Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-23
What Senator Blackburn's Invita-
ton to Debate Means.
TEE SILVER FIGHT IN KENTUCKY
Conservative Democrats Much Con-
cemed Over the Situation.
REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY

Senator Blackburn, who is now on the
stump at home, has invited all of the gen.
tlemen with eyes directed toward his seat
in the Senate to meet him In discussion
of the silver question. He lays down his
own platform with entire frankness. He
adheres to the Views he has always ex-
pressed on the subject. Free coinage at
16 to is What he demands for the white
metal, and what he insists must be granted
to that metal before the times will right
themselves. That is his cry, and upon 1t
he stakes his political fate.
4 Challenge to the Administrations.
While Mr. Blackburn's invitation is gen.
eral in terms, there is an impression abroad
that he is leading for Mr.. Carlisle, and it
is conceded that, if this is true, the move
is a bold one. 1t Is regarded as tantamount
to a direct challenge to the administration.
Mir. Carlisle and Mr.. Blackburn, while mem
.bers together of the House, stood shoulder
to shoulder on the question of free coinage
Both voted for the proposition every time
it was presented Mr.. Carlisle's speeches
in favor of silver were recognized as the
ablest made on that side at that time.
They were everywhere quoted and were
largely Instrumental 1T is now claimed, IN
the creation of silver sentiment in the
ranks of the Kentucky democracy. But
NJ Il.
ed company on the silver issue. and the
supporters of the latter are charging Mr..
Carlisle with having gone over without
reserve to Wall street.
1t is easy to he Seen therefore. now very
interesting a discussion would be between
the two Kentucky leaders before popular
audience with the one reading from past
speeches of the other and charging that
other with inexcusable change of front.
Mr. Carlisle IS expected to respond in his
own way and time to this challenge and to
make at least two speeches during the
campaign. But no definite announcement
by him or by his authority has yet been
made.
Another Interesting Thing.
AS interesting as this is, however, there
is a still more interesting phase of the sill
yer question in the Kentucky situation. 1t
may be developed in that campaign how
far sound-money democrats are willing to
go in support of their cause.
Will any material number of them vote
against their party next November in case
the democratic state convention adopts
free coinage platform? Such action by the
convention is regarded as highly probable.
The silver strongholds throughout the
state are very active, and it is assumed
that before throwing down his gage as
boldly as he has done Mr.. Blackburn must
have calculated from information all of
state ticket nominated on a free coinage
platform and a republican state ticket
nominated on a sound money platform,
with the probable effect of the result on
the next national campaign noted and con-
sidered which way will lie sound money
democratic duty? victory for free silver
would mean a reputation of the admins
tration through Mr. Carlisle, while a vic
tory for sound money, achieved through
cooperation of democrats with the repub-
lcans, might be accepted as the initial
step, taken with administration encour
agement. in a policy of party disruption on
the financial line
Republican Activity.
This is the problem of most concern to
conservative democrats, and they are
studying it with all the more attention for
observing that the local republican leaders
are fully alive to the opportunity. Never
before in the history of the state have the
republicans been in as good condition. nor
SO well led. They are watching the corners
with eyes wide open. Their latest move
shows how hopeful they are, and how de-
termined to avail themselves of every ad-
vantage presented. They had decided to
hold their state convention before the time
fixed by the democracy, but the state COM
nittee has been called together to recon-
slider this and discuss the advisability of a
postponement. the factional fighting among
the democrats is growing so bitter the re-
publicans think they see chance to profit
by it by allowing the democrats to go first
and write their platform and make their
bid for support. The republican eNpecta-
ton is that the free silver democrats will
easily control their party convention, and
go to extremes by reason of their power 10
express themselves in the platform they
please. Then they, the republicans will
come forward, point out those extremes,
and. by a weli-Written deiverance the
finances, appeal not only to their own
party. but also to those democrats who are
opposed to what they characterize the
silver craze.
No POpuIiSt Coalition.
The future alone can determine how nu-
merous the sound money democrats in
support of their opinions. But it is plain
that they entering prominently into
the republican calculations of success at
the polls The republicans have rejected
an overture from the populists for a union
of forces for the coming fight. The popu-
lists asked only TO be allowed to write the
money plank of the platforms, which meant
of course coalition for free coinage. They
were able to show that a union of the two
parties in the last state election would have
to the bad. But the republicans gently put
the offer behind them. They are going to
write their own platform, and expect, it is
said. TO attract to the support of their
ticket by a judicious expression as to
money democrats enough from business
circles in the cities to give them a majority
on election day.The populsts it is thought,
will now turn to the free coinage demo-
Gratis and act with them.
1t seems almost assured that Col. w. o.
Bradley will be the republican nominee for
governor. He is rafting stumper, fluent
and aggressive, and would hold his own
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