The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-21
POWERlN A SENTENCE
IT WAS DELIVERED BY COLONEL
eREcKlNRloGE IN 1894.

II l were asked 20 name the greatest
speech ever heard, / should select the ont
delivered by Colonel W. G. p. Breckinridg'
at the little town Of Athens, near Lexing
ton, which the Kentuckians insist upon
pronouncing Athens, during his memoir
able campaign for denomination in 1894
II was near the close of the campaign.
The whole blue grass region bad been In a
ferment of excitement for three months.
The partisans of Breckenridge and Owen
went heavily armed, expecting every min
ute something that would precipitate a
general melee Had fight been precipi-
tated at any of the meetings addressed by
Breckinridge be would have been one OF
the first 10 60 down under the fusillade. No
one knew this better than Colonel Brock
inridgc, and yet neither by quaver of voice
nor finch CT muscle did he display the least
sign of fear. | watched him every day for
more than three weeks when the nervous
tension was so great that scores Of men
more robust than he had been ordered 70
bed by their physicians lest they collapse,
and he seemed utterly unmindful Of any
unusual excitement.
The sentiment in the Athens neighbOr-
hood was about equally divided between
Breckenridge and owen. The women
there, as elsewhere through the district,
were arrayed in hostile camps. Owen had
made a speech In the town a few weeks be-
FORE and the Breckenridge people had de-
termined TO eclipse, in point of attendance
and enthusiasm, the meeting OF the Owen
followers. The day was sultry. The sun
shone brazenly through a sky unlocked
with a single cloud The leaves hung limp
and parched and motionleSs on the trees
which bordered the white stretch of turn
pike road leading from Lexington 10
Athens. Colanel Breckenridge drove out
over this breeZeloss. dusty road with an
escort of mounted kentuckians, who made
the sultry air vibrant with their wild en-
thusiasm. A carriage load Of correspond
ents followed in the cloud Of dust raised by
the rural cavalry. We were regarded with
suspicion because we were careful 70 &c.
clare our neutrality.
Great hordes of people came pouring into
the town from all points Of the compass.
A troop Of handsome women mounted on
gayly caparisoned and high stepping Ken
tucky horses swept down the main street |
and out TO the meeting place amid a salvo !
Of shouts that shook the armament. Men |
sashed and belted moved I'm columns like |
infantry at drill. Bright faced girls and |
rollicking boys marched 20 the roll of |,
drums and screams Of flies. In the blaz- !
ing sun stood flCcks Of bareheaded women l
and coatless men chattering like so many |
geese. These were Owens local partisans, |
who looked sullenly on the Breckenridge /
followers, drunk with the hope of victory. |
The speakers stand had been erected |
under large apple tree whose branches
spread out 10 prodigious lengths. 1t was
in the center Of "A 200 acre blue grass pas
ture. Fully 5000 people crowded around |
the stand. They were massed closer than
if they had been In a hall. owen root
ers" were scattered all through the throng.
The crash and Llare Of the band could not
be heard for the shouts Of the men, tho
screams Of The women and the shreks of |
the children when the carriage containing |
Colonel Breckenridge drove into the
grounds The noise increased as he as
cenaod tic PLATFORM In an instant after
be waved bis hands FOR order the tumult
ceased. one could almost hear the heart
beats of those nearest him. Without the
Ormallty of an introduction the colonel
launched ouJ into bis speech. For ten min
ltCa not q sound was made Then his fol-
overs roguiueI possession Of their facul-
les and soon lost IL again in roars Of APP
Ilause. Sometimes he would have 10 stop |
ulking for two or three minutes until the
storm Of enthusiasm had spent itself
He had been speaking about half an hour
md had reached one OF those tremendous
.limaxes Of which only those who have sat
Indcr the spell OF bis eloquence know the
brill Women were crying and broad
'hcsted men were hugging each other in a
lelirium of JOY. The correspondents,
hough trained 70 such scenes had dropped
heir pencils and closed their notebooks
They, too, were shouting and screaming
ike maniacs.
Gradually the noise and uproar died
way. just as we were in that calm which
ollows a storm and Colonel Breckenridge
lad stepped forward TO resume his speech.
here came shooting through the palpitat-
ng air this defiant shout, in shrill, pip
ng voice:
Hurrah for Owen"
Men sprang from their seats as If from
n electric shock. The women's means
,roke out in hysterical shrek. The cor
with blanched faces, looked
ppeallngly al one another for advice as to
low TO save themselves from the fusilade
which IL seemed certain was coming.
3reckinridge vas the only calm person in
hat vast assemblage of men and women
Inxlous to get az the insolent individual
Who bad the hardihood at such a supreme
moment TO shout for Owen at a Breckin-
'idge meeting. The colonel turned slowly
md looked unconcernedly about him.
Then, casting his eyes upward he saw
'linging to limb not five feet above his
head small oy, who was grinning with
the satisfaction afforded him by the effect
1f his shrill voice in giving vent 60 that
defiant shout. Breckenridge smiled with
hearty good nature, and with graceful
wafture toward the brazen little INN who
had so rudely broken the effect Of his ire
mendous climax, he faced the audience
again and said.
Ladies' and gentlemen. had heard tbis
was bad year for fruit, and now / knqy
it is "
In a half laugh and half cry tho crowd
gave vent to its feeling and the terrific
cyclone of enthusiasm chat ensued swcut
the impudent youngster from his perch
into the arms Of a copcy OF women. who
had flocked close 10 the stand when they
saw the author of all the excitement. con.
fident that he would be torn TO pieces n |
they did not protect him.
The returns show that Colonel Breckin |