The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-05-19
a TIMELY QUESTION.


San, discu sing ii gu -iliol Of the
present standard Of qualification OF
members of the U. S. Senate, very
pertinently quotes the language Of
John Jay, atterward Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court, used by HIM in
a paper Contributed TO the Ef6eyaIsf
in 1888.
Mr.. Jay wrote:
AS the select assemblies for choosing the
president as well as the state legislatures who
appoint the Senators. will. in general, be com
posed OF the most enlightened and respectable
citizens there is reason to presume that their
attention and there votes will be directed to
those mon only tcho hare become the most dtStIR-
qrshed by their abilities and rirtue, and IN trhoni
| the people perceive Just grounds tor confidence
While this high standard OF per,
sonal and moral qualification OF Sen
ators was contemplated by the fran
ers Of our Constitution and the
fathers OF our government, 1t IS tar
to presume that an equally hieh
standard was contemplated by them
in those chosen by the people to
| represent them in the lower House
OF Congress.
Indeed it would be difficult to
show why member CT the lower
House OF Congress should not be al
least as distinguished by his virtue,
i! not for his craftsmanship. as a
member OF the Senate.
Conceding the fact as claimed by
the SIN, that the standard OF ind
vidual character and attainment is
lower in the U. S. Senate in 1894
than John Jay pictured it in 1888, is
| it the fact that we look for and
expect a lower standard OF manhood
in the popular branch of Congress
We think not.
Because unworthy men, through
questionable and unworthy means,
may secure seats in either House
because such seats have become
purchasable on either Floor; because
money rather than brains may be
the oben sesame to either Hall
because corruption may be trace
able through the careers OF men who
have attained prominence in both
branches Of Congress, it does not
follow that the popular demand in
1894 is any less for a high standard
OF Individual requirement in either
House.
Indeed, if a degenerate politicaI
condition exists today, compared
with Mr.. Jays time, the greater the
reason why only those men who
have become the most distinguished
by their abilities and virtue, and in
whom the people perceive just
grounds for confidence, should be
chosen for either branch of Con.
gress.
This question has practical side,
and assumes, in a measure, national
importance, il view of the fact that
the people of the Ashland district,
of Kentucky, are asked to return
Mr.. Breckenridge to Congress.
Mr.. Breckenridge, it will be
noticed, pleads in his behalf that the
church OF which he was a member
has reinstated him in membership
its officials being convinced OF the
sincerity Of his repentance.
While it is true that ito err is
human, to forgive divine" it is nc
less true that from the very necessity
of his case, his return to Congress
has ceased to be question betwet Il
him and his constituents, and has
become an issue between him and
the people of the whole country.
Accepting the sincerity OF his
repentance as fact, it is difficult tc
imagine, how, before time has been
granted him to show the just fruits Of
repentance, the people can, to use
Mr.. Jays language, perceive in Mr..
Breckenridge 'just grounds for
confidence"
Because confidence is a plant OIL
slow growth, and Mr.. Breckenridge
has, by his own act, ruthlessly torn il
up by its roots, it needs require time
and careful cultivation on his part,
to restore even a measure of its
former growth.