Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1895-04-27
Def OF BLACKBURN
He Boldly Throws Down the
Gauntlet
ON THE SILVER QUESTION
Sniiiaited Coinage n Is to i without
Regard to International
A CT cement.

Louisville, April 20.--In an interview
published in today's Courier-J 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 aggressiyeness the senator almost
dares his opponents to meet him on the
issue he represents, and it 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-
tolial race, He declares his position as
follows:
If / have not heretofore shown any
disposition to be interviewed by the
daily papers of this city it has not been
because Of my purpose to conceal from
the people my views on any public ques-
ton, but because I was anxious to
avoid, if possible the perversion and
distortion TO which my utteranees have
generally been subjected.
I never had. have not now, and never
intend to have any secrets in politics.
ana a a loss to understand how any
one, especially in Kentucky, can remain
III ignorance as to my sentiments upon
the silver question il thew feel enough
interest in the matter to desire such in
formation. For the last 20 years. in con-
2resa and on the stump. anywhere and
everywhere, I have earnestly and per-
sistently insisted upon the restoration
OF silver metal to that place i'll the mon
ey system of the country which it al
ways held prior TO the passage of that
disastrous act Of demonetization in 1879.
Upon this subject l have never held an
opiI,on or made an utterance that I have
in the slightest degree altered or mod
ified in all these years Yet If there is
stiIl any Of the uninformed who desire
to know my views will reiterate them
iii the shortest space possible by say
ing that I am in favor of opening the
fnints of the country to the unlimited
coinage of silver metal on an equality
for the coisage 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. [ am opposed to this govern
ment waiting for any international con-
ference to act. Our experience with
such agencies has not been such as to
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 of
the country and that neither congress
nor any state had any riglltful power
to substitute any other, nor to destroy
either the one or the other Of these
metals. If congress had the power to
demonetize silver, it had the same pow
er to demonetize gold. If they could
strike down half they could strike
down all.
'I am in favor of the restoration of
silver metal at the ratio of l6 to l,
believing, in the light Of experience that
covers q century. that such a ratio will
establish and maintain permanently
the parity between the two metals"
CARLISLE rs SILENT.
Senator Blackburn's interview has
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 B1ackburn's challenge to the
administration and to the friends Of the
McCreary can not meet and which must
be met by the gentleman from Ken
lucky, who is by invitation of Cleve-
land secretary of the treasury.
TT should have been met before, Tn
der the defiance of Black burn and Proc
tor Knott, the silence of the secretary
Of the treasury savors too much of
timidity The fight 70, sound principles,
for reason, for democracy must be
made and made before the meeting of
the state convention in June. Hard
money democrats have waited for Car
isle to speak. He is the natural leader
in this contest and he can not open the
campaign too soon, nor put into 1t too
much of the fighting qualities.
"The crisis is upon the democratic
party in Kentucky and it can not be
averte9."