Evening star., 1896-02-20
Mr.. CARLISLE'S LETTER
It Now Seems Impossible for Blackburn
to Win the Senatorship.
The Effect of the Secretary's Deliver
ance Upon the National Demo-
cratic Situation.

The reply of Mr.. Carlisle to those who
had requested his intercessfon in Mr..
Blackburn's behalf at Frankfort is highly
complimented for its candor and consist
ency. His position was embarrassing, but
at the same time his duty was very clear.
The English of the request was that he
counsel the anti-Blackburn members of
the Kentucky legislature to abandon an at
titude which they had taken and were
holding the result of his own teachings
on the money question. This he could not
do. This he has declined TO do. The re-
suit, of course, adds to the democratic diff
ficulty at Frankfort but for the status of
the case there MIR. Carlisle does not hold
himself in anywise responsible.
= Impossible for blackburn to Win.
1t would appear TO be impossible now for
Mr.. Blackburn to win. The sound money
democrats who have been opposing him
will now be stiffer of neck than ever.
What. therefore. will the blackburn people
do? The initiative is with them. They
controlled the caucus which put Mr.. Black
burn up to be voted for, and ii rs for them
to decide whether he shall give way FOR
another in the hope of tempting fortune
with a new name or remain IN the ileld TO
the end. The best opinion in Kentucky
circles in Washington is that Mr.. Black
burn will remain in the field, and endeavor
to prevent any election by this legislature.
If the prize goes over to he disposed CT
by the next legislature. Mr.. Blackburn
will again be candidate, and meanwhile
will again stump the state. But great
deal will depend the result at Chicago
next July. and later at the polls in No
vember. If the free silver democrats are
forced 10 their knees at Chicago, or. tenn
porarily triumphing there, are overwhein'-
inaly defeated in November. Mr.. Black
burn will find it exceedingly difficult, if not
impossible. to make successful canvass
of Kentucky in favor of free silver in 1877.
1t may be, therefore, that if he fails OF
election now, he will fail for good.
The Republican, Last Card.
The republicans have not played theii
last cari at Frankfort, and seem to he hes
itating about dcing SO. This is the unseat-
ing of two democratic members OF the
house against whom contests are pending
Ii that action is taken, and it does no,
provoke successful retaliation by the dem.
ocratic senate, which is threatened. Dr.
Hunter can he elected. Otherwise. the
deadlock will remain to the end.
The National Democratic Situation.
But. directly as it applies to the Ken
lucky situation. the most important appli-
cation of Mr.. Carlisle's letter is thought 10
be to the national situation. Mr. Carlisle
undoubtedly speaks by authority. He states
the administrators side of the question
The silver men in every state would dc
well, it is thought, to take notice. The
democrats at Chicago will receive Il mes.
sage couched in substantially the same
terms as those that characterize this mes.
sage TO the Frankfort democrats. The ad.
ministraton wants democratic success, bu-
on administration lires. The only policy Il
be recognized as democratic is the policy
to which the administration is committed
MIR. Blackburn and his friends have in
terpreted the financial plank of the Chicago
1ns ffy of III.
age. Mr.. Cleveland and Mr. Carlisle in
terpret ii as justifying the course they
have pursued with regard to the finances
ters TO help elect democratic Senator
from Kentucky. And so it is assured tha;
at Chicago this same infleXible spirit Will
be manifested and that no concessions will
be made there in the slightest degree IA
vorable either to the nomination of free
coinage candidate or to the adoption of d
free coinage platform.