Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1895-06-06
SENATOR BLACKBURN'S GREAT SPEECH.


Owenton, ny. May p, Special.
Senator Blackburn to-day addressed
the people OF Owen county on tn,
currency question. He spoke in tn,
court house, and there was not an
inch of standing left when h,
began, and large number of peopl,
crowded the doors, unable to gel
IN. His audience was with him from
the start and the applause given t.
hls utterances was frequent and yO
ciferous. The Senator said:
Ladies and Gentlemen IL 1 had been
permitted to select jury before whom /,
try the important issue pending now ia &C.
tive poliucs before the American people
within the limits OF my scq uaintsnce, know
OF no spot to which would have turned
SO readily as to tni. sssemhlage OF honest.
hearted, sturdy Democrats who live in
Owen county. Ii | may not safely rest the
cause Of the old party before this people,
then surely there is no jury outside Of that
hnal aroiter that awaits US ali where We
might expect TO obtain justice. The best
the purest type Of Democracy that | know
within the limits OF this and, is To- be found
within the State of Kentucky. This grand
old Commonwealth never knew the pains
and pangs Of an era OF reconstruction II
never wore the shackles forged by the pros
Tuition OF military power that was imposed
upon the States 70 the south ward YOU
never passed through that humiliatlng eG-
perlence tnat other southern States were
forced ~ endure when their representation
Was denied, perverted and distorted, when
no man cvu d had admission 10 the council
chambers Of tue country that came from
Soutern State unless he wore upon his front.
let tue Label OF carpet Dagger or scalawag.
hentuaky has always been peopled by free
men aud free women, and tue consequence
mas been that she has Kept these yestal fires
burning and her Democracy purer and
brighter than elsewhere upon tins continent.
And within the limits Of this great old |
state OF ours, among the one hundred and |
nineteen counties that cluster together to /
form this Common wealth, there l. not one |
whose Democracy, in my judgment, whose |
devotion 10 liberty, stands brighter or more
unchallenged than that Of the proud old |
Democratic county whose citizens face me
to-day. So | have right to be satisfied
No matter what the verdict that may be
rendered here in advance, | announce my
readiness and willingness to accept this jury
without = single challenge, and leave the
Issue OF this controversy to your decision.
The shifting Of politics is rapid and
great. Foe third of century or more
two great political organizations have been
struggling for the mastery in this land OF
ours. Questions OF great Importance have
divided them. Taxing systems and cur.
rency systems have constituted two great .
pivotal issues upon which the Republicans
and Democrats have struggled with each
other. This contest Is peculiar AZ least IN |
this, that for the hrst time in thirty years
you hear nothing of the tariff question. Ii /.
has been temporarily eliminated from
American politics. The high protective
tariff system under which the tax payers OF :
this land for SO many years have groaned and =
staggered has been stricken to the earth. :
and in It's stead Democratic low-grade, So =
called iree.trade tariff bill was substituted =
upon the 18th day Of last August. | need !.
not consume my time nor trench upon your 4
patience with any discussion Of the tariff Al
law. At least for some years to come II Is y
agreed upon all hands that II is not an issue A
in active politics. q
l may Ms well come direct without pref I
ace, to the one great pivotal national issue
that is now absorbing the attention Of the
American people, and that is the currency ,
question. When we come to look At that
we find new and novel phases TO eontem-
plate The parties 10 the country are d.
vided upon this issue, and yet 1t must be ad-
mitted, however unfortunate the condition,
that both the Republican and Democratic
parties to degree themselves are divided
upon this great question. 1t Is not IN my
power to overstate the Importance OF TINS
issue. 1t is not within mortal power 10 do
justice in this attempt to describe the lar
reaching consequences that depend upon
the settlement that you are to make oi TINS
issue There can be no question presented
that reaches more directly ~ every man
and every woman within the limits OF this
land than does this money question. In
some Of its aspects it is even more lmpor'
tant than the taris 1t is true that 1t is
matter Of no small significance to the pro-
ducing elements of this country whether
your taxes are to be high or low but IT Is
of still more importance to you to have this
money question settled upon fair and
honorable basis.
What matters 1t 10 you or to me whether
our taxes be high or low2 What matters 1t
to US whether our taxes be one dollar or
two dollars year provided we have not
any dollar with which 10 pay elmer
This money question reaches TO the pocket
of every citizen of this great continent OF
ours; it challenges your best Judgment
YOUR soberest thought. The most careful
Consideration that is possible for any intel
lgent, prudent, patriotic citizen to give to
any issue is what this great question de-
mands and should receive at your hands.
mean to-day to make myself understood,
il it be possible, by every human being
within the sound of my voice. 1t is my
purpose 10 talk in English so plain and 50
that neither man nor
woman nor ten. year-old child who have
paid me the compliment Of their presence
here, shall fail 10 understand precisely what
| mean ! do not mean to indulge IN
or misleading terms. have
no more patience with the political shys-
Ter" who by such methods and such ap- Z
phanees would seek 10 hoodwtnk ana mis- |
lead the people than have for the quack
doctor or shys,er" lawyer in their pro |
fssslons.
TAG rnnrA rAtntN OTATCn