The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-21
A SOUTHERNER'S VIEWS
Senator Blackburn Of Kentucky Comes
Out With a Bold Front.
SILVER ATARATIO OF I6 TO I
He Is Opposed to This Government
Waiting for Any international
Conference to Act-He Is
a BIN staliist.

LOUISVILLE, KY, April 20.--In an inter-
view published IN to-day's Courter-Jolundt
Senator Blackburn, in unmlstakable
terms, outlines his position on the silver
question and boldly throws down the
gauntlet to his opponents for similar can
dor on the same subject. With ms usual
aggressiveness the senator almost dares
his opponents to meet him on the issue he
represents, and IL may be assumed the
challenge will be promptly accepted.
Senator Blackburn has written state-
ment of the position on which he expects
to stand or fall in the senatorial race.
He declares his position as follows: "If
/ have not heretofore shown any DISPOSE
ton to be interviewed by the daily papers
of this city, II has not been because OF
my purpose to conceal from the people
my views on any public question. but be-
cause was anxious to avoid, IL possible,
perversion and distortion to which my
utterances have generally been subjected.
/ never had, have not now and never in
tend to have, any secrets in politics. 1
am at loss TO understand how any one,
especial in Kentucky, can remain in ig-
norance OF my sentiments on the silver
question IL they feel enough interest in
the matter to desire such information.
For the last 20 years, in congress and on
the stump, anywhere and everywhere, i
have earnestly and pcrsistently insisted
upon the restoration OF the silver metal to
that place in the money system OF the
country which IL always held prior to the
passage OF tn it disastrous act of demonet-
ization in 1873. Upon this subject have
never held an opinion or made an utter
ance that have, in the slightest degree,
altered or modified in all these years.
Yet, if there is still any uninformed who
desire to know my views, still reiterate
them in the shortest space possible by
saying am in favor of opening the mints
of the country to the unlimited coinage OF
the silver metal on an equality Tor the
coinage of gold. am opposed to mono
metallism, and just as much opposed to
silver monometallism; without reserva-
ton am bimetallist. want and mean
/ to continue and insist upon the use or
| both metals on even terms as the redemp-
ton money of this country.
al am opposed to this government wait
ing for any International conference to
act. Our experience with such agencies
has not been such as to give US either con
fidence or hope for the attainment of this
purpose. Daniel Webster declared tho
lconstitution of the United States made
gold and silver the redemption money oil
the country, and that neither congress moi
any state had any rightful power to sub
stitute any other, nor to destroy either one
or the other of these metals. III congress
had the power to demonetize silver, IL had
the same power to demonetize gold. II
they could strike down half they could
strike down all. L am in favor OF thu
restoration of the silver metal at a ratio
of 16 to I. believing I'm the light OF expe
rience that covers a century, such rati'
will establish and maintain permanent,
the parity between the two metals"