Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-14
CARL|SLE'S OBJECT
Why He is to Go on a Stumping
Tour.
TO SQUARE HIMSELF IN KENTUCKY
The Administrations Side of the
Money Question.
THE SENATORSHIP FIGHT

ing tour he has just formally announced.
| He goes to Memphis to present the admin
| istrations side of the money question, and
| he goes to Kentucky to square himself with
| those of his old democratic constituents
| who, with or without authority, insist upon
| the charge that since assuming his present
| office he has reversed himself as to silver.
| The one speech, therefore-the Memphis
| speech-will be addressed to the country at
| large while the speeches delivered in Ken
| lucky will be in a certain sense local in
| their topic and treatment But not i'm
| probably, 1t is thought, the Kentucky
! speeches will exceed the Memphis speech m
| interest. The administrators attitude on
| finance is already understood. Mr.. Carlisle,
at best, and with all of his powers of clear
statement, can only hope to emphasize 1t.
| But the Secretary of the Treasury is a
great national figure, and the charge of a
| sudden change of base on his part on
matter so important as the free and unlim-
| tied coinage of silver is not only calculated
| to put him on his mettle-and make him
! declare what his metal is-but will neces-
sarily bring out explanations and points Of
much historical and other value.
Moving Cautiously.
Mr.. Carlisle is moving cautiously in this
| business. He is fully awars of the value
Of appearing at his best on this trip. Every
an instance: he will speak first at Coving-
ton, his old home, and to the people who
| still trust and greatly admire him. They
are the people who repeatedly sent him to
Congress, under the impression, as is as
serted, that he was firm and sincere ad-
Vocate OF the free coinage of silver. If he
can do so at all, he will on that occasion
| not only clear himself of all charges af-
fectinS his past attitude toward silver, but
make his present attitude on the subject
w IA of
his old constituents ringing in his ears and
cheering him on his way, he will proceed to
Memphis, and speak there with all the more
confidence and effect because of this new
and entirely clean bill of financial health
| received from those who ought to be best
acquainted with him and his past promises
and performances. The Covington speech,
II is said, indeed, is to be the one upon
which the Secretary is bestowing the great
est possible care for both In the Kentucky
campaign and later he is likely to stand or
fall by that.
The.yery line of argument that Mr. Car
Isle will adopt in defending himself will
bring the whole matter in evidence He
Will deny change of base by denying that
he ever was in favor of the free coinage of
silver. And in support of this he will take
up and explain his own record. He will
pay particular attention to the speech so
often quoted against him now. in which
he so unmeasuredly denounced the act of
1873 demonetizing silver. The free coinage
men put one construction on that speech.
He VIII put another construction, and the
very opposite one, on it. He will likewise
explain that his votes cast while men,
Der of the House for free coinage were
not cast with any expectation or the hope
that free coinage would result, but that in
the conferences and chickering's between
the House and Senate some improved con-
dition of silver as money metal might
be effected. He could never see that the
way was clear for free coinage, nor did
he ever think the prosperity of the country
promoted enactment
such legislation.
To Take the Bull by the Horns.
Mr.. Carlisle it will be seen takes the bull
by the horns. 1t is probably the best
method. 1t is certainly the boldest method.
And it insures very lively battle. Some
of the free silver democrats inKentucky are
amazed at the brave intimation of this
thing. What their feelings will be when
Mr.. Carlisle reveals the full scope of his
reasoning will probably tax language to
describe. They think he is making another
mistake. 1t would, in their judgment, be
much the best thing for him to do to come
out and confess frankly to change of be-
lief. They themselves make some allow
ances for him i'll the premises. They can
see the difference between member of the
House of Representatives, trying to see
through his party's spectacles and bound In
his votes frequently by caucus action, and
the Secretary of the Treasury. obliged to
consider questions from a more responsible
standpoint. They admit that. in his present
office, ne labors under very great embar-
easements.
He cannot hope to impose his own views
on the situation in opposition to'the views
of the President and his colleagues of the
cabinet. He might resign. and some OF the
free silver men hold that he ought to have
done this promptly upon discovering that
the policy of the administration on the
money question was antagonisuc to the
declared national democratic policy. But,
putting this thing and that thing aside, ,and
facing the plain question itself, they insist
that for years, Mr.. Carlisle, according to
a plain reading of the record was friend
of free coinage; that, whatever his secret
hopes or intentions may have been in cast
ing his votes in Congress on the question,
the outward effect was to encourage the
friends of free coinage in Kentucky and
elsewhere, and that any attempt on his
part now, no matter what the eXigency, to
change this aspect of the case by eNplana-
tions and qualifications must injure his
reputation for candor and plain speaking
That he will be able to speak persuasively
they do not doubt but they are confident
that he cannot remove the impression he
made on the country while a member of the
House as champion Of silver for equality
with gold at the mints as money metal
The Kentucky Senntorship.
The next Kentucky senatorship is always
discussed when Mr.. Carlisles name is up.
His attitude toward that office has several
times been stated. He is not a candidate
for it in the sense that Mr.. Blackburn
Gov. Brown, or ex-Gov. Buckner, or Con-
gresham McCIeary is. They are all open
ly in the field He is not, nor will he take
the field at any time. But of course he
would not, he could not decline the office
if the legislature should elect him. The
issue in the state is now fairly Joined. Ii
the free coin lge democrats win, the sena-
torship will go to one of their number. If
the sound money democrats win, the sena-
torship must of course go to one of their
number. Now, among those men Mr. Car
Isle is a Saul in stature. He stands head
and shoulders above all of them, and the
opinion is that, regardless of the active
candidacy OF men of smaller growth rep
resenting the same side of the question,
Mr.. Carlisle in such circumstances would
be chosen. Sound money sentiment all
over the country would demand it. Not
honor Wellington after Waterloo, because
certain brigadiers have behaved we'll dur
ing the engage ment? Well