The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-05-06
IN HIS OWN DEFENSE
Breckinridse Mixes a Powerful Ap.
pal 10 His Constituents.
HE IS SORRY BUT DEFIANT
A Remarkable Meeting In Lexlng-
ton-The Women OF kentucky
Vigorously Denounoe the
Gay Old Orator.

LfAlNtIOS, hYs, May O.-LcNihElun 's
crowded to-day with pariisans of W. c. Il.
Breckinridsc. gathered to give the open
ing of his canvass q spectacular send.oft.
Colonel Breckinridge's speech was mainly
a review of his career in congress, begin.
ming with the first election OF Cleveland.
He said no democrat had taken more
advanced ground on the tariff question or
had done more 10 unity tho party on eco
nomic measures than he had. He replied
to tho claims that he Is not practical
statesman by recitinG with great particu-
larity his labor on committees and on the
floor OF congress.
The speaking was in tho opera house
and before Colonel Breckenridge arrived
the auditorium was full of people. When
he advanced towards the stage they stood
up and yelled wildly for five minutes. The
| colonel was filed with emotion which
shook him from head to foot. He made
the most powerful address ever delivered
| of the action Of the Ministers'
union of this city which took
action against him, he assumed
most defiant look and strained
every nerve in his body, his fists were
clenched and his expression was that Of
a man thoroughly enraged. He gave the
public press some very hard filings, and
when he said that he had no criticism for
| the judge who sat on tho trial, so voices
shouted at once, ~ have; have" The
reception was certainly enthusiastic, and,
while every man in the house will not cast
| his vote for Breckinridge, it was plainly
seen that he had many friends who intend
to stand by him.
After reviewing his boyhood's life at
Lexington, his public services in the con-
| federate army and in congress, Breckin-
ridge said: II 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. the coils of which it was
almost impossible TO break, did every
thing that was within my power to pre-
vent public scandal, except one thing,
which for no moment entered my mind.
"Your reelection Of me can neither take
from or add to the punishment have
suffered. 1t has not been by hypocricy
that my life has been consistently wrong /;
l knew my secret sin; tried to atone for
il in ways that It is not becoming In me 10
more than allude TO. How many kind
words did this atonement produce TO 9TH
ers-how much of self control and how
much OF self sacrifice ? How much Of
earnestness and labor in aid of good
things and TO good causes? When
came TO make public utterance
under any circumstances to any aud
fence, how cautious was that no word
of mine might tempt others to be guilty,
as was guilty. Now that exposure has
come. there Is an element Of gladness in
il. care not now what letters come in
my mail; / care not now for the closet
door 10 open, there Is no skeleton there,
and can go into the clear sunlight, out of
the mystery, and look up through the blue
skies into the upper world with feeling
that there is no cloud there. am not
afraid that from the horizon will suddenly
come clap of thunder and fash of
lightning that will destroy me and mine.
This is Of the past. will wear with me
scars, but will no longer carry the dread.
| Il will come out of that storm, however.
long as 1t may last, in some respects con-
quered. The sweet domestic relations
which absolutely need, and out Of which
| ] have new life, are mine. The extent OF
my guilt was truthfully confessed by me
to its uttermost boundaries without justi-
fication or palliation. To that extent
1 was guilty; beyond that was innocent.
Whatever charge of any kind is made
against me by any person, not confessed
in that solemn testimony, for the truth OF
which appeal TO God, Is false. ! desire
this acknowledgment and denial TO be
| r.. ii, A..
misunderstanding hereafter. In your
presence to-day and in the presence OF
this district, repeat that for that sin oi
which l was guilty, have no justification
no palliation and ask for no condonation,
If some in your midst can better do the
work you want done than /, your repre-.
sentative, choose him; choose one whose
life has been stainless. whose morals your
young men can initiate with profit, whose
days have been pure and whose nights
have been stainless, whose ability is am.
pie, whose experience is wide. WI en-
someone comes to write this history
whatever blame may attach to me, he may
write of mo that even with that blame he
loved the poor; he toiled for his fellow
men; he labored for good causes; he was
loyal to his principles and faithful TO the
truth and devoted TO you."
The women of Lexington have issued
an address to the voters in Breckinridge's g
district in which they oppose his reelection
and denounce his defenders. The nd.
dress, among other things, says: "Would
YOU vote for the destruction of your boys
No; sooner vote for the destruction oi
party than TO sink moral sentiment. II {.
your duty to lead your boys to higher
moral plane, but would such n representa-,
tive inspire your sons and daughters with
the sublime duty Of morality? No; hi,
name is a synonym for corruption
Were he magnanimous he would have you
close the door TO vice. He, who has SC
often, with beautiful words and brilliant
oratory. sung enchantingly of the noble
dutiful sons of our grand commonwealth
would have you prove recreant TO YOU
trusts. Let no eNtenuating plea of char
ity cause you 10 even listen TO his silver,
tongue his words can no longer avail he
has sacrificed himself; his voice is silent
his influence is lost. We deeply deplort
this, but he has sealed his own fate. Re
fuse 10 return him to congress; by so do
ing you will promote the interests OF soci
ETY. and OF your own state
The concluding portion Of his speech