The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-05-22
He Says There Is But One Great
Issue In The Cam
paign,
And That Is The Currency Cues
tiOn. Democrats Will
Have to Meet II.
SILVER MEN MUST GET IN LINE.

The Greensboro Messenger with its
usual characteristic enterprise printed
the following synopsis Of Senator Black
burns speech as well as full reports Of
the proceedings of the Convention. The
Messenger is an up-to-date newspaper.
Senator Blackburn made magnificent
speech on silver at the courthouse last
night to an immense audience, which
cheered him to the echo, indicating how
dear to the hearts Of the people is the
cause OF silver.
1t was representative audience. A
large majority of the delegates to the
convention were present, many in SYM
pathy with the speaker and some who
were not, but all gave him the most pro-
found attention. He spoke an hour and
forty-fve minutes and not soul left his
seat
The senator commenced by announc-
ing that the party had fight before it
and it must meet it. He was here to
dmonish Democrats of it. 1t was not
his purpose to dictate TO the convention
now in session in Owensboro. He was
not a citizen of this district and had no
voice in its party councils, but there was
coming on the 25th OF June a state con-
vention in Louisville in which she did
have an interest, in which he would be
eligible as delegate, and he proposed to
go upon the floor Of that convention and
make the fight for the adoption of free
silver plank in the platform. He there
fore appealed to Democrats from every
county to send trusted friends of silver
to the state convention to voice the SEN
timents OF their party upon the great is
sue which must now be settled by this
country.
Conditions are now different. Some
issues have been settled and eliminated
from further consideration at this time.
We are no longer wrangling over the
tariff question. After thirty years it has
been settled, not to our entire satisfac-
ton, but settled, for the present.
Congress was instructed to do two
things-to repeal the Mckinley bill and
to restore to the people the monetary leg
islation of which they were robbed.
Congress had failed to obey orders on
the monetary question. For this it de-
served to be condemned and had been
condemned. The fight must go on for
the relief the people demanded.
Kentucky next month fires the first
shot on the skirmish line of the great
battle Of 1896. He was here, the senator
said, to plead with all to be wise, manly
and prudent and go into the fight with
out doubt OF the result.
He spoke of Republican hopes of sue
cess in Kentucky, elated as they are by
last November successes. He begged
Democrats to face the truth and realize
that they had fight before them, and
that there could be no lodging the issue
that would present itself in the cam
paign after nominations were made.
He repeated that there is and will be
but one great issue in the campaign
the currency question. "When they
tell you to keep it out OF the campaign"
he said, 81 answer they can't do it. 1t
will not be ignored 1t wouldn't be hon
est to try 10 do it ii we could We have
got to meet it. We have got to settle it.
have faith in Kentucky manhood"
The vicious currency legislation of the
Republican party caused the present de-
pressed times, but we are asked to en-
dorse the robbery of the people and con-
done the outrage by which it was done.
We are asked to talk with bated breath
about it, to handle the subject gingerly.
But there are brave Democrats who don't
believe in such policy.
Then he reviewed the monetary sys-
tenn, declaring both gold and silver to
be money, drafted by Thomas jefferson
in 1902, and continued until -lS73," re-
viewed the "crime OF 1873" disputed the
correctness OF the Courier-Journal's de-
Tense OF that incident, offering to prove
by the subsequent statements OF Kelly,
Grant and Blaine that silver was surrep-
titiously demonetized.
He took off the goldbugs in very hand
some style upon their pet expression
"honest money" declaring the gold dol
lar to be the dishonest dollar, because II
gives TO its holder twice as much as ii
earned. He declared the goldbugs half
as bad as the counterfeiter, because they
wanted TO keep s42o, 100000 OF silver dol
lars in circulation, which they say are
worth only fifty cents each. They don't
want any more, but want to keep on
passing the fifty-cent dollars they have.
He reviewed the several bond issues
by the administration, declaring them
useless, and an interest bearing mort
gage upon the American people, their
muscle and sweat. The administration
has the right 10 redeem its obligationsin
gold or silver, John sherman, Clever