The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-05-10
COL. BRECKINR1DGE's CAMPAIGN
Opened With Enthusiasm at licking
ton. Ky.-Fiatterin. Reccption.


ton. Ky.-FiatterinG Reception.
LEXINGTON, KY, May Col. w.
G. p. Breckinridge delivered here Sat
urday his opening address in tue cam
paign for his denomination to Con-
gress. The audience to which he
spoke consisted of the people from all
portions of the State, there being spe-
cial trains from many points outside
the district.
Enthusiasm reigned supreme, and
throughout his speech he was APP
plauded every two or three minutes.
His harsh criticism of the Christian
people has hurt him with the better
classes, and it is doubted by many
well balanced persons if he did his
cause any good.
AS to Oratery, conservative judges
say that the grafton of COlonei Brock
inridge was the best they have ever
had the pleasure of listening to.
Colonel Breckenridge began his
speech by describing his early home
and life, his service in the Southern
army, and his career as editor, lawyer
and statesman at the close of the war.
Referring TO his trial in Washing
ton, he said:
Il is charged that the revelations
concerning my private life have shown
that | am not fit to be a representa-
tive, that renders it the duty Of the
district to set me aside, that the re-
election would be looked upon as a
Vindication, that to vote for me is q
| vote of approval ard if not of APPROX
| al of conformation. If this were so,
my fellow citizens, | would not stand
| for reelection, / would not accept your
| votes. ! would not live in your midst.
OF what have been guilty, l have
made public acknowledgement under
/ oath in sight of God and of court and
| country.
| But | do not wish this district to
| conceive that | have any defense to
| make for what | have done and Of
which [ have been guilty, entangled
by weakness, by passion, by sin, in
| coils { which it was almost impOSsi-
BILE to break. | did everything that
was within my power to prevent a
public scandal, except for one thing
| which for no movement ever entered
my mind.
.Your reelection of me can neither
take from nor add to the punishment
l have suffered. 1t has not been by
pocricy. | know that my life has not
| been consistent. / know that ! tried
to atone for it in many ways that are
| not becoming to me to more than
allude.
| NOW That exposure mas come,
there is an element of gladness in it.
| care not now what letters come in
my mail; [ care not now for the closet
door to be Opened-there is no skele
ton there, and l can go into the clear
sunlight out of mystery and look up
through the blue skies into the upper
world with the feeling that there is
no cloud there.
'If some one in your midst can bet
ter do the work you want Gone as your
representative choose him."
Colonel Breckenridge scored the
Ministerial Union of Lexington fol-
the part it took in trying to poisor
the minds of his people against him
and when he wound up his chastise
ment of them he said he fully and
freely forgave them. He said he was
willing to trust his case with his Sa
vior. He also denounced the news
paper men who printed the pictures
of the grave-Stones of his beloved dead
with the inscriptions thereon.
The applause was almost contin
uous, and at times the scenes were o.
| the widest character.