The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-21
AND ASKS HIS Rival TO DO so.
4 Plain Challenge 10 the AdminiStra-
tion and Its Friends.
The Kentucky Senator Puts Himslf on
Record as Free ~Ilverfte of the
Nevada school, and BIDS Carlisle
10 Come Ont For Gold or Withdraw
From the Canvass.


outlines his position on the silver Ques-
ton and boldly throws down the gaunt-
let TO his opponents for similar candor'
on the same subject With his usual ag-
gressiveness the senator almost dares his
opponents 10 meet him on the issue he
represents. and IL may he assumed the
challenge will be promptly accepted. Sem
ator Blackburn has written with his own
hand the statement ofs the position on
which he expects 10 stand or fall In the
senatorial race. He declares his position
as follows:
"If have heretofore shown any indis-
position 10 be interviewed in the daily
papers OF this city. IL has not been be-
cause OF my purpose 10 conceal from the
paople my views on any public question.
but because I was anxious 10 avoid. II
possible. the perversion and distortion 20
which my utterances have generally. OF
course unintentionaIly, been subjected.
/ never had, have now, and never intend
10 have. any secrets In politics.
II am at loss to understand how any
one. especially in kentucky. can remain
in ignorance as to my sentiments upon
the silver question If they feel enough
interest In the matter to desire such in
formation. For the last twenty years,
IN congress and on the stump, anywhere
and everywhere. / have earnestly. and
persistently insisted upon the restoration
OF silver metal 10 that place Ia the money
system of the country which II held prior
to the passage OF that disastrous act of
demonstration in 1873. IL there Is one
man in public life in all the country
whose views on the subject were entitled
to be known to all men by reason of his
acts and utterances, I had reason 10 be-
lieve I was that man. Upon this subject
I have never held an opinion or made an
utterance that / have in the slightest de-
T. -.
Yet. II there is stili any uniformed who
desire to know my views. l viii reiterate
them In the shortest space possible by
saying ! am In favor of opening the
mints OF this country TO the unlimited
coinage OF the silver metal on an equality
with the coinage of gold. am opposed
to gold mono-metaiiism, and Just as much
opposed 10 silver mono-metallism. With
out reservation. / am bi-metallist. l
want, and mean TO continue to insist
upon. the use Of both metals on even
terms as the redemption money of this
country. / would be glad TO see this re-
suit brought about by the action OF an
international conference, provided II
could Re done without delay. ! am OPP
posed TO this government waiting for any
such conference 10 act. Our experience
with such agencies has not been such as
to give ms either confidence or hope OF
the attainment OF this purpose. Upon
the contrary, our particlpations in such
conferences have in their very barren
ness become farcical and ridiculous.
I'm 1892 this country, with only o. 90
people, was bold enough 70 prove ! ~
able 20 discard the monetary system q
Great Britain and establish one OF It's own
which, for nearly 100 years met every de-
nfand and stood every strain that the
growth and development OF the country
put upon H. I believe the destruction
entailed upon us by this demonetiZation
policy OF one-half of our redemption mon
ey has contributed more than any cause
10 the shfnkage OF all values. the de-
preciat ton OF all property. the stagnation
Of trade. the paralysis OF industry. the
financial troubles IN which we find our
selves. While II may he true that the
restoration OF silver TO its place or unre-
etricted coinage and unlimited legal tender
function may not prove a panacea Tor tho
ills that we now suffer, I am convinced
II will do more and 20 further In that
direction than any one piece OF legislation
that has been suggested. ] have an abid-
ing faith in the capacity OF this metal
70 work out and maintain It's permanent
PARITY with gold provided the oppressive
hand of the law Is removed and the uints
OF the country thrown open 10 It's coin
age I believe and always did believe,
that the act af 1878 was an unconstitu-
tlonal measure. I believe that the act OF
rS-2 would have been 80 held by the su-
nrnrse court OF the United States had
not n uartisan spirit dominated the action
of that court This conviction have stat
Cd In debate on the floor OF the senate as
broadly as I put II here
"I agree with Daniel Webster VINO, IN
his day and even to this day. was and Is
s.ilI held - he something OF an authority
as a constitutional lawyer He declared
iha. the constitution Of the Tnted states
made GOLD and silver the redemption mon
~ os this country and that neither con
gresz nor any state had any riEhtful
mower 20 substitute any other, nor 20 de-
atrav either the one or the other or these
metals II congress had the power TO de-
r,onetize silver II must Be conesded that
:. had the same power to demoneiize
eold Il rad seen At 10 exercise this as
sumeS vower as 70 one OF these metals
fEad II exercised the same power over the
othar. the anomaous and somewhat en-
harra rassing condition would have been
presented OF no money az all IL they
could strike down half they could strike
down all
stiva- metal az he ratio % - 20 ], be-
ua,-frr ia the Hight % an experience tnat
covers a century. that such ratio VIII
establish and maintain permanently the
,a~i,v s,atvveen the two metals. believe
=
4av -aszyNle. independent Of the policies
i or views Of other nations. have an aDid-
try faith lu the sslllty ~ my country 70
asfahlfsh and maintain rs own nonsts ny
system. as cherish Us ability 20 dTieni
gts shores from invasion or It's insts'u-
tsens from assault
-, nv fufE~nelt We are aS indepefd-
en-. os foreign dscsafson in one as in ihe
other In August. 1910. when tic oili pro
v,ostnr 20 repeal the purchasing clause ~
x~ras vas known as the Sherman act was
Negor@ the senate I SAID. IN speech then
sn% there. that 7 wantsd the FiEnt OF
,.t-a~e for he silver metal ana thaf
~,rhout limitation: that ~ seiEniorase
Us v-hsr nv opponents demanded. / was
,z,4T1{-ry not "a a matter OF fairness, but
.v a S-,srFt cf compromise. that the gov
eminent should take - per cent. or - Per
.-er. ar 3 Per cent, or even = neT cent
AZ ne silver buillon presented Tor coin
az a. that x the question oe -as&o was
r-hss vas The trouble. ! was Wiling. nos
-,af+s- a Justice. but 81 spirit o.:
'-e,1~,vr~,fxa ~ = 20 was not acceptable
- 80 - - . or even a ratio % y "a
rg-.s 4f,e erzsomanfs ~ this metal wera
-. - h4 y1srafe5 ~ any concessions
rs,baw or the Ene % Increased setgn'or-
49, or advanced ratio T5ey had destroy
~ sha rsessI - \ process tnat nas never
/ &~@~ tn nay OPINION. successfully tustttaed
s a-s 49,, rs,e hoz- of So taking effect En-
- ,,s,-v- rt-er have never been Hs1sng thai
- ss.,ssd BE- refastAfed Let those wa
80 so~k 10 dtsso~s ard psrvert the a.
E s,s@ ren5fnx. the effort VII fan Ias
/ ary,erscaa p1onle are not - o~ BOOB
wzukea o. Deceived further. 1Esy are =