National Republican., 1883-01-06
THE SPEAKERS SHIP.
Two Entries From Kentucky in the Race for
This Great Prize.
Joe blackburn Tells Cincinnati Rcpor-
tor What lie Thinks OF Carlisle.


A correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer
met Joe Blackburn on n railway trainbetwoen
Frankfort and Midway one day during the
holidays, and thus reports what that genial
democrat had to say then and there about
the spcakership. 1t is reported that Mr..
Blackburn has since corrected his reported al
lusion TO Mr.. Morrison as candidate, as that
gentleman is not really regarded as in the
race at all, hut as Joe himself might say,
I" the rest goes as IL lays"
"Thc making the race for the spcakcrship,"
said Mr.. Blackburn, "docs not involve the
severance of our kindly personal relations. 1t
certainly is not q personal matter with me.
In this respect have been put in very false
light by persons who suppose, would find
fault with me under any circumstances.
There is no question" continued Mr.. Black
burn, "but that the contest for the speaker
shin of the next house is being vigorously
prosecuted at this time, But the situation is
vastly different from that represented in the
newspapers. | must not be understood as
speaking In disparagcmcrt of Mr.. Carlisle,
but one would suppose, from certain news
paper reports that have gone out, that
he was almost the unanimous choice
opposed to Mr.. Randall and the princi
pies he so ably represents. | discovered
when | went to Washington that this was
delusion and that his strength is mainly in
the newspapers. Said friend to me, Car
isles strength must have vanished | can
not iiud It," Take his own state of Kentucky,
said Mr.. BlaCkhu aud he has but two sup
portors out of the democratic delegation
willis and Mckenzie. had been informed
that the, Missouri delegation was solid for
him. / have met but three Ofthcm, and they
are for me. Mr.. Morrison is my friend, and,
as he announces, Il candidate for the speaker
ship against Carlisle, Randall, or anybody
else, if am not. / was told Louisiana was
solid for him. ! learn that is not so, and the
same may be said of Arkansas.
WHY BLACKBURN Is A CANDIDATE.
After recounting various delegations and
congressman reported TO be for Carlisle who
were not but who favored either Morrison or
Blackburn, the latter said, with some earnest
ness: Now, why should not he II candidate
for the spcakcrslip when | am backed by
majority of my own state delegation, and EN-
couragcd by more friends representing the
sentiment of the west and south than Mr..
Carlisle possesses? | entered the race against
Mr.. Randall in the last democratic house,
representing principle directly opposite to
that championcd by Mr.. Randall, and was
beaten by only nine VOtcs-the closest vote IN
was protcctionist, while | favored a tariff
for revenue. We stand in the same relation
politically that we stood in then. What has
occurred since then which tOrbds my in
diligence of laudablc ambition, and my
again asking the support of my personal and
party friends in Il struggle for the triumph of
o principle? ] do not cnCroach upon any
ground occupied by Mr.. Carlisle.
CARLISLE \ COMPROMISE MAN.
49, tI,,. "a, 10,
The people of the west and south want posi-
tive policy upor the question of the tariff
They know that il is burdcnsOmC and unjust
and thcy want relief. The temper of the pcO-
pie was we'll known in Mr. Morrisons contest.
His district is republican by 5000 majority,
and yet he was reelected by majority of
1000. He took up and discussed upon the
hustings the iniquitous tariff declared him
self frcc-traacr, Il tariFior revenue man, and
won upon that issue.
"Sinilarl? that other distinguished free
trader, Hon. Frank IIurd, of Ohio, conducted
his contest aud won il in the Toledo district.
These men advocated an aggressive policy, and
represent the growing sentiment of the west
and south. Mr.. Carlisle docs not. Randall
represents well defined and an aggressive
policy: so does Morrison. Carlisle, ON the
other hand, Is regarded as compromise man
on the tariff. The friends Of Randall would
prefer Carlisle to either Morrison or my
nomination for the spCakership, will
support Carlisle for il. Therein is
the secret of whatever strength he has. To
illustrate: Notwithstanding the lesson of the
elections what is the first thing Mr.. Carlisle
does upon his return to his congressional du-
ties2 He and Randolph Tucker bring in a
bill to remove the internal revenue tax from
tobacco, at time, too, when the report of the
tariff commission was hanging over our heads
undisposed Of Here was an attempt to re-
duce the internal revenue, and, as the gov
ernment must have means to conduct its af-
fairs, throw an obstacle in the way of Il Tcduc-
tion of the tariff Iwent,' said Mr.. Blackburn,
"to Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Tucker and told them
what i thought about it, and assured them that
would not only vote against the measure, but
speak against it, and If necessary filibuster
against it, So far, the introduction of the bill
has resulted only in disaster to the tobacco in.
terest. am opposed to relieving even the
tobacco growers of my own state of 50 tax
which goes into the public treasury and is
expended for the administration of the gov.
ernment, and leave them subject to still
heavier tax, which goes into the pockets OF
the protected manufacturers of the east.
"I If my people rcpudiate me for that shall
bow my head in submission; but will never
vote TO remove the tax from the luXurics OF
life and leave il upon the ncCcssnrics | shall
never vote to remove the tax upon tobacco
and whisky so long as it remains upon sugar
and coffee. j shall hasten back to Washington
to use my utmost endeavor in opposition tC
that bill.
SOME COLLATERAL. ISSUES.
" But that is the sort of legislation which
suits Mr.. Randall and his friends while IL /,
directly opposed to the views of the majority
of the western and southern members. Ii
has been limited that have some personal
motive in making this race against Mr. Car,
Isle. Nothing could be more unjust to me.
candidly admit it is unfortunate that We
should both be candidates for the speaker.
ship, as we hail from the same state. But |
thought under the circumstances il was Mr.
Carlisles place to come to me and speak about
the matter rather than | should 20 to him.
But although we meet every day he has never
mentioned the subject to me. You see, upon
the next legislature of Kentucky will de.
Volve the duty of eccting United States
senator to succeed Gen. John S. Williams.
Mr. Carlisle was pretty generally credited
with n desire TO obtain that honorable place.
Partial friends mentioned my own name in
the same connection. 1t was generally un-
derstood throughout my state that would
be n candidate for the spealicrship, and / was
willing to step aside, and, so far us | was con-
cerned, give Mr., Carlisle an open path to the
senatOrship. But when | went to Washing
ton found that my colleague was quietly
elbowing me out of the way for the place /
III. =