The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

LEXINGTON, KY, May 5.-Col Will
lam c. P Breckenridge was greeted here
today by an audience of 5000 people, rep
resenting the voters of the Seventh con-
gressional district and many people from
the surrounding country. The speaking
was in the opera house and a half hour
before Col Breckenridge arrived the
auditorium was full of people. When he
advanced toward the stage from the
rear entrance the audience stood up and
yelled wildly for ten minutes. The col
onel was filled with emotion, which
shook him from head to foot. He made
the most powerful address ever deliv-
cred to a Kentucky audience.
When he spoke of the action of the
ministers union in this city, which took
action against him, he assumed the most
defiant look and strained every nerve IN
his body. His fists were closed and his
EXPRESSION was that of a brave man
thoroughly enraged. He gave the pub
lie press some very hard filings and when
he said that he had no criticism for the
Judge who sat in the trial, fifty Volces
shouted at once: Il have; 1 have" The
reception was certainly enthusiastic, and
while every man in the house will not
cast his vote for Breckenridge II was
plainly to be seen that he had many
friends who intend TO stand by him.
After reviewing his boyhOOd life at
Lexington, public services in the con-
federate army and IN congress, Col.
Breckenridge said;
II do not wish this district to con-
ceive that 1 have any defense to make
for what l have done, and OF when 1
have been guilty. Entangled by weak
ness, by passion, by sin, in coils which II
was almost impossible to break, l did
a., mill hi nv
nrevent a public scandal except the one
thing which for no moment ever entered
my mind .,o;.,,o.
take from nor ado to the punishment !
have suffered. 1t has not been nyVoc-
risy that my life has not been consist
emily wrong; l knew the secret sin;
tried to atone for il in ways that II Is
NOT becoming in me TO more than al
lude to. How many kind words did TINS
atonement produce to others; how much
Of self-control, and how much OF seiI-
sacrifice; how much of earnesIness anu
labor in aid of good things and TO good
causes? When l came TO make public
utterance under any circumstances 20
any audience. how cautious was l that
no word of mine might tempt others 10
be guilty as l was guilty.
Now that exposure has come lnere i
an element of gladness in 1t. care not
now what letters come in my mail; 1
care not now for the closet door 10 De
opened-there is no skeleton there; and
I can go into the clear sunlight out OF
misery and look up through the blue
skies into the upper world with the Ieel-
ing that there is no cloud there. am
not afraid that from the horizon will
suddenly come a clap of thunder ana
flash of lightning that will destroy me
and mine This is of the past. Will
wear with me the scars, but l VIII not
longer carry the dread. will come out
Of that storm however long ii may last
in some respects, conqueror. sweet 10
nestle relations, which absolutely
need and out of which 1 have no life, are
mine.
"The extent of my guilt was truthful
ly confessed by me to It's utterillosI
boundaries without justification or pal
UatIon To that extent l was guilty;
bevond that l was innocent. Whatever
charge of any kind made against me py
anv person not confessed In that tesu-
mony. for the truth of which L appealeu
to God. is false. 1 desire this acknowl-
edenent and denial to be fully under
stood that there may be no misunoer-
standing hereafter. In your presence To-
dav and in the presence of the district
repeat that for that sin of which l was
guilty 1 have no justification, no palma
ton. and / ask no condemnation
"If some one in your midst can
hattar do the work you want done as
vour representative, choose him; choose
one whose life has been stainless; whose
morals your young men can initiate with
profit: whose days have been pure ana
whose nights have been sinless; whose
ability is ample, whose experience Is
wide. When some one comes TO write
history. whatever blame may attach 10
me he will write of me that, even with
that blame. he loved the poor, he toiled
for his fellow men, he labored for good
causes; loyal to principles, faithful to
truth devoted to you"