Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-01

What Kentucky Democrat Thinks
Of the Tariff and Navigation Laws.

| A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial
has secured an interesting interview with John
G. Carlisle, of Kentucky. The conversation oc-
! CURED at Lexington. There can be no doubt
| that among western democrats Gov. Carlisle Is
very prominently considered In connection with
the Speakership of the next House. "What, "
was asked, .'are your tariff views, governor
Would you favor free trade II elected to the
Speakership?" swell, in the broad and sweep
ing sense, am not free trader, !" he answered.
''Of course, that is understood; at least 1t
should be. l will add that in my iudg-
ment 1t will be years yet before anything
In the nature Of free trade would be wise or
practicable for the United States. When we
speak Of this subject We refer to approximate
free trade, which has no idea Of impairng the
growth OF home Industries, but simply of seal
ing down the iniquities Of the tariff schedule
where they are utterly out Of proportion to the
demand Of that growth After we have calmly
stood by and helped monOpolies to grow fat we
should not be asked to make them bloated.
YOU don't care, of course, to have me go into all
the intricaces of the schedule and explain
seriatim the changes and reductions which
think ought to be made. Our enormous sur
plus revenues are Illogical and oppressive 1t
Is entirely undemOcratic to continue these bur-
dens on the people for years and years after the
requirements for protection have been met and
the representatives of these Industries have be-
come incrusted with wealth. This is the general
proposition on which l stand The rest is mere
matter Of detail to be settled with judgment,
discretion, and action, but at the same time in q
perfectly fearless spirit. There has not been
time in 20 years when the people were so thor
oughly aroused on this subject, and it is the
policy OF the democratic party to make it's appeal
to the voting masses, and meet this hydra-headed
monopoly in solid phalanx."
What are your views on the present navi-
CATION laws?''
81 can't Think" replied the governor "of but
one word that will characterize them fifty
they are barbarous." what change would you
maker" asked the reporter. ''Why, repeal them.
They are unworthy place on the statute book.
open the way to free ships. Let our capital
seek Investment wherever it chooses, without
hlndrance, and buy where it can buy the cheap
est. Revenue reform and revival of our ship
ping Interests are the only two subjects Of cOnSe-
quence now before the country"
''What of the Ohio result?'
"The election" replied the governor, ''ndi-
Gates in its results something more than mere
defeat on local issue. The republicans are
adrOitly endeavOring to account for our gains
by the prohibition issue, the apology Of an off
year, and other excuses, but the fact cannot be
denied that the true cause of the results to be
sought deeper than this. It is the same which
is operating so disastrOusly to the republicans
IN New York and Pennsylvania, and will bear
similar fruits. l mean the disintegratiop of the
party through the working OF factions, and the
corruption incident to a prolonged lease of
power. The Forty-eighth Congress will have a
democratic majority of 40 or SO, despite the
gerrymandering practised in republican states
like Ohio, and our majority in the Senate will
soon be restored"