The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-04-25
Def OF BLACKBURN
He Boldly Throws Down the
Gauntlet
ON THE SILVER QUESTION
Unlimited Coinage at 10 to 1 without
Regard to an International
Agreement.

Louisville. April 20.-In an interview
published in todays 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 ii 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-
toral race. He declares his position as
follows:
IF l have not heretofore shown any
disposition to be interviewed by the
daily papers of this city 1t has not been
because of my purpose to conceal from
the people my views on any public ques-
ton, but because 1 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.
l am at q loss to understand how any
one. especially in Kentucky, can remain
the silver question if they feel enough
| interest In the matter to desire such in
formation. For the last 20 years. in con-
gress and on the stump, anywhere and
everywhere, 1 have earnestly and per-
sistently insisted upon the restoration
of silver metal to that place in the mon
ey system of the country which 1t al
ways held prior to the passage of that
disastrous act of decentralization in 1873.
Upon this subject l have never held an
opinion or made an utterance that have
| In the slightest degree altered or mod
| flied in all these years. Yet If there Is
still any of the uniformed who desire
to know my views l will reiterate them
| in the shortest space possible by say
ing that I am in favor of opening the
mints of the country to the unlimited
| coinage OF silver metal on an equality
for the coinage of gold. I am opposed
to gold monometallism and just as much
| opposed to silver monometallism With
out reservation, l am a bimetallist
| 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 tc
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 o.
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 tt
demonetize silver, It had the same pow
er to demonetize gold. If they coult
strike down half, they could strik'
down all
"I am in favor of the restoration O.
silver metal at the ratio of 16 to
believing, in the light of experience tina
covers a century, that such a ratio will
establish and maintain permanent.
the parity between the two metals"
CARLISLE is SILENT.
Senator Blackburn's interview ha
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 tn
administration and to the friends of tn
administration is a challenge which Nj
McCreary can not meet and which mus
be met by the gentleman from Ker
lucky, who is by invitation Of Clevt
/ land secretary of the treasury.
1T should have been met before. Ur
, der the defiance of Blackburn and Proc
tor Knott, the silence of the secretar
of the treasury savors too much {
timidity. The fight for sound principle
l for reason, for democracy, must /
made and made before the meeting
l the state convention in June. Har
S money democrats have waited for Ca
= Isle to speak. He is the natural lead,
r in this contest and he can not open III
3 campaign too soon, nor put into 1t tc
4 much of the fighting qualities.
z 1.-THE crisis is upon the democrat
4 party in Kentucky and 1t can not
s averted."