The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-09-20
REVIEW OF THE FIGHT
BEIWEEN COL. BRECKiNRIDGE
AND W. G. OWENS
In the Ashland, Kentucky, District
Big Barbecue and Speeches
Interesting Incidents.

One Of the most remarkable demon
STATIONS of the campaign was the
| Owens barbecue at the fair ground:
at Paris. Twenty-thousand people
| gathered from all over the district
Fifteen beeves, weighing 1,50O pound:
each, 80 sheep and 1920 gallons OIL
| burgoo soup were consumed, besides
! the contents of hundreds of dinner
/ baskets brought along. Paris is q
| beautiful little city in the heart OF
! the Blue Grass county of Bourbon.
| The houses were decorated and bands
played all day. 1t was holiday and
everybody Joined the procession to the
fair grounds. Hon. VIM. E. Simms,
who was in Congress in 1859 and 1860,
and who has not made political
speech since the civil war, was among
the orators. He is seventytWo years
old.
On Thursday night Col. Breckin-
ridge gave to the press an interview
attacking the moral character Of Mt.
OwenS-hiS intention being to with
hold the statements as late as posi-
bic in time to have them circulated in
his behalf, but too late for Owens to
reach the voters with his contradict
tion of the charges. The vigilance of
Mr.. Owens friends, however, enabled
them to learn the purpOrt of the pro-
posed charges in time for him to have
published in Fridays papers, comtem-
pOraneously with Col. Breckinridge's
charges, his unqualified refutatiOn OF
them IN manly, straightforward Ian
guage, and the effect of Co. Breckin-
ridges transparency sinister design
was very tame and has had, liz fact, a
reactiOnary effect.
On Friday night the final rallies of
the campaign were held at various
places in the district. Ex-Congress-
man William E. SimmS made a strong
speech for Owens at Paris, and Colo
mel Breckenridge spoke at Frankfort
in the afternoon and at Lexington at
night. He continued his denuncia-
ti0n of the decent people who have OPP
posed him, not sparing even the min
iStry.
Colonel Breckinridge said in part in
closing I'm the presence of God and
in the presence of these witnesses |
pledge you, not my life, but what is
more, my heart, my brain, myself and an
abundance of labor that will know no
end. And in years TO come you will
be glad to say that you did not stone
me; but that you cast your vote for
me, and may God do to you as you
have done to me-"
Mr.. Owens meeting at Lexington
was addressed by Major George Q
Lockhart in a brilliant speech, fol-
lowed by Professor Alberti, Judge
Jere Morton and Mr.. Owens.
Mr.. Owens. said in part: "Thcse
dastardly Scuundrels dared TO ridicule
the statement made by me that |
could look my mother in the face and
say that on the brow of her son there
rests no stains of dishonOr. But l
have no feeling of resentment for this
man, (Breckinridge,) and l say this
with all sincerity, not because | par
don his ridcule of my aged mother,
but because pardon is for man, not
reptiles. He is the vileSt snake that
ever crawled on the earth. The time
has passed when this creature has any
weight with his people. He has
spoken to them, they have trusted
proven himself false. BOnOr and
shame are to him alike unknown"
But always the women were in the
lead. Their clubs adopted rules cal
culated to prevent any of the gallant
young men of the district enlisting
under Breckenridge. 1t was told of
one young man who had been won
over by the ColCnel's eloquence, and
possibly for a feeling of sympathy for
Une unuer uOg, UndU lie Was CUT one
morning on the streets of Lexington
by three ladies in succession. To the
third one he protested.
Pardon me, SIR" she replied, cold
ly. 81 do not know you"
Don't know me, Miss ~" he
exclaimed. You have known me all
your life"
You are Mistaken she said. 81
am not acquainted with any man who
wears Il Breckenridge button"
. That button was replaced by an
Owens badge The next day.
One man informed his wife that he
was one of committee to entertain
Breckenridge at dinner at a hotel.
II cannot interfere with my hus-
bands politics." she responded, "but L
must maintain our reputation for
hospitality. l will meet Colonel
Breckenridge in our carriage and drive
with him to the hotel. If he is fit for
you to dine with, he is fit for me to
drive with"
That man excused himself from the
committee.