Evening star., 1896-10-23
CARLISLE AND BLACKBURN.
The Two Men Most Prominent Now in
Kentucky.


The Two Men Most Prominent Now in
Kentucky.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star
LOUISVILLE, KY, October 20, 1896.
Carlisle and Blackburn are both repre-
sentative Kentuckians, alike in being the
foremost men of the state and in being ac-
knowledgei leaders Of the people. but dia-
metrically opposed in their methods ora
tory and following. Carlisle represents the
gold democrats, the thinking classes, the
substantial citizens. Blackburn is the idol
of the crowds. that always follow rough
rider and hail-fellow- well-met. The silver
men look on him as demigod. When
these two men take the stump in Kentucky
at the same time the strength of their re-
spective elements will be known.
Carlisle's speeches in the state will be
five In number. They will have a mighty
power. for he will be listened to with re-
spectful attention by those who are con-
sidering the money issues dispassionately,
and his logic will do much to decide them.
The silver men fear his coming. But they
are determined that he shall have influence
IN his native state only so far as they are
unable to counteract IL.
The silver campaign managers. on behalf
OF Blackburn, requested of Carlisle q di-
vision OF time at all appointments he might
make in Kentucky. The request was firmly
refused. Blackburn has made a date at
l-tAlIlStOn IOs OCTOBER ~, tne same day
that Carlisle Is to speak there. He has
made appointments for two speeches at
Louisville on October %. Carlisle will speak
here on October %. Carlisle's other dates
derson. October "A, and Bowling Green,
October 26.
Blackburn has partly announced the pro-
gram he intends to carry out He will call
on Carlisle to explain his speech of 1878 and
will have ready for use all the references
Carlisle has ever made which seem favor
able to silver.
Blackburn will prove to be most danger
GUS opponent on the stump. He can catch
Kentucky crowd in a few moments, and
to the people of the country there is no
one like 10 Blackburn. There is an aban-
den, roughness. reckless style about
him which takes in this state. where men
have been accustomed to fight, and have
little use for any one of a milk and water
style Blackburn's style of oratory is pecu-
liarly his own. His words are strong and
his sentences make up in force what they
lack in polish. 1t is not probable that
Blackburn on the stump is like Blackburn
in the halls of the Senate. If he were, the
dignity of the latter body would surely
suffer. When he addresses gathering of
his constituents he stops at nothing that
will serve to impress on them what he
wishes them to believe. His figures have a
strength that does away with the need of
rhetorical merit. His illustrations are al
ways striking. Upon his enemies he can
not heap too much abuse and no name is
too severe for them. This style takes with
a Kentucky crowd. 1t is fiery, untamed
and to their liking.
BIackburn's Power Over a Crowd,
Several times during the present cam
paign Blackburn has worked on gatherings
until they refused to listen to national
democratic or republican orators and have
hooted them down. He did this on October
1S. at Pleasureville KY. Whenever he
wishes he can indame his auditors until
they will hear no one who differs from their
idol. 10 Blackburn.
1E this connection. a means of working
on the democrats that has been widely
adopted by silver speakers in the western
part of the state may be mentioned. Dur
ing the troubles Of last March, at Frank
fort. when the troops were called out to
guard Frankfort, in the last days of the
senatorial race. 1t was noticeable that
cartridges and bayonets were missed by
the soldiers In large numbers. Why this
was so to such an extent was not known
until recently. when at a number Of silver
gatherings the speaker has held up a
cartridge or a bayonet and addressed his
hearers somewhat in this strain:
Here IN my hands Is memento of the
republican rule in this state. l took 1t
from a soldier at Frankfort last March;
from a soldier who was called out by the
nrst republican governor we have had in
thirty years to guard the halls Of the state
capitol and keep 10 Blackburn from being
elected. Are we to be ruled by republicans,
backed by bayonets''-and so on
Mr. Carlisle's Future.
There have been many rumors afoat con-
cerning the future of John G. Carlisle
Most Of these were based on a probability
Of his return to the United States Senate.
So many of them have been set afoat that
none Of them have been worthy of Gre
dence But the last, which comes from a
better source than the Others is receiving
more attention.
1t Is in substance that an agreement has
been made by the republicans and sound
money democrats to elect Carlisle to the
United States Senate in the event that an
extra session is called by Gov. Bradley,
and the election of Blackburns successor
brought up.
This Is q wild-eyed story, but 1t is being
repeated time and again.