New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-10
11E EEEECT Upon MORALS.


wo do not bv any means agree with Mr.. But
tervorth in the views which he is reported 10
h,vo cxpresscd regarding the effect upon pubic
and private morals of the disclosures WHICH
hnro hoon made in the breckenridge trial. He
* entirely right from his point OF view rs couh
sol for the defendant that the case ought never
to have been tried. For whatever may ne the
ve~dict of the Jury his client has been damaged
I'm the public estimation To an extent 'hi' can
no, no COMPUTED in dollars and cents 1t would
have been UNNECESSARILY wiser on his part 10
have confessed Judgment and permitted jury
10 assess the damages, even If the result hlu
been TO strip him of everything, leaving him
pennilcss and destitute. That would nave Deeh
wiser even if he had been absolutely certain
that by permitting the case to come 10 'ri''i
and taking the witncss-stand himself he would
escape being mulcted in damages 10y IL iaNoi'
able verdict from the jury. The pccuniary sac
rdce in one case would have been mcaSurape
and computable AS 1t is, nothing can measure
the loss he has sustained in reputation, III char-
octcr. in personal honor, in all that men OF FEEL
ing hold dear. In the one case he Wouiu nav
suffered pecunary loss; the other means snip
wreck and irrctricvablc disaster
Az to the effect of the trial, with its rcvcla-
,tv. we do not believe 1t has been injurious
either to public or private morals On inc con-
trorv. we are confident that while the story as
told has contained nothing to palliate groSshess
or render vice attractive, 1t has served ana VIII
continue TO serve. as wholesome lesson an"
;mnrcssive warming The life the two prin-
cipals in these transactions led for nine years.
the miserable falschoods they were driven TO-
the hollow hypOcriSicS in when tilcE ud'I!
vrappcd themselves the stings al unq'iIet con-
science the cvcr-prcscnt fear OF detcctol' lnc
recurring agonics of rcmorsc. the Gro'cillnS
bascncsS of their mutual relation ana the loss
Of sclfrcsDcct it inevitably cntalcd. can have
no charms for even the most thoughilcSs votary
Of Measure. over all Of ii both young and ola
may see the flaming sword, and read the Warh-
ing scroll: "WhO enters here leaves VIRTUE
honor. honesty scf-rcspect. good name ana
hone behind" No young woman can read the
story of Madeline Pollard without Il snuudor'
no Young man can trace the career OF w. !. l
Rrcrkinridgc without shrinking from the first
step that ends in shame
II is vastly better for the cause of public ana
rriv,tn morality that these things If they be.
should he brought 10 light in all thelr hldeouS
dcformify than that they should be covered or
concealed ana 20 on lFHl'lIH| anu ''''"''''
corr,lption under the surface Of social life. Bet
fer that all young women should know WHAT
pitfalls Of temptation surround them. and how
little appearances and professions. charms or
manner. graccs Of speech. and even the garb OF
rcliclon are 10 Ice trusted. than that they should
b. kent i'm Ignorance Of danger through fc;lr tlat
enlightenment may be- hurtful. No harm can
come 10 the pure minded from the knowledge
that impurity exists and In such subtle ana
seductive forms rs To be constant menace. III
i better too-vastly bcttcr-that Mr.. Brechin-
ridge should not only be- exposed. but should
reveal himself Better that the dclusion under
which he seems to have laborcd that his nine
wears continuing offence. with it's recent dis
graceful elimination. was vcnal ana Trivial
that the world would judge him lightly and his
constituents continue their trust in him. should
be disSipatcd now. For We cannot bring our
selves 10 bclicy" thai. after III" revelations
which have been made his Kentucky conSltu'
cn,s will hesitate moment N scourGlng MN
into discraccful obScurity Not 10 do 1t would
b. to take his shame deliberately upon them
selves And when it is done, public life In TINS
country will have . breath OF pure air blown
into II and Ice much swccter.
No; Mr. Buttcrwurth * wrong. The effect or
this trial upon public and private morality VIII
not be- bad. but wholesome and nviSorating.
With all its groSsncss ami coarSen"SS 1t VIII
do good in the end