The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-02
A Potent Personality and Brilliant Ora
tory That Would Have Won Sue
cess in the Ministry.
INCIDENTS OF THE CANVASS
characteristics Of Others Who
Are Seeking the Nomination.
Breckenridge May Win in the Primaries,
but 1t Will Simply Mark the Be-
ginning of the Struggle.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LEXINGTON, KY, Sept. 1.-The first
murder has occurred over the Breckenridge
canvass for denomination, and one having
knowledge of these people and the situa-
ton can hardly dare hope that the 18th OF
September. primary voting day. will see the
last. ON Wednesday two men met on the
pike near Boonesboro. They had been good
neighbors for years. One was a Breckin-
ridge man, the other anti-Breckinridge. A
slignting word was spoken. and promptly
resented. The men dismounted, knives were
drawn and one was stabbed TO death
A stranger from the North finds difficult
ty at first liz grasping the real relations OF
things down here. At the same time his is
the advantage of an ability TO exercise an
unirnpassioned, unprejudiced Judgment
The character OF the contest in this
Seventh congressional district for the next
nomination OF the Democratic party is
unique in the country's history. The merits
OF the Breckenridge case are of general
knowledge, but there are some features Of
the canvass. pertaining principally TO the
personalities OF the candidates, which are
both interesting in themselves and elucida-
tive Of many otherwise inexplicable hap
penings in the course of the contest. That
COuScSl &c AOW a. DAOO0 LcdlB Al PdLNlSdu
animosities are already dangerously acute.
Nominally there are three men in the
fight, practically but two-BreckInridge and
Owens. One is a self-confessed adulterer.
another has admitted he was a %drunkard
who neglected his wife and family. and the
third does not deny that he is an intimate
of professional gamblers and "tickles the
tiger whenever he feels like it. Nympho-
o-fo 1fna4ponnfoa ond o.1nropnap &c
they are an interesting trio. and each has
something more than average ability,
though none reaches the level OF distinctive
greatness. Your correspondent has met all
three, and would sum them up thus:
Colonel Breckenridge would have shone.
scintillated even, as the popular pastor
of a fashionable city church, had he fol-
lowed the profession of his truly admirable
father. That is the sphere for which ma
ture seems to have especially nodded him.
His oratory, which is so much lauded. has
the distinctive flavor of the pulpit. while
Intellectually he is a dilettant, and to the
consideration of all economic or political
questions he brings the feelings and the
Judgment of the dealer in mental bric-a-
brac. And this quality of Breckinridge's is
one to which, after his patronymic. he
owes most of his popularity in Kentucky
for he is popular here, immensely popular.
and when the votes are polled on the 18th
the measure Of his popularity. albeit he
wears the scarlet letter in the sight of all.
will surprise the people without the boun-
daries of Kentucky.
Breckenridge has a most persuasive per-
s~onality. His picture, familiar to all, gives
little idea of the man. When he leans
faru-o ~ in 1nfc chair IN which ho 1olla
rather thar sits, to greet a man or boy for
the first time, his mouth and eyes smile
beautifully, and the almost caressingly sib-
liant quality of his voice conquers the new
conner, while the affectionate pressure OF
his soft, plump, sensuous hand seems to
have a mesmeric power hard to neutralize.
ALI young men who come under his per-
sopal, bodily influence are his. The Breck-
inridge button is most prevalent on the
coat lapels of youths in Lexington. But
the man has grit, too; he is a fighter. and
whatever the strain on him he fiaunts the
appearance OF the indomitable. Your cor
respondent has met him in a situation
fitted to test a strong man. On the 10th
of August the Breckenridge forces had a
great rally at Georgetown, Scott county,
the home of Hon. w. G. Owens, Colonel
Breckinridge's opponent. Free excursion
LII III III 44OAl Oil AZ VI lAC
district, and some eight thousand OF the
Breckenridge clan invaded the pretty little
country town. 1t was court day. the streets
were thronged with Scott county folks.
and on the breast of every lady, the coat
lapel of every man, was an owens badge.
On every house in town, excepting not
more than half a score, was tackled q
large card that bore the legend, Our
Choice for Congress, Hon. W. c. Owens"
1t was Owens, Ovens everywhere. Colonel
Breckenridge sat in a small bedroom. No.
q, designated the "Breckinridge headquar-
ters," in the Lancaster Hotel. to receive
his friends. Few came. When he greeted
your correspondent 1t was bravely done.
but he could not quite hide the true state
of his feelings. Breckenridge can't make
much of a speech to-day" was my mental
Yet the opposition. which was
only silently visible. not audible anywhere,
nerved him, and he made one Of the best
speeches of the campaign. And fully one
third Of the six hundred who listened to
him bore the Owens badge.
A thought has come to me here that
few people OF the Ashland district would
care to consider warranted. / think Col
Breckenridge has a certain contempt fol
the very people whose suffrages he solicits
though his is not by any means the Con.
oianus bearing. Mr.. Settle has the Ken
lucky habit of using the old English parti'
ciple gotten and IL Is amusing to heal
the fine s~cornful stress Breckenridge layi
on the word as he quotes Settle, and or
several occasions the Colonel has gone on,
OF his way to speak OF the Kentucky YER
nacular. He himself has a fine aptitude In
! phrase formation and he possesses tht
dilettant's scorn OF the commonplace in
speech and the simple in thought.
STATUS OF II CONTEST.
But what chance does he stand OF being
renominated? His chances are very good
True, the best people Of the district are
against him, but the voting power OF pop
ular sentiment is an indefinite quantity
and. in the phrase of the wise George Mer
edith, "in action virtue goes by majors
ties" Had the question come to a vot.
two months ago Colonel Breckinridg'
would have been beaten badly. but every
day has added TO his chances OF success
Yet. let me say here that IL may be thai
an ebb OF the tide is beginning. ana tina
the anti-Breckinridge forces are getting
second wind. The greatest demonstrate
of the whole campaign occurred here OF
the 22d. when over $1,000 men. women an