The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-25
SEATTLE. SUNDAY. MARcH Is.


An lNRAMOUA MAN.
Congressman Breckinridge's defense in
the Pollard breach Of promise case IL fatal
10 his reputation - . man Of honor. 1t II
not too much to say Of such . man that
he II not simply gay Lothario under ex-
tsnuating circumstances. So far ~
Brsckinridge IL concerned he viii receive
NO moral benefit. whether he succeeds In
proving that Miss Pollard was woman Of
bad character before he met her or not. for
while he admits his knowledge Of her mis-
conduct he cannot deny that he openly as
sociated with her, and asked Mrs. Black
burn, the widow of Gov. Blackburn, Of
Kentucky. to chaperons her ~ his prom
issd wife.
Breckenridge 10 an eminent citizen Of
Kentucky Of distinguished ancestry; he II
q man of culture and exceptional elo-
quence; he IL an active member of .
Christian church. This man Breckinridge
has for several ysars been living with this
Miss Pollard, who has borne him several
children. These facts arc not denied by
Breckinridgs and since they are not de-
nied Il does not make any difference
whether Miss Pollard had . spotIess
scutcheon before she met Breckenridge
or not: Il does not make any difference
whether she 10 simply vain. weak woman
or an ambitious, shrewd and brilliant ad-
the world OF mature years he took her m
his mistress; she was at least as good Al
he was and he was bound n q man of
honor to stand by the mother Of his chill
dren and BY the promises he made her.
He introduced this woman into the fami-
lies Of his friends of the highest social
standing. and . man who was capable Of
this act was . sanctimonious liar and
social hypocrite. II the Pollard woman
Was An adventures. ~ he claims. she was
quite good enough TO be the wife of so sue
cessful IN ''adventurcr" NJ Congressman
Breckenridge. who BY his own confession
was liar for many years Of remarkable
power and immoral endurance. Adultery
and concubinage appear to be the decent.
est things that this man Breckinr,dgs was
guilty Of.
Grant. for the sake OF the argument. that
the woman knew exactly what she was
about: that her record was furnished tn at
she Was . wild, srratic. brilliant woman,
who thought she could become social
star Of the first magnitude by becoming .
congressman's mistress; grant all this; ;
grant that shs knew exactly what she was
about: that she deliberately flung herself
ut the head Of Breckinridge, not because
she was weak or dsluded, but because she
Was an ambitious adventures. Neverthe-
less, granting all this. Breckinrdge vas
not imposed upon; no knew exactly what
he WAS about and exactly the sort of
woman he was dealing with, aud In order
10 retain her a. his mistress no lied him.
self black In the face; introduced her 10
his friends As his presumptive wife prom.
ised TO marry her. and made her tho
mother of several children. Some O. these
were murdered before birth. soma bv
neglect after birth. Breckenridge knew il
oil, approved II all. instiga,ed IL all. in
order to keep his mistress. Then at the
last hs broke his promise of marriage.
turned his back on partner who a, ieas.
was a. good - he Was and married an.
other woman.
Grant III You please that the woman
brought suit from . mixture Of motives
tha, abe was vindicsive in the sense tha.
shell hath no such fairy As woman
seorned;" that she vas stung hy sense Of
the injustice wrought her by her confcd.
crate in sin and her fellow eonspirator in
social imposition. nevertheless how does
that morally help Breckinridse' The
woman had rrscticed no imposition on
Breckenridge: hs knew what che va,
when be took her under his protection,
and her imposition upon the highest 50.
cial circle Of Brcekinridge's friends. her
disposal Of her children. seem to have been
Acts ereented at Breekinridgs's instsga-
tion. or at least wlth his knowledge. as.
distance and approval
Breeksnrsdgs deserves his fate; he prosr-
tsed to marry the mother of his children
confessed his promise In public to Mrs.
Blackburn. aud there IL no sound reason
IS 40 "AHesg ~ WY lie euGulA
DOT suffer for his failure 20 keen
his promise. The woman q, her
vorst Was al lsss: hi, moral
peer. be haa made her bic social pesr
by his introduction Of her t. the hsxhs,,
social circles OF his friends she vas Ger.
sAinly ~ good . wife a. such a man q. hs
deserved. even mthe stories OF her naisson.
Duct before she met BIN are al true. Hi.
own life before shs met him had net been
Immaculate and after she met him WAS
~ seandaleus and seoanirelly =. possible.
Breekinridgs Was too false and b poerisical
. man 10 deserve good woman asswlfs.
and granting thai she Mas as bad e. lie
declares she a -. brilliant accomplished
stvensaress was . qaise good enough
wife for So artfai. elo4aent and accom-
plssAsi soeisi aud religious hypoeriss,
Their marriage would have been ~ that
Ct An'ony and Cleopatra; - that 81
Aleshiaaes and fsHznaTa
A.aFt So l..