Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-07
Col. Breckinridge's Speech.

Col. Breckenridge was greeted by an
audience of 5000 people, repres enting
the voters of the Seventh congressional
district and many people from the sur
rounding country. The speaking was
in the Opera House. When he adj
vanced toward the stage the audience
stood up and yelled wildly for ten min
utes. The Colonel was filled with
emotion, and shook from head to foot.
He made one of the most powerful adj
dresses ever delivered to Kentucky
audience. His opening sentence was
II come not conquering hero to win
the plaudits of nv people, but as man
who only wants fair play"
This stirred anew the enthusiasm OF
his audience Col. Breckenridge then
went on in his we'll rounded periods
and soft, persuasive voice, to tell the
people of his life.
His manner was intensely dramatic
and earnest, and he presented a pecu-
liarlv attractive appearance with his pa
triarchal hair and beard. He complete
ly carried the audience with him, NOV
ing many men to tears.
When, in his speech, he referred to
Judge Bradley, before whom his case
was tried. there were Kisses and cries
of condemnation. Men in the rear Of
the hall cried ont that the Judge should
be hanged.
He then referred to the Ministerial
Union of Lexington, saying that be
challenged the right of a minister of tie
Gospel to interfere in political affairs.
He said the ministers were unlike the
Master they professed to serve and that
he. Breckenridge, would invoke that
Masters divine aid and put his case in
in higher hands than the Ministerial
Union.
'These servants OF Christ have done
these things to my hurt" he cried, ''but
| pity them, and, as God Is my judge, !
forgive them"
This provoked another burst of wild
applause, and the speaker, growing
fiercer, continued in his most torcetul
tones -
Il have stood silent amid SANDER
and vituperation as concocted by con-
spirators in Washington, in Lexington
aud elsewhere.
ITO these men Of the press. who
have 50 foully maigned me and mine,
have nothing to offer but scorI and
contempt, and to one and all hurl
this defiance. If any man feels that he
is meant by these remarks, | am ready
and willing TO settle the issue with hin
in any manner Or at any place.
His reference TO eX-Rcpresentative
Benjamin Butterworth, his counsel, and
other friends was touching in the
extreme, and elected the warmest ap-
plause.
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 wars close. Then
he spoke of his election to the House 10
succeed Captain Blackburn, and said
that he was not seeker after office.
He rapidly sketched the events leading
up to the nomination of Hancock and
his defeat. He touched on taxation
and the tariff bills and paid his respects
to President Cleveland's career as chief
executive OF the United States.
Referring to his trial in Washington,
he said sit is charged that the revela-
tons concerning my private life have
shown that / am not fit to be q Repre-
sentative that that renders it the duty
of the district to set me aside; that q
reelection would be looked upon as "a
vindication > that vote for me is a
vote of approval, and ifnot ofapproval,
of condonation.
eff this were so, my fellow-citizens, |
would not stand for reelection. | would
not accept your votes. would not live
in your midst. OF what l have been
guilty | have made public acknowledge
ment under oath in the sight of God
of the court and of the country. As to
the numberless charges made by those
who have conspired to destroy me, l
enter my indignant protest; against the
malice which has coined, the mendaci-
ty which has fabricated and the enmity
that has uttered the numberles5 lies
against me, in the presence of you, my
friends and constituents, with all the
memories that cluster about me and
surge upon me as speak, [ protest in
the name of God and of honor.
"But l do not wish this district to
conceive that l have any defense to
make for what l have done and OF
which 1 have been guilty. Entangled
by weakness, by passion, by sin, IN
coils which it was almost impossible to
break, did everything that was with
in my power to prevent public scan
dial, except the one thing, which for no
moment ever entered my mind. Your
reelection of me can neither take
from nor add to the punishment | have
suffered. 1t has not been hypocrisy
that my life has not been consistently
wrong; / knew the secret; | tried to
atone for it in ways to which it is not
becoming to me to more than allude.
"Now that exposure has come there
is an element Of gladness i'll it. | care
not now what letters come in my MALL
| care not now for the closet door to be
opened-there is no skeleton there,
and | can 60 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.
I am not afraid that from the horizon
will suddenly come clap Of thunder
and flash OF lightning that will de-
stroy me and mine. This is of the
past.
81 will wear with me the scars, but
will not longer carry the dread. will
come out of that storm, however long
it may last, in some respects conqueror.
1.-The extent of my guilt was truth
fully confessed by me to its utmost
| boundaries without justification or pal