The Washington times., 1895-04-21
UtteranCG of No Uncertain Sound
On the Silver Question.
DARES SENATORIAL RIVALS
Favors Unlimited Coinage Of the White
Metal Or An Equality With Gold-Does
Not Believe 1t Necessary For the United
States To Wait For An International
Agreements Positive B1metallist


in yesterdays Courier Journal, Senator
Blackburn, in unmistakable terms, out
lines his position on the silver question,
and boldly throws down the gauntlet to
bis opponents for similar candor on the
same subject. With his usual aggressive
ness the Senator almost dares his oppo-
nents TO meet him on the issue he presents,
and it may be assumed that the challenge
will be promptly accepted.
Senator Blackburn arrived IN the city
Thursday, and is stopping at the willard
Hotel In response TO the reiterated in
quiry concerning his position on the coin
age question, he prepared the following
statement as an authoritative expression
OF his views and answer to the criticisms
which have been based on erroneous or mis-
leading reports of alleged interviews:
For the lasE twenty years in Cong ress and
on the stump, anywhere and everywhere,
/ have earnestly aud persistently in
sisted upon the restoration of ths silver
metal 10 that place in the money system
of the country which it had always held
prior to the passage of that disastrous
act OF demonstration passed in 1873.
REITERATEs HIS VIEWS.
'If there is ono man in public life in
ali the country whose views upon this sub
ject were entitled 70 be known OF all men
by reason OF his acts and utterances, I
had reason TO believe that | was that man.
Upon this subject 1 have never held an
oplnton nor made an uttcranca that have
in the slightsst degree altered or modified
in all these years.
Yet IL there is any still uniformed
who desires to know what my views are,
] will reiterate them in the shortest space
possible by saying that / am in favor of
| opeaing the lints OF this country To tho I'M
limited coinage OF the silver metal on an
equality with gold / am opposed TO gold
moaometxlhsm, and jus L a. IN uch opposed to
| silver monometallisn; without reservation
or evasion, am bi-metallist
Il want, and mean TO continue 20 insist
upon the use OF both gold and silver on
evea terms as the redemption money of
this country. / would be glad TO see this
result brought about by the action OF an
| International conference, provided that
could bs done without delay. l am OPP
posed to this government waiting for any
such conference to act"
ONLY FARCICAL AND RIDICULOUS.
''0ur experience with such agencies
has net been such az to give us either con-
fidencs CT hope for the attainment OF this
purposs. Upon the contrary, our p&rti-
cipad0ns in such ooUrersncss have in
their very barrenness become farcical and
ridiculous.
has FAITH IN THE WHITE METAL.
whilst IL may be true that tho restora-
ton OF silver to its place OF unrestricted
coinage and unlimited legal tender func-
tions may not provo n panacea for tho
ills that we now suffer, am convinced
| that 1t VIII do moro and go further in
| that direction than any one piece OF legis-
| latLon that has been or could be suggested.
/ have an abiding faith in the capacity
| of this metal TO work out and maintain its
permanent parity with gold, provided the
| oppressive hand OF the law is removed and
the mints OF the country thrown open to
! It's coinage.
II believe and always did believe that the
act OF 1873 was an unconstitu tional
measure. / believe that it would have
| been so held by the Supreme Court OF the
! United States had not a partisan spirit
| dominated the action OF that tribunal.
AZ am in favor of the restoration of the
| silver metal at ratio of 16 TO 1 believing
1 in the light OF an experience that covers
a century, such ratio will establish and
maintain permanently the parity between
| the two metals. / believe that we should
| take this action at the earliest day pos
slAe, lHuepehuehl oi tAe poASles OF Views
! of other nations.
INDEPENDENT IN ALL RESPECTS.
al have faith as abiding in the ability
OF my country to establish and maintain
its own monetary system as that which 1
cherish in its ability to defend its own
Soil from invasion or its Institutions from
assault. In my Judgment we are as indie
pendent OF foreign oictation or domination
! in The in fhn other
For one TO claim that be is a bi-netai-
/ list coupled with the condition that BIZ
metallism is 10 lie brought about only as a
result OF International conference is q mere
evasion OF the situation. That is simply
the work of the lawyer who files an affidavit
for a continuance.
My friends in Kentucky, / am sure,
know my position upon this and all other
public questions and are satisfied with it,