tho defence and their motives
ARA gned and condemned. He has placed
himself in the attitude Of demanding an
Enforcement by the people upon the plea
that his admission OF guilt ayes him
guiltiess: that his sins are no worse than
the sins OF those to whom he appeals;
that he should not be made a vicarious
Eacrifce OF mankind: that those VINO do
not accept these views are his enemies.
upon whom he hurls his contempt and
defiance.
He appears 10 realize so little the re-
pelient incongruOusness Of such a course
as TO give his real enemies ground for
doubling the sincerity Of his reforma-
ton and for suspecting that throughout
all this wretched affair he has followed
carefully designed plan for theatrical
effect His capdiiacy. under the circum-
stances. is nof only a most inconsiderate
imposition upon his friends. but the plea
ON which II Is made is an affrQnt TO every
upright voter in the district. II should.
and we doubt not WILL be rejected. for
the honor OF old Ashland. for the good
name Of Kentucky. and for the yindica-
tion OF that true manhood and woman
hood upon which the existence and pre-