Evening star., 1895-08-20
The First Joint Debate Not En-
tirely Satisfactory.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE STRADDLES
He Tries to Work Both Sides Of
the Silver Question.
G A RLIS LIE LOOM S UP

The telegraphic report of the joint debate
in Louisville last night between the demo-
cratic and the republican candidates for
governor gives but small comfort to those
democrats in Washington solicitous for
their party's success in Kentucky. Gen.
Hardin, the democratic candidate, who
opened the debate, is represented as dwell
ing too much on past and irrelevant is
sues, and when, finally, taking up the
issues of the day, as treating them in
definitely and unsatisfactory.
An Embarra ssinE Position.
The meeting was one to which the demo-
Gratis were looking with much anxiety. 1t
could not well be more embarrassing. One
of the most extreme of the free silver men,
and one who had committed himself in
the fullest manner in dozen public ad-
dresses on the subject, he had been put as
the party's candidate for governor on a
platform dictated by Mr.. Carlisle, and in
Its plain Interpretation in the most pro-
nounced conflict with the candidates un-
denlabIe convictions. The question from
that very moment had borne most dis
tinctly on what Gen. Hardin would say
when he came upon the stump. Say moth
ing? Silence, it was agreed. would be
cowardly, and he could not afford it. Go
back on his former utterances and come
out for the platform? That would cost
nm the respect and the support of the
silver men. Come out with his old views
and &c back on the platform? That would
cost hin the support of the gold men.
Straddie the question? Here there had to
be pause, because nobody could tell how
expert as a straddler Gen. Hardin on such
an issue might prove to be.
The general has straddled The question,
and opinions as to his chances of election
are formed accordingly. He is not thought
to have acquitted himself well. His refer
efces to silver were confused He brought
forward no scheme of bis own, nor did he
go far enough in any direction to enable
MS hearers to construct a scheme for
themselves. Will he fall between the two
stools?
Handicapped by Blackburn.
Gen. Hardin's way is made all the more
difficult by the course Mr.. Blackburn is
pursuing. The two men, the one a candi-
date for the gubernatorial nomination, and
the other a candidate for the Senate start
ed in the same boat and remained together
in 1t until the meeting Of the democratic
state convention. Then they parted com
pany. Gen. Hardin, after accepting his
nomination on a gold platform, or one ad-
m!tting of such an Interpretation, relapsed
into absolute silence until last night. Mr..
Blackburn, ON the other hand, kept right
on in his advocacy of silver, and IS going
as far in his deliverances now as he did
before the state platform was adopted.
This affords contrast which, it is thought,
must injure Gen. Hardin. The friends of
silver will note the difference between his
course and that of Mr. Blackburn, and in
accepting Mr.. Blackburn as their leader
will, In measure. repudiate him.
Carlisle Looms Up Again.
And, now, again Mr.. Carlisle looms large
on the home horizon. What is he going to
do about it? 1t is generally understood that
he will take the stump during the cam
paign, and speak for the democratic tick
terested in the fight. If the day is lost
the charge will be made that defeat grew
out of the platform; that If the admins
tration had kept it's hands off and permit
ted the making of a platform in conso-
the old-time party majority would have
been rolled up. But how will the appear
ance of Mr.. Carlisle affect the Blackburn
people, who, despite his frequent disclaim-
ers, still regard him as a senatorial can
didatc? Will not factionalism increase?
And Is not the allaying Of factionalism the
only possible hope OF democratic success?
A colloquialism in use in blue grass cir
cles is that things are pretty fiickety in
old Kentucky" And they are regarded as
getting no better fast. With Mr.. Carlisle
facing in one direction, Mr.. Blackburn in
the opposite direction and General Hardin
trying to face both ways at once the de-
known since it first assumed power in the
state.
Last nights meeting inaugurated a Sc
ries of twelve joint debates between Cen
eral Hardin and his republican opponent,
Col. Bradley.