Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-05
The Campaign of Education.

better calculated to revive the faith in popular government of any doubter than the result of the recent campaign in Ken lucky. Three months ago M looked TO the casual observer as though the south was given over to the silver delusion, and it seemed to many a hopeless task to set the masses right. Kentucky in pafticu- lar appeared to be state that might be counted for free coinage through thick and thin" and ninety-nine out of every 100 politicians in the country thought that Blackburn had shown great shreWd- ness in making his canvass for re-elec- tiOn to the senate upon the 'lb-to-l plat form.
 Yet, within three months the situation in Kentucky underwent a complete trans formation. The issue of free coinage was distinctly raised in every primary, and fully attended democratic state conVen- tion declared for sound money by an overwhelming majority. Blaekburn's as- surance is gone, and the general opinion is that he no longer stands any chance or getting another term from the next leg islature.
 This revolution in public sentiment is due to campaign of education, in which the most potent force was the delivery ot a few speeches by Secretary Carlisle. The sound-money men resolved to make an appeal to the people and argue the matter out. The silver deTnagogueS had been making speeches full of sound and fury, signifyiHg nothing. MT. Carlisle $ addresses were entirely free from clap ap-straightforward, serious, anu lIn- pressive statements of the principles at stake There never was a more pointed contrast between the adcaptandum methods of the reckless stun speaker and the dignihed attitude of statesman who appeals to the intelligence and non esty of his hearers.
 There has been much speculation or late years as to whether the time had not passed when public opinion was much affected by a speech from proml- nent man. Webster and Clay ana Lln- coin delivered addresses which com manded ma tional attention and produced obvious results, but it has been held by some that such results could no longer be duplicated. The secretary or the treasury has shown that the public man who has something to say and Knows how to say it can still produce tre- mendous effect, not only upon those who hear his words but also upon the state and the nation.
 It is true of course that the orator IS a more impressive figure in the soueh than in the north, but we saw the same truth illustrated in northern state twenty years ago, when Carl Schurz made his effective speeches asalnSt lnfla- tion during the Ohio canvass or iSt5 N'h each side of the Ohio river the people are still glad to hear the man who has some thing to say worth their hearing, and in either section such a man can produce effects by sober and serious addresses that are the despair of the so-eallcd popular orator" who takes up every passing craze.
 Mr Cariisle's address before the sound money convention at Memphis was more generally and fully published by the press throughout the country than any other one of the series, and tributes to it's power are still being mace. A noteworthy case is reported from Mis- sissippi The Aberdeen Weekly is one of the most prominent newspapers in the northern part of the state Its editor was formerly a member of the legisia- ture, and some time ago announced hlS candidacy for the democratic nomination in the approaching election. In the issue of his paper for last week he announced his withdrawal from the race, on the ground that his views on the silver queS- ton had changed. Heretofore he has been strong free coinage man. but of late he has been studying the question diligently, reading all that was said on both sides, and has "come to the conclu- sion that the free silver craze is one indeed" As he could not go before the people and tell them that he believed in unlimited coinage when he did not, and as the party in the county is for free silver, he thinks it his duty to retire. In the course of his statement he says:
 "The speech of that great statesman, John G. Carlisle, at Memphis has never been answered. Many attempts have been made to do it, but they were mere bare assertions without any proof to sus- tain, them except an appeal to the prej- diceS of the masses"
 The recent experience of the south shows that the campaign of education" was never more effective than now Fi- nancial questions are hard ones for the people to comprehend. and it is easy for demagogues who go unchallenged to be- fog the issue. but it is only necessary for sensible men to present the matter clear ly and fairly to win a victory for the right As the Natchez, Miss, Democrat well says:
 "The masses Of the people are quick to learn, and. above all. they are honest; if their errors are pointed out to them they win not be slow to correct them, and in the correction will be apt to visit dire punishment upon those who had delib- erately sought to deceive and mislead them"