Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-04-26
He Boldly Throws Down the
Gauntlet
ON THE SILVER QUESTION
Unlimited Coinage at 16 to 1 WIthou,
Regard to an International
Agreement.

published in today's Courier-Journal
Senator Blackburn In unmistakable
terms outlines his position on the silver
| question and boldly throws down the
gauntlet to his opponents for similar
candor on the same subject. With his
usual aggressiveness the senator almost
dares his opponents to meet him on the
issue he represents, and 1t may be as
sumed that the issue will be promptly
accepted Senator Blackburn has writ
ten a statement of his position ON which
he expects to stand or fall in the sena-
torial race. He declares his position as
follows:
IF ] have not heretofore shown any
disposition to be interviewed by the
daily papers of this city it has not been
because of my purpose to conceal from
the people my views on any public ques-
ton, but because l was anxious to
avoid, if possible. the perversion and
distortion to which my utterances have
generally been subjected
II never had. have not now, and never
intend to have any secrets in politics
/ am at a 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 90 years, i'll CON
gress and on the stump, anywhere and
everywhere l have earnestly and per
| sistently insisted upon the restoration
of silver metal to that place in the mon
| ey system of the country which it al
| ways held prior to the passage of thai
| disastrous act of demonetizat ton in 1878
Upon this subject | have never held an
| opinion or made an utterance that have
to- alt. ~
| flied in all these years. Yet if there IL
still any of the uniformed who desire
to know my views will reiterate them
| In the shortest space possible by say.
ing that l am in favor of opening the
minis of the country to the unlimited
| coinage of silver metal on an equality
| for the coinage of gold. / am opposed
to gold monometallism and just as much
| opposed to silver monometallism. With
| out reservation. | am a bimetallist. l
| want and mean to continue TO insist
| upon the use of both metals on even
| terms as the redemption money of this
| country. l am opposed to this govern
ment waiting for any international CON
ference to act. Our experience with
| such agencies has not been such as t.
give us either confidence or hope of
| attainment of this purpose.
| Daniel Webster declared the con-
stitution of the United States made
gold and silver the redemption money of
! the country and that neither congress
nor any state had any rightful power
| to substitute any other, nor to destroy
| either the one or the other of these
metals. If congress had the power to
demonetize silver, it had the same pow
er to demonetiZe gold. If they could
strike down half, they could strike
down ALL
| Il am in favor of the restoration of
| silver metal at the ratio of 16 to /
believing, in the light of experience that
covers century, that such a ratio will
establish and maintain permanently
the parity between the two metals"
CARLISLE is SILENT
Senator Blackburn's interview has
| called forth an editorial from the Even
ing Post, calling upon Secretary Car
Isle to come out and answer the sena-
tor. The Post says
Senator Blackburn's challenge to the
administration and to the friends of the
administration is a challenge which Mr..
| McCreary can not meet and which must
be met by the gentleman from Ken
| lucky. who is by invitation of Cleve-
| land secretary of the treasury.
| 1T should have been met before. Tn
! der the defiance of Blackburn and Proc
| tor Knott, the silence of the secretary
| of the treasury savors too much of
timidity The fight for sound principles.
for reason, for democracy. must be
made and made before the meeting of
| the state convention in June. Hard
| money democrats have waited for Car
| Isle to speak. He is the natural leader
In this contest and he can not open the
| campaign too soon. nor put into it too
much of the fighting qualities
1.-THE crisis is upon the democratic
party in Kentucky and it can not be
| averted"