The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-20
ON QUICKSANDS.
SENATOR CARLISLE IS AMOUR TO
Walk on DANG EROUS GROUND.
His Campaign Being Carefully Arranged
Says he Has Never Favored tho Free
Coinage of Silver as Formerly.


tary Carlisle has two distinct objects in
view N the stumpng tour he has just
formally announced. He goes to Memph $
to present the Administered .On's side OF the
money question. and he goes to Kentucky
10 square himself with his old dcmocra tic
constituents. who insist upon the charge
that, since assuming his present office he
las reversed himself as 10 silver.
The one speecn--the Memphis speech
viii be addressed To the country at large,
while the speeches delivered n Kentucky
will be in a certain sense local in Their
.opic and treatment. the Kentucky
speeches will exceed the Memphis speech
N interest. The administrators attitude
IN finance is already understood. Mr.. Car
isle, at best, ana with all of his powers OF
lear statement, can only hope to empha-
size it, But the secretary of the treasury
a great national figure, and the charge
If u sudden change of base on his part
n a matter so important as the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, Is not only
alculated to pat him on his mettie and
make him declare what his metal is, but
I'll necessarily bring out explanations and
9nts of much historical and other value.
Mr.. Carlisle is moving caustOusly. lie
fully aware of the value of appearing
his best on this trip Every point IS
ing thoroughly considered. For in
ance he will speak first at CoVinSton his
q home, and 10 the people who Still
Jst and greatly admire him. They are
- people who repeatedly sent MIN TO
agrees, under the impression that he was
firm and sincere advocate of the free
image of silver. He VII try TO snow
lem that they were mistaken in supposinS
e was a free silver man, and theH with
ne applause of his old constituents ring
lg IN his ears and cheering hDi on his
way, he expects to proceed to demph-s,
md speak there with all the more con-
dence and effect because of this new ana
lean bill of financial health. The COv!ns-
on speech, il is sad, indeed, is TO be tle
Jne upon which the secretary IS be5toWinS
he greatest possible care, for 5otn in the
IentucKy campaign and later he IS likely
stand or fall by that.
The very line of argument that Mr..
Carlisle will adopt in defending himself
will bring the whole matter in evidence.
He Will deny any change OF base 10y deny
ing that he. ever was IN favor q: the free
coinage of silver. And, in support OF THIS,
ae will take up the speech SO often quoted
against him now, in which ne 50 un-
measuredly denounced the act of 1878 de-
.nonetzng silver. The free coinage men
put one construction on that speech. lie
will put another construction. ana the
very opposite one, on II. he will likewise
explain that his votes cast while a member
Of the house for free coinage were not
cast with any expectation or the hope
that free coinage woGld result, bat that
N the conferences and chickering's between
the house and senate some improved con
dition of silver as a 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
would be promoted by the enactment of
such legislation.
Free silver democrats of Kentucky are
astonished at the seCretary's assurance.
They believe it would be better for aim to
frankly confess TO change of heart IN
der the tutcage of Mr.. Cleveland. They
think Carlisle should nave resigned when
he found the policy of the administration
on the money question antagonistic 10 the
declared national democratic policy, instead
of tamely falling into line for gold. But
putting this thing ANA that thing aside,
and facing the plain question itself they
insist that for years Mr.. Carlisle, accord
.ng to a plain reading OF the record, was a
friend of free coinage; that whatever his
secret hopes or intentions may have been
in casting his votes in congress on the
question. the outward effect was TO en-
courage the friends of free coinage in
Kentucky and elsewhere, and that any at
tempt on mis- part now, no matter what
the exisency to change the aspect of the
case bv explanations and qualifications
must injure his reputation for candor and
plain speaking. That he viii be able TO
speak persuasivcly, they do not doubt; but
they are confident that he cannot remove
the fact that, while a member of the
house he was a champion of silver for
equality with gold al the minis as money
metal 1t is really believed here that car
isle will be a candidate for senator, in case
the gold men win the victory this fall.