Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-12
KENTUCKY'S QUANDARY
The Interesting Situation Of the De-
mocracy.
Blackburn Called From the Stump
Democrats Adjusting Themselves
to New Conditions.

No other quotable circumstance of the
day so forc,bly illustrates democratic en-
barrassnent on the silver question as the
action of the state committee of that party
in Kentucky in calling MIR. Blackburn tenn
porarily off the stump. The politicians are
astounded The thing, indeed, Is almost in
CT edible. But it Is a fact and Mr.. Black
burn, with an obedience that scarcely COM
ports with his general characteristics but
testifies to the genuineness of his democ-
racy, has Cancelled all engagements and
gone upon waiting orders. The committee
will see him later, and whatever part in the
campaign he may take later will be as the
result Of party conference and agreement.
But, startling as all of this is, it is re-
garded as grounded in wise caution and
good politics. There Is new day In the
blue grass state. And the new day begets
new methods. 1t is no longer sufficient for
democratic speakers to go upon the stump
ard read the old Indictment against the
other side The old Indictment may still
be effective in certain Of it's counts, but
there are certain other counts that cannot
this time be used. For an instance, the old
denunciation of Mr.. Sherman will have to
be omitted because as Mr.. Blackburn him.
self charged in the recent state convention,
the dominant wing of the Kentucky democ-
racy has now gone over to the Sherman
school of finance. Clearly, therefore, there
| must be a change as to that; and maybe as
TO some Otner thlnSS
An Awkward Situation.
The state committee Is evidently Impress
ed with the necessity of making a coherent
campaign, If that Is possible in the ex-
tremely awkward circumstances that ex-
list. The main difficulty is that every dem
ocratic leader in the state Is on record on
one side or the other of the money cues
ton. The campaign for delegates to the
IN enTi fOIrr
| months. and in that time great deal Of
| history, ell very troublesome now, was
| made. Mr.. Blackburn and his friends de-
| nounced what the state convention after
| ward wrote into Its platform, while Mr..
Carlisle and his friends denounced what
| Gen. Hardin, for all he is now standing on
the Carlisle platform, was then vigorously
advocating and is still in reality committed
to. How Is all this to be harmonized? The
republicans are alive to the enemy's dis
comfture, snd are only waiting to draw
the record when the stamping begins. 1t
Is absolutely necessary, therefore. that the
democracy agree Upon some line Of discus
sion before the people. Mr.. Blackburn
could not go On advocating free silver in
Carlisle people go on denourcing free sill
yer with Gen. Hardin at the head of the
ticket, without inviting defeat at the polls
and making the party ridiculous.
There is no thought. Of course, of his re-
tracing any of his silver views: but a con-
ference will serve to make 1t palmer to him
and to others what line he may follow to
best advantage all round. Then Mr.. Black
burn has his own fortunes to consider. He
is still in the race for the Senate. and must
work somewhat In harmony with the gen.
eral program. He wants, and will need.
all the support possible to be obtained, and
as he must address all sorts and condi-
tons of democrats. he is wise in deferring
to the wishes of the state committee which
essentially is the representative of the
whole party organization. But such pru-
nd
a surprise in one of Mr.. Blackburn's ag-
gressive and impatient temperament. and
show how unusual the political situation Is
that produces those qualities in him.