The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-07
THE REAL ISSUE IN KENTUCKY.

| interest all over the world, ana the ell
forts OF Breckenridge to save himself
from enforced retirement are exciting
something deeper than mere curiosity,
for his success would have a broader
significance than usually attends Con-
gressional election. 1t would mean
that mans moral life has no
bearing upon his personal fitness
to represent in Congress great district;
that no matter how black his personal
life might be he is still good enough to
represent thousands upon thousands of
homes in the legislative halls of the
nation and to take part in legislation
affecting no place more than the home.
In other words, a roue, seducer, man
guilty of the hideous double life that
Breckenridge has led is good enough
man to represent any constituency in
Congress. This is the assumption that
Breckinridge is working upon. On Sat-
urday last he appeared before his con-
stituency and appealed to them for their
continued support.
He boldly acknowledged all his i'm
moralities, but thanked God that he
was not so black as he had been painted,
and in the name of God" pro-
tested against the "vile ISLANDERS {"
uttered against him. He uttered all
these blasphemies in an eloquent
and touching way and he
aroused the utmost enthusiasm among
his auditors who finally carried him off
in triumph on their shoulders.
But the crowd which listened to him
does not, we believe, represent the feel
ing among his constituents as whole.
The better element OF the community is
arrayed against Kim, and while he en-
deavored to rebuke the efforts Of the
ministers to prevent his return TO Con-
gress he simply added to former bias
phemies, and sent an additional shudder
through those who read his speech. His
remarks had, with all their eloquence,
better been left unmade. He simply
plunged himself deeper into the mire.
The Louisville Courier-Journal, the
most influential paper in all Ken
lucky and which has hitherto preserved
a position of strict neutrality, was COM
PEELED to take a position against him
after that speech, and the paper editori-
ally condemned him yesterday saying:
"The situation in the Ashland district,
unfortunate as it is unprecedented,
makes it imperative that every journal
which has the good of the party at
heart, which cherishes the honor Of its
State and which appreciates its obliga-
tions to society, shall protest with all
its power against the reelection to
Congress of Col. w. G. p. Breckenridge.
We do not underrate what he has done
for his party and the cause of tariff re-
form in the past. But even if 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 it would be forced to pay.
1t is idle to attempt to obscure the is. |
sue with sophistical distinction between |
Colonel Breckinridges public and pri-
vate life. The case has gone far beyond |
simply is, do the people of Kentucky |
Congress the man whom Colonel |
confessed himself TO |
be In his testimony before a
Washington jury? 1t is a
question which trapscends the limits
Of the Ashland district and Of Kentucky |
itself. II is a question In which the
people Of the enIire nation are deeply
That part of his speech
yesterday devoted 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
This, we prefer to believe, is a more
correct representation of the feeling of
The district than that which might be
Inferred from the enthusiasm with which
MS speech was received. His speech
was an added reason why he should not
De returned to Congress. 1t shows that
wen now the man has no adequate itieH
,f his own hideous sin and his equally
lideous life.
"Your reelection of me can neither
AXE from nor add to the punishment
iaye suffered. 1t has not been hypoc-
'isy that my life has not been. con-
iistently wrong. / knew the secret sin.
tried to atone for it in way to which
I is not becoming in me to more than
'llude. How many kind words did this
ltonement produce from others? How
much of self-control and how much of
how much of earnestness
md labor in aid of good things and to
rood causes?
Il thank God that in the almost num-
)erless utterances have made, whether
ipon the stump TO the most miscellan-
'ous crowds, or to the most select audi
noes in the most select places, no word
vas ever uttered that would not help
he weary and struggling wrong doers,
hat would not give hope TO him who