St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-13
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT .

-
for generations to come.
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT {?
1t would seem from newspaper re-
ports that Col. Breckenridge has again
been converted, and that the church
presided over. and made celebrated by
the miniStratinns of his father has
opened its forgiving arms and folded
the erring man once more to its maternal
bosom.
This is proper. The church should
always be forgiving. And yet it would
seem that there ought to be some sort of
atonement more vital than mere public
confession of sin before the brethren
hasten to spread the mantle of charity
and the curtain of complete oblivion
over the misdeeds of this man. Today
in one of the hospitals of Washington city
reposes woman waiting the return of
broken health so that she may go out
into the world and comlnence-alone-
the unequalsstruggle for subsistence.
She will be mercilessly handicapped in
the fight because of nine years clos
and intimate association with this man.
An honest and unprecedented jury Of
Col. Breckinridge's countrymen, after a
trial Of unparalleled length, decided
promptly that she was entitled to a
money consideration of $4,000 because
Of broken faith on the part of this chiv-
alrous gentleman. Instead of pay
ing. or agreeing to pay. this just
debt, Col. Breckinridge interposes
the delays OF the law by appeal,
and then goes boldly upon the
rostrum, and boastfully proclaims that
1.-THE fight has just commemorate
some of his thoughtless constituents
applaud the remark, as though this
Kentucky gentleman were about to enter
the arena as the chosen gladiator of
some sublime and enduring truth, the
generous defender of some magnificent
and eternal principle of righteousness
There is no masculine virtue at all
comparable with manly courage. The
heroism of one man-often standing
solitary-has frequently changed the
channel of human history. The tradi-
tion of Thermopyl8 is deathless, e.
cause small band of sturdy patriots
held the pass at the sacrifice of
their lives. The spectacle of Chris
tian martyrs going to the arena to
be devoured by wild beasts, and
singing hozannas to God because He
counted them worthy of the sacrifice.
are among the subllInest lessons of his.
tory-profane history made sacred by
the glorious triumph of immortal souls
thp N Einr n frail nd
trembling bodies. Christ, going through
Gethsemane to the cross; Socrates
drinking the hemlock; John Brown
standing alone within the shadow of
the scaffold; Cranmer at the stake.
holding his right hand in the flame that
the fire might purge away the crime Of
recantation-these and thousand more
which history chronicles and poetry
sings proclaim the worshIpful alteration
that all men and women have for mas
culine courage, cOnstancy and endur-
ance.
Col. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, lead
ing cavalry charge at Chickamauga,
the flame of conflict in his eye, every
nerve strung to the utmost tension,
filed to overlooking with conviction in
the absolute justice Of the cause for
which he fights. the soul and body ready
to part company at the command of fate
that is manly heroism. 1t is in such
moments that the individual soldier
rises out of himself; that the soul of the
commander grows and expands, until it
covers all who follow him with mantle
impermeable to the leaden storm,
and thus forces reluctant victory
to perch upon his banner. But
what is this latest fight which
the Kentucky soldier and statesman is
engaged in, and which he advertises to
mankind as being lust begun?" Can
it be possible that it is fight against a
woman? Yes. From his standpoint, a
contest against an adventures, har-
lot, blackmailer, mere female with
out character or standing.
But did not this woman for nine long
years lie close TO his heart? Did she
not during all that period conceal their
joint sin from the world? Certainly I;
and nine years was a long period of
such intimate association for Col. Brock
inridge to fail to learn that the woman
he profeSsed to love was harlot and an
adventures.
The people Of Kentucky are a
strong, independent. vigorous and
virile race. More than a century
of existence has developed homoge-
neous people, a society with striking
characteristics. They are brave peo-
pie. This has been demonstrated on
thousand battIefields from the days OF
Daniel Boone down to the last gun
fired at Appomattox. They are chivaI-
rous toward the weak, courteous an d
hospitable in their intercourse with
their fellows and charmingly genial on
festive occasions towards their guests
or companions. The women of the race
are celebrated for all social and domes.
tic virtues. They have the bravery
of their fathers and brothers, modi-
fed. toned aud softened by feminine
sweetness and womanlY reserve. The
Kentucky type, male and female, is
purely American. carrying with it the
peculiar excellences of both the North
and the South. They have the gener-
osity of Dixie, the probity of New Eng
land. the courage Of Texas, the thrift
and energy of the Northwest.
1t is, possibly, right for the Presby-
terrain church of Lexington to forgive
Col. Observation-Disclosures before rep
aration to the woman in the case or
not. must rest with the consciences of
the excellent body of Christians who
constitute that organization. But all
Kentuckians do not belong to the Pres