People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-05-25

O wage VI Sln-Ine Shame OF
CiVili2atiOn-A Social Revolution
Starvation or Prostitution-A Call to
Action.
The recent breach of promise case
OF Madeline Pollard against Col. W. C.
J. Breckenridge resulted in the jury
awarding SIS, COO to the plaintiff after
an hour and a half's elaboration.
This branded the 'silver-tongued ora
or of that state as not only hypo-
critic and libertine, but also focused
attention upon him as representing a
class OF men who use their position
and influence to accomplish the ruin
of thousands of victims, to whom, also,
desire to call attention.
The social depravity of Washington
IS proven by the statement of Breckln-
ridge himself that he had no fears OF
expulsion from congress, because ne
knew many congressman who were in
the same boat, and whom he could ex-
pose So the appeal of the Woman's
league of that city was ignored and
the matter dropped. This depravity
was also indicated IN the address to
the jury of his counsel, Col. Phil.
Thopmson, whom Henry Watterson
takes occasion to score editorialiy be-
cause he slandered every virtuous man
and woman in the Lard By his libelous
TRADE, when, in court of justice, he
Shamelesslg states, for the youth Of the
nation to read, that all men are liber-
tines and civilization but lie, purity
a mockery and manhood simply lust. "
The old adage that Birds Of feather
flock together" suggests why Breckin-
ridge chose this villain to defend him.
Breckenridge morality is well por-
trayed in Stevenson'S CDR. Jekyll and
Mr.. Hyde" Men of this class living
double lives, in high places are too
numerous for the welfare of our coun-
try. To the world their lives are at
tractlVe, popular and virtuous, while
their private lives consist in scheming
corruption, RIGHTEOUSNESS and villainy.
and furnish commentary on the
degradation of American morality.
With Breckenridge in the white
house, how can we hope fCr anything
better in congress? With such a man
at the head of the column how can we
hope for honor at the end of it?
The election of the ex-hangman OF
Buffalo to the Presidency, after the
exposure Of his beastly habits of in
toXication and his relations with the
woman he so baselv deserted, was an
Endorsement for which every Ameri-
can should blush. With private life
so rotten, can we expect anything
better than treachery and corruption
in his public life?
lie has caused more physical suffer
ing and mental agony, has sent more
suicides to the grave and has brought
upon himself the curses of more PEG.
pie than any man in America.
1t isa well-known TACT urged by
bright editor of woman's journal in
Washington that the results of CON
Gressional elections are eagerly
awaited by certain Washington
women, who were well named bv
Judge Bradley, as the "buzzards" of
the city, and who live in a futter of
expectancy awaiting the new crop Of
congressman, with whom they expect
to maintain the same relations as with
the old ones who ruined them. and
who live upon congressional revenue
only"
These mistresses of public men are
given the best positions in the various
departments, provided they have
youth and beauty, and are thus pro-
vided with an avocation which serves
IS cloak of responsibility and gives
them an entrance into society. Civil
service is fraud, as ability, character
and fitness are not considered, but are
handicapped by political pull" and
influence every time.
The grand old warrior. Tecumseh
Sherman, after living many years IN
our American sodom, quatfing its wine
aud kissing its women, declared its
society "a sham and a hollow mock
cry"
This double life with its victims is
not confined to political life, but the
business world has also its Breckin-
ridges
Fifty years ago the people of this
country were confined to the great
middle class There were no very
rich and no very poor. One man was
as good as another. Personal worth.
character and ability were the pass
ports to society; but coincideut with
contraction of the currency appeared
the tramp and the millionaire, and
from the highest pedestal of equal
rights the middle class began that
fatal descent to dependency and
slavery, in the same ratio that money
and monopoly arose to the ascendant,
q nd 70 tho mo 10 Z, q my, -oe ,dJa1 a.