New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
BRECKINRIDGE'S" FIRST GUN"
HE ADDRESSES HIS CONSTITUENTS AT
LEXINGTON.

HE ADDRESSES HIS CONSTITUENTS AT
LEXINGTON.
"wILLING TO TRUST HIS CASE WITH HIS
sAvIOUR"-HE ATTACKS THE NEwsPA-
PERs AND THE CLERGY-ALMOsT con-
TINUoUs APPLAUSE or HIS
REMARKS
Lexington, Ky, May 5-Colonel w. c. p. Breck-
inrdge delivered here to-day his opening address
in the campaign for denomination to Congress from
the Ashland District. The audience 10 which he
spoke consisted of the people from all portions OF
the State. there being special trains from many
points outside the district. In the Opera House,
where the address delivered were people rep
resenting all classes Of industry. Many Of them
were dstillers and liquor sellers Upon the stage
were placed about fifty chairs, and these were all
occupied Colonel Breckinridge entered the stage
from the rear, and coming forward was met and
grasped by the hand by every the stage
amid perfect of applause from the floor, gal
lery and balcony. In about three minutes time he
made his way TO small table near the footlights
of the stage, and after a pause Of about five min
utes he began slowly. Cenchlng his hands with
the most intense emotion, his nerves quivering and
tears coming in his eyes. he said he had not come
a conquerng hero but felt that his friends would
hear what he had to say.
fie fOIONeu these remarks up Dy UeSCrlDlHS MS
early home and life; his service in the Southern
Army, and hs career as editor, lawyer and states
man at the wars close. Then he spoke of his cleo
ton to the House TO succeed Captain Blackburn.
and said that he not a seeker after office He
rapidly sketched the events leading up the NOM
nation OF Hancock and his defeat. lie touched
,he Taxation and the Tariff bills, and paid his
spects President Clevelands career as Chief
Executive OF the United States.
Referring TO his trial in Washington he said:
1T is charged that the revelations concerning my
private life have shown that 1 not fit to be
4 Representative; that that renders it the duty of
the district to set aside that reelection would
be looked upon as a ynd.caton'; that a vote for
me is vote Of approval, and If not Of approval
of conformation. II this so, my fellow-cltl-
1ens. l would stand reelection; | would
not accept your votes; l would not live In your
midst. OF what have been guilty ! have made
public acknowledgment under oath in the sight OF
iod Of the ana OF the country AS to the
spired destroy me- | enter my indignant pro-
test against the malice which has coined the mem
Gacity which has fabricated ana the enmlty that
has uttered the numoeress lies against me, in
with all the memories that cluster about me ana
surge upon me & as s2eah TO-DAY IL protest IN tb the
Ilstrict 10 conceive tnAt haVs any ueIelcs 20
make for what | have done and OF what have
5y sin, in coils which it vas almost impossible to
break. l did everything that was in my power to
which for no moment entered my mind.
Your reelection OF me can neither take from
.iot hiN ~ bS -
eni iiS 4 cave not nov what letters come
in my mail; | not now for the closet door to
be opened there Is no skeleton there. and can go
mn t throagh he blue Skies into the upper world with
the feeling that there is no cloud there ! am not
eiap OF thunder and flash OF lightning that will
destroy and mine. That is q the past ] will
the dread viii come out of that storm however
long It last in some S, respects c93gueror, VI
by me It's utmost boundaries without usiineation
5 sa @as nnocens % "' wsseSer charge kind
made against me by any person not confessed IN
that so9 80 9 Is @ 'Ge G ine s H'a %Ssa
Z i.a.aI 70 bs frily Understood that there n,a,-
ro-.y 10 IT ana - ;e ,r'1eee 4. a. trict repeSt
that Tor that cin o. whicn ! was guilty | have nj
"If in your midst can better do the work
YOU want done as your Representatiye choose MIN
,y,,5 ,,r"0f v,bose divs have been pure and whose.
nigbt!i - b"ve b.-n siness. whose ability is ample
district has been represented by men. They have
not always been siniess men. and whether you re-
elect or reject me. hereafter when some one comes
% write its history. whatever blame may attach to
M. he will write Of me that. even with that blame.
hc loved The poor. he toiet 'or his felio"-men. ne
aborel for good causes: and as this historian
the pages of the record in which my utterances
are contained he viii rise from them with the be
lief that ! wrs loyal TO my principles faithful to
Colonel Breckinrdge spoke bitterly of the Min
trying To pc lson the minds OF his people against
him" and when he wound up his abuse Of the
II said he was willing to trust his case with his
Saviour tie also denounced the newspaper me-, men
family. together with the inscriptions thereon. The
applause almost continuous and at times the
scenes were Of the widest character
he women are og, n t%9 cards apRearg to the
Gresham. of the State College, has issued one In
Colonel EreckinriIge's harsh criticism Of Christian
people mas hurt him with the better classes. and 1t
l. doubted by many wei Unbalanced persons that he