The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-06

LEXINGTON, KY, may Dol. w. =.
p. Breckenridge delivered here to-day
his opening address in the campaign for
denomination to Congress from the Ash
land district. The audience to 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
was delivered, were people representing
all classes OF industry. Many of them
were distillers and saloonists. Upon
the stage were placed about fifty
chairs and these were all occupied.
Colonel Breckenridge entered the stage
from the roar and coming forward was
met and grasped by the hand by every
one on the stage amid perfect roar of
applause from the floor, galleries and
balcony
Enthusiasm reigned supreme, and
throughout his speech he was applauded
every two or three minutes. He did
not believe the ministerial union, who
have taken action here against him,
had done 30 with the proper spirit. He
thought the members were very differ
ent from the Master they made believe
to serve.
His harsh criticism Of the Christian
people has hurt him with the better
classes, and it is doubted by many we'll
balanced persons II he did his cause any
good by his address hero to-day. Some
believe he has not made q vote, and has
placed himself up as target for the
sharpshooters in the pulpit and in the
press.
With clenched fist, he declared he had
sat silently by and allowed the press
correspondents to lie for three long
months. Their lies, he said, were con-
temptible. He lifted his eyes toward
heaven and forgave the ministers who
had raised their voices against him, but
excluded the newspaper fraternity, saw
ing that for those who had written
falsely of him he nothing but the bit
terest contempt.
These utterances brought forth the
most enthusiastic applause, and he was
forced to allow this to die out before he
could finish, and he said he was ready
and willing at any time when one of
these falsifers thought he was meant
to meet him and settle the matter with
him.
AS to oratory, conservative judges say
that the Grafton Of Colonel Breckinridpe
was the best they have ever had the
pleasure OF listening to. His friends
are we'll pleased with the rece ption, and
are arranging to give him like ovation
at Paris Monday.
Colonel Breckinridge began his speech
by describing his early home and lite,
his service in the Sou thern army, and
his career as editor, lawyer and states
man at the close of the war.
Referring to his trial In WASHINGTON.
he said
ut is charged that the revelations
concerning my private life have shown
that am not fit to be representa- tive,
that renders it the duty Of the district
10 set me aside, that the re election
would be looked upon as "a vindication,'
that to vote for me is vote of approval
and II not OF approval of condensation.
/! this were so, my fellow citizens, 1
would not stand for election, would
not accept your votes. I would not
live in your midst. Of what have been
guilty, have made public acknowledges
ment under oath in sight Of God and OF
court and OF country.
las to the numerous charges made by
those who have conspired TO destroy
me, enter my indignant protest against
the malice, which has coined mendacity,
which has fabricated, and enmity that
has uttered the mum berless 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 to-day, 1 protest in the
name of God and 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 l have been guilty, entangled by
weakness, by passion, by sin, in coils OF
which 1t was almost impossible to
break. did everything that was
wi min my power to prevent public
scandal, except one thing which for no
ever entered my mind.
Your reelection Of me can neither
take from nor add to the punishment /
have suffered. 1t has not been
l know that my life has
not been consistent. know that I
tried to atone for it in ways that are
not becoming in me to more than allude.
Now that exposure has come, there
is an element Of gladness in it. l care
not now what letters come in my mail;
L care not now for the closet door to be
ope ned-there is no skeleton there, and
can go into the clear sunlight out of
mystery ana LOOK up through the blue
skies into the upper world with the
feeling that there is no cloud there
'Tne extent OF my guilt was truth
fully confessed by me to its uttermost
boundaries, without justifcati or
palliation. To that extent was guilty;
beyond that was innocent. Whatever
charge. OF any kind, made against me
by any person, not confessed in that
solemn testimony, for the truth OF
which appeal to God, is false. I desire
this acknowledgment and denial 70 be
fully understood that there NAV be no