The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-04
LINDSAY,s ANSWER.
Tells Kentucky Democrats That They
Knew His Views When They
Elected Him.

Elected Him.
Washington Feb. 4-Senator Lindsay
in the senate today answered the re-
quest for his resignation by the Ken
lucky legislature. He said:
With the relation existing between
senator and his constituency, this
body has generally no concern. But
there are exceptional cases in which a
senator may be justified in calling at
tention to transactions, semi-official in
their character which, if left unex-
planned might create the impression
that he stands officially charged with
conduct which would render him un-
worthy of a seat on this floor and an
unfit associate for his fellow senators.
It is to be observed that in the ar
raignment which precedes the resolu-
tion there is no charge that 1 have eV-
er disobeyed the expressed will of the
people of Kentucky. There is no charge
that anV act of mine as senator is
subject to animadversion or complaint;
no intimatiOn that have ever given a
vote which did not reflect the views of
the majority of my constituents or that
I have any time failed to look after
their interests or have been wanting in
any duty owing to them or to the coun-
try, or that am now opposing legisla-
tiOn which the majority of the people
of Kentucky regard as essential to the
public welfare, or that my personal con-
duct at any time or in any respect, has
been to the slightest degree incompat-
can senator.
The substance of the complaint is
that I am opposed to the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at the ratio
of 16 to and that opposed the cleo
tion of the nominees of the late Chicago
convention and by so doing betrayed
the trust reposed in me by my constit-
uency. L shall not discuss the preSlden-
tia1 campaign of 1896. 1t is not neces-
sary to do so to meet the charges that
I betrayed the trust of my constituents
ala Of
nominees. My constituency is made
up of the people of Kentucky and that
and twelve out of thirteen of the cleo
toraI voters of Kentucky were register
was elected to fill an upexpired term
in February, 1898. In August of that
year congress met in regular session
to consider the proposed repeal of the
purchasing clause of the act of July IA,
1890, commonly called the Sherman law.
In October, 1898, I voted against a pro-
posed amendment to the bill providing
for the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to L. I voted against an
amendment providing for the re-enact-
ment of the Bland-AllisOn act. I voted
against the amendment providing for
the free coinage of silver, upon condi-
ton that the government should receive
in the way of SeigniOrage the difference
between the market and coinage value
of silver bullion. In the discussion of
the bill, I declared that I would vote
for no amendment which merely expert
mented with a change of ratio, or that
did not provide reasonable safeguards
to insure the maintenance of the parity
of gold and silver dollars.
Those votes and that declaration
were known to all stKle@ss2tRIlige Deople
of the state of Kentucky. In the month
following the adjournment of this extra
session, the general assembly charged
with the duty of selecting my success
uary, 1894. My name was the only one
presented to the Democratic caucus and
when the election came to be held, I
received the vote of every Democratic
member present.
My views on the silver question We're
as well known then as they are known
today. They were then the views of
an overwhelming majority of the Re-
publican party in that state. I stand
today precisely where 1 stood when I
received that unanimous endorsement
by the Democrats of Kentucky. If
those who We're in accord with me four
years go are not so today it is because
they have changed their opinions,
whilst I have remained SteadfaSt
criticise no one for changing his opin-
ions, but I protest against being de-
nOunced as a betrayer of my trust be-
cause my views remain unchanged.
deny the right of Self-Seeking pOlit-
ical changelingS who were with me in
opposition to free silver when free
coinage was unpopular and are against
me now when free coinage seems to
meet Democratic approval in Kentucky.
to sit in judgment on my Democracy
or to call in question my fealty to the
constituency represent. I will remind
those who voted for the resolution that
I am not the mere agent of the Ken
lucky legislature. I do not exercise my
senatorial duties subject to legislative
supervision nor hold my place at the
legislative will. I represent not mere
~ a party or a faction but all the people
of Kentucky. My term of service is
fixed by the constitution of the United
States. 1t cannot be abridged by the
action of the Kentucky legislature.
/ am a senator from Kentucky, but
I am also a senator for the United
States. In questions local to Kentucky
I am always ready to serve her inter
ests to the best of my ability consist
ent with the obligations of honesty and
fair dealing. When great public in
terests, affecting alike every portion of
the union are to be acted upon, they are
to be considered from the standpoint
of the broadest patriotism, and this I
propose to do, no matter who may con-
denim my action, or who approve it.
This much I have thought it proper
to say and with these remarks I dis
miss the so-calIed legislative request
for my resignation.