The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-05-18
COL BREoK1NRIDeE AMONG his
CONSTITUENTS.

Wy uesCflDlng his early home
and llie, 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
TO succeed Captain Blackburn and said
tnat he was not seeker after Office.
he rapidly sketched the events lead.
ing up to the nomination CT Hancock
and his defeat. He touched on the
taxation and the tariff bills and paid
his respects to President Clevelapd's
career as Chief Executive of the
United States.
Referring to his trial in Washington
he said 1T is charged that the re.
velations concerning my private life
have shown that am not fit to be a
Representative that renders it the
duty OF the district to set me aside
that re election would be looked up
on as 'vindication that a vote for
me is vote of approval, and if not of
approval of condonation. If this we're
so, my fellow citizens, would not
stand for re election would not ac.
cept your votes would not live in
your midst. OF what have been guilty
| have made public Acknowledgement
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, I
enter my indignant protest against
the malice which has coined, the men.
dacity which has fabricated and the
enmity that has uttered the numberless
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,
protest in the name Of God and of
honor.
NO DEFENSE TO MAKE.
" But | 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 sir, in
coils which it was almost impossible
to break, l did everything that was
within my power to prevent public
scandal, 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
l have suffered. 1t has not been hypoc-
risy that my life has not been consist
emily wrong | knew the secrets; l
tried to atone for it in ways that it is
t not becoming in me to more than al
lude. How many kind words did this
! atonement produce to others how
much of self control and how much of
= self-sacrihce how much of earnest
= ness and labor in aid of good things to
E good causesp When / came to make
e a public utterance under any circum.
: stances to any audience how cautious
S was l that no word Of mine might
tempt others to be guilty as l was
e guilty.
] Now that exposure has come there
t is an element of gladness in it. | care
r not now what letters come in my mail
| care not now for the closet door to
It be opened there is no skeleton there,
c and can 60 into the clear sunlight
: out of mystery and look up through
n the blue skies into the upper worlC
n with the feeling that there is no clouc
), there. | am not afraid that from the
n horizon will suddenly come clap O.
y thunder and flash Of lightning tha
n will destroy me and mine. That is o
y the past. | will wear with me the
C scars, but l will not longer carry the
e dread. / will come out of that storm
l. however long it may last, in some res
c poets conqueror.
y AN ELOQUENT APPEAL.
e " The extent of my guilt was truth
e fully confessed by me to its utmos
r boundaries, without justification o
= palliation. To that extent was guilty
o beyond that / was innocent. What
a ever charge OF any kind made agains
a me by any person not confessed IL
e that solemn tt testimony, for the trutl
|. of which | appealed to God, is false
o desire this acknowledgement anC
e denial to be fully understood, tina
a. there may be no misunderstanding here
" after. In your presence to-day, and ii
N the presence of the district, ! repea
d that for that sin of which / was guilt
IS have no justification no palllation
N and ask no condonation.
.e :" If someone in your midst can bet
n ter do the work you want done as you
Representative, choose him; | sha
re- submit someone whose life has bee,
e stainless, whose morals your youn
is men can initiate with profit who's
,e DAYS have been pure and whose night
q have been sinless whose ability
ID ample, whose experience is wide Fo
,e hundred years this district has bee
W represented by men. They have nc