The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-17
SEATTLE. nosDxy. sxrr ~.
rnx FALL or BnKcK,sRrDoE.


The defeat Of Bfeckinridge for congress
can hardly be called unexpected, and Jet
she assurance of his rejection by the people
OF his district Is most welcome news.
This man Brecksnridgs vas no ordinary
rake; he vas a man OF accomplishments,
Of fine appearance. Of rare sioqasnce; he
had been very popular, both within and
without the church; he had been invited
20 be orator At the opening Of the Chicago
exposition, and, taken all in all, while not,
perhaps, sn AGATE and weighty debateE, he
was the most eloquent and brilliant South
orn man on the door OF the house.
No case Of scandal has excited more at
tention since the Bescher trial than that
OF Breckinridge. Like Beecher. Breckin-
ridge has made bitter and braxen fight
for his head, bat Beachsr fought to better
advantage than Brsckinridge. because he
never judicially admitted his guilt and
after confessing himself libertine, liar
and hypocrite said: Nov, my Christian
friends, I have literally grailfied your
desire for that confession which Is good
for tho soul, and, having confessed. | insist
on being restored to my pulpit"
Beecher never was fool enough to con-
fess judlcialiy that he was knave and
plead for mercy and full restoration to
pulpit honora Beecher made n good
many private confessions" aud wrote
some very repentant letters, but when he
was placed on tho witness stand he con-
fessed 20 nothing but tsmperamental
impulsiveness which led him to .im-
prudently advise good woman 20 leave a
had husband" This is ell that the gifted
pastor Of Plymouth church would admit,
and while he did not secure an acquittal,
he managed to hang the jury. aud all the
women and children believed that he was
hero and a martyr; good man who had
come near going wrong from his over anx-
iesy 20 make everybody do right.
Is looks very much as II Breckenridge
had been encouraged by the result Of the
Beeeher trial TO court destruction in his
own district. Breckenridge erred IN at
tribating Becohsr's escape TO his eloquence
and 10 the moral indifference Of the public
10 the question Of his guilt.
1t was not Beecher's eloquence or the
moral indifference of bis public 10 his gull,
which saved him: IL was his persisten,
denial from first 10 last Of any wrong do.
ing; II Beecher had confessed 60 any act
OF Iieertinage or anything that seemed 10
imply that be was capable Of libertinags
under any circumstances he would have
been ruined. bat be called upon God and
his mother IN heaven to witness
that hs was innocent OF the OF.
fences charged against him. Breckin.
ridge. on the other hand, has
confessed in open court about everything
shat he was charged with by his repudiated
mistress. and be has been fool enough "a
believe that on the strength OF this con.
fcsslon and the repentance which he says
has accompanied Is he would be easily
forgiven by che good people 81 his distrie,
aud be returned to congress. He has lived
long enough TO fnd out the difference be.
tween man that has confessed TO most
shan lul life of social fraud and religious
hypocrisy and a man who has been
charged with II and has denied the charge
hna dlscreditsd bis aeensera
The people are long-sufferinE and patient
With public men who have gone wrong;
the people discriminate between sins OF
the blood and Sins Of the spirit: between
mere superficial skin disease and malig.
nant necrosis Of the bones of the mans
moral constitution. You can sober an in.
temperate man; you can persuade . man
ef loose life to practice selfrestraint, con.
thence and abssemiousnsSs, bat q
natural horn liar and hypocriss 4.
beyond redemption, and tie world
is naturally nos disposed 70 trust
a self.confsssed fraud and sane.inoniou.
religious and social oharlatan. Further
more. ths world IL not unreasonable when
ID assumes that man e. 70 be a congress
man should be gentleman eneugA not 4
astempt 10 pziEa CT bis transient or per
snnasnt eencHhines uroa the wives and
daughters Of bis decent constituents a.
thssr soclai peers
BreekinEisgs 10 ruined. and he Is nc
Lac some str4ng pasn y DO have gone hope
Iessly wfenEi he 10 not even magnifieen
ruln; he Is sure % Immortality hsreafts
soissy because % his sxesptioasl insaEny
for he snicys tia exceptional renown Q
being the tFst, a. ws trust he is the last
congressman who has dared TO ask bis ai,
triet 10 re-s.ess him Ia face Of his eonf.u
slan that BE wss liar OF many year
standing and hypoerits 81 rsmsFkasg
hgiGsianey aud persistent sndaFancs
lie il net bsAtsn fer congress eaea0s
81 his s.ns ct lhe blood be il re5scse,
because 81 his slns q the spirit wAiel
ere bssisrss 10 ~ lReaEasIss hs = = Hos