Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-18
Tn. passine Of Breckinridgs.

That Colonel Breckenridge Ii defeated
Of the Democratic nomination seems prob
able. though he is not willing to con-
cede the fact; but. on the contrary. is
d,,rosed 10 make a contest IL he can
find any plausible ground for SO doing.
His fight for the nomination VIII be
remembered. however. as one OF the
bo,dest and brassicst efforts OF his life.
We know of but one case that parallels
Breck,nridge's. and that was Mr..
Beecher's struggle to live down the bad
name which he got in the Tiiton scandal.
Few men could have faced a sneering
world as Beecher did; few could have
faced II as breckenridge has done through
out the great canvass Just closed Al
most any other man than Breckenridge
would have retired from political life
after such an expose as his IN the FOL
lard case. but he seems never to nave
entertained the idea. On the contrary,
after the Jury rendered its verdict award
Ing damages to Madeline Pollard Breck-
inridge looked with confidence to his
peopIe for "vindIcation," and he came
pretty near getting what he asked.
That breckenridge Is a great orator
that he is magnetic man-has been
more fully demonstrated in this contest
than ever before. So effective were his
speeches that he was actually able to con-
vince many excellent church people that II
was their bounden duty 10 forgive him.
In view OF his penitence ta'ter ne was
caught and his pledges to lead better
life.
II Is alleged that neither OF
Breckinridges opponents for the nom-
nation is model OF virtue This
widely advertised statement was to Breck-
inridge's advantage. as II doubtless dis
eusted some voters with the whole set
OF candidates. Breckenridge also had most.
OF the party machinery with him. and
Federal Officers by the score got leave
from their posts in Washington to 80
home TO vote for him. Per contra, most
of the women OF the dstrict-and. we may
add. of the world-were against him. But
for them We may well doubt II Breckin-
ridge would have been defeated. so in
fatunted are many KentuciNans with the
preposterous idea that Brecknridge's ora
tory excuses all OF his faults.
The fight was a desperately close one;
but we must take into account the fact
that Settle was kept in the field. as Is
generally believed, to help Brechinrdge,
and We doubt not that hundreds Of the
most obdurate opponents OF Breckin-
ridge stayed away from the polls rather
than, by voting, bind themselves u sup
port the Colonel should he prove to be
the nominee
The Dispatch was one of the very first
newspapers in the land TO appeal to the
State pride OF Kentuckians not to "on-
dorse" or "vindicate" Breckenridge by re-
electing him. We urged his condemnation,
not his vindication. That there are other
men In Congress as bad as Breckinridge
may be possible: but IL is poor way 10
purify our public service by adding to
rather than taking from the number OF
recreants.
The world will not only remember it
against Breckenridge that he fell. as other
men have fallen. but that he masqueraded
in the garb of piety. and used religion
for cloak for his sins.
Breckenridge, we feel sure, is never
more to represent Kentucky in Congress.
Now. If his pety be Of the sort that he
has always pretended that it was, he viii
accept defeat with great sweetness Of
temper.