The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-11-26
DEATH OF AN sMTNENT kENTUcNAN.

Breckenridge are to be found In two
rather incidental NOTES.-THE fact
that be failed in five attempts At
reelection to congress after the
scandal connected with his name ADD
the fact that no other funeral in his
state, except those OF Clay and Beck,
was ever so largely attended. These
facts show that while the people OF
the old Ashland district would not
lend countenance to personal
immortality, they were willing to pay,
at least in death, the tribute due to
great parts.
Aud none knew Of these great parts
so we'll as those who honored
BrecKenridge before his public dis
grace and refused to honor him after
it. Kentuckians are usually
provincial; aud 1t may With perfect
justice be said that but for a great
speech at an Iroquois club banquet,
his great maiden effort 10 congress on
the 'pauper pension BILL" and the
scandal, which the newspapers
delighted to spread everywhere, the
outside world would hardly have known
OF him at all or would have known him
only as one Of the Breckeuridges. But
In his own state everybody has seen
and heard Breckenridge. Everybody
in Kentucky has heard his trumpet
like voice and seen his massY shock
OF white hair wave as II In accompain-
ament to the ecstasy Of his exuber-
ant utterance. He enjoyed a dlstinc-
tion in his own state somewhat above
his deserts. His family was one that
had honOred Kentucky aud that
Kentucky had delighted to honor.
His name, William Oabell Preston
Breckenridge, only needed to add
Randolph, Lee and Marshall to have
embraced about all Of the greatest
families Of Maryland, Virginia and
Kentucky; and he was connected With
at least two OF these. a creditable
record in the war between the states
and eloquence early manifested at
the bar taught the people to expect
/, much Of him. But he disappointed
their expectations. He never came
, to be regarded as a great lawyer,
though he was a most effective
advocate. His congressional career
r was cut short, but it Is safe to say
I. that II he had remained IN congress
for thirty years he would not have
S become a statesman Of commanding
rank. He did not doJe on drudgery
e and no man can be really great o.
e thorough to whom this grace is no
n given.
Breckenridge was a marvelousl.
eloquent man both 10 conversation
!, and in formal discourse. He Otter
wrote and memorized his speeches
but except in the matter of condensa
tion he seemed to do as well withou
such preparation. There was
! captivating recklessneSs about th
=. way 10 which he would start In upoI
a sentence at a dependent clause o
even an obscure word-a perilou
practice which always made thos
r who heard him for the first tim
e tremble for him. But he wa
G perfectly safe. His capacity 70
q assembling words into every admisE
Is able form OF sentence structure kneV
1t no limit and constituted enc Of tn
& charms Of his speech. Anothe
charm or blemish, according to tn
creed of the nearer, was his Eonorou
%enunciation. He chanted hl
speeches. 1t was impossible at
great distance to tell whether he wa
speaking or singing. II the reader {
8 this article never heard B%reckenridp
and would form an idea Of his peculis
> style of oratOry, let him take I'll
= following extract quoted frol
=, memory and possibly not absolutel
correct; let him pronounce the'
words in a high, emotional ton
resonant, with proper emphasi
and with a sustained musical unde
NJ tone:
w "We celebrate the natal day Of OF
Ia who was neither poet, soldier, artis
n. orator, nor divine. No sect is Gale
,s by his name. No graves nor bloc
IT. stains sanctify his triumphs. \
no listening crowds were driven In
he acts Of herOism by the wonderf
nowar NJ his sneech And vet,