Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1894 — COL. BRECKINRIDGE’S DEFENSE. [ARTICLE]

COL. BRECKINRIDGE’S DEFENSE.

Col. W. FT P. Breckinridge was greeted at Lexington, Kyi, Saturday, by an audience as ?.,(;0) people, representing the Seventh Congressional district, and mado a lengthy and eloquent speech in his own behalf. Referring to his candidacy, he said that he did not regard a possible re-election as a “vindication or condonation” of his course in the Pollard matter. Continuing he said; Ido not wish this district to conceivo that! have any defense to make for what 1 have done, and of which I havo been guilty. Entangled by weakness, by passion,-by sin, in coils which it was almost impossible to break. LI did -verything that- was within my (powerto prevent, a public scandal except the one tiling w hich for no moment -ever entered my mind. Your re-election of mo -can wither take from nor add to the punishment 1 have suffered. It has not been hypocrisy .that my life has not been consistently wrong; I knew the secret sin;; I tried to atone for it in ways that it is not bomining in me to more than allude. If some one in your midst can better do the work you w a it done a; your representative, choose him; I■ shall submit; some me whose life lia; been stainless, whose nora's your young men can imitate -with profit; whose’ days have been pure and whose nights have been sinless; whose ability is a mple; whose experience is wide. For a hundred y< ars this district ha; been represented by men. They have not ihe-ays been-siniess'nmn.-and■ whether ytm-;v-e.ect or reject me, her. after when some one eome; to write its history, whatever biame.nia.’ at!a di to me, he will write of me Tb at,even wit It tim t hi a mo, ire loved the poor. heUmilei for liis fellow-men. he abored for good i a isos: and at this his—mrhui turns over the pares of the record in' which my; uttmanccs are contained, lie will rise from them with the-belied that l warioyal to my principles, faithful to truth, devoted to you.