Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-06
JOHN G. CARLISLE.
HIS INFLUENCE AND STR ENGTH AMONG PUB
Lie MEN


Lie MEN.
WASHINGTON, December 5.-The corres-
pondent OF the Dstroit Free Press, writing to
his paper, Gays:
Ne pubic man in recent years has made a
more envisble reputation than John G. Car
! Isle. His influence and strength among
| public men have grown rapidly in recent
years. He has not attained his prominence
| by large quantity of speech making in the
| House of Representatives. Ii has been
| fine quality of speech M king that has given
him SO great a repule as debater. His first
appearance in Washington was a member
OF the Forty-ffth Congress. Speaker Ran
| dali then gave him obscure committee
| position; he was assigned 10 the Committee
on Expenditures in the Navy Department,
and he was also put at the foot Of the list OF
Democrats on the Committee on the Electoral
Count. Although he was thus deprived of
many of the opportunities enjoyed by some
Of his associates, yet Mr.. Carlisle was a labo-
r;ous and diigent student of important
public questions and the details Of legisla-
ton. He did not seek prominence He was
then, as ne is now, quiet unassuming man,
approachable, courteous and dignifed. The
leading members of both parties gradually
came 10 know him a man of exceptionally
good judgment, clear thinker, strong
logician and member who was never car
In the organization of the Forty-sixth House
of Representatives Mr.. Carlisle was trans fer
red from ths Committee on Expenditures in
the Navy Department TO the Ways and
Means Committee. Some of the colleagues
on that committee were old and experienced
members-Fernando Wood, Gen. Garfield
and Judge Kelley. But protectionist and
revenue reformers alike, both in and out of
Congress, were not long in discovering that
Mr.. Carlisle was, in some respects, the
strongest man on the committee. From that
day 10 this the tariff monopolsts have feared
Carlisle more Than any other man IN public
life. One OF the largest iron manufacturers
in the United States sat in The House gallery
one day last session aud listened intently
and neIvOusly 10 Carlisle's speech on
the Tariff Commission bill and the
tariff question in general. After Carlisle
had concluded, the distinguished protection
ist remarked 10 friend at his side: 81 have
read all the big anti-protection speeches ever
made in Congress, but l have never read nor
heard one so able, powerful and so dan
gerous as the one we've Just liste ned 10.
have never before heard such a clear, strong,
logical presentation of the i-sues in contro-
versy." JUdge Kelley, who has great ad-
miration for Carlisle, made at the time simi-
lar comments on the speech referred to.
few weeks afterward Senator Bsyard said to
me that he had Just finished reading the
speech, and he expressed the opinion that
taken all in all, il Was the strongest tariff
speech he had ever read. Senator'S ard rep.
esentAttyes have not yet ceased to quote from
Mr.. CarlIsle's speech on The three per cent.
bill aud the national banks II was m ade in
the Forty-sixlh Congress, and is an admira-
bic example OF Mr.. Csrlisle's method OF dis
cussion OF great public questions. No
body has ever successfully replied to
that argument. The views and opinions
CT no oiher member of Congress are
so largely requested in private con-
terencss as are the views and opinions of
Mr. Carlisle regarding important subjects;
and the public men who appropriate the
results OF his study and his thought are moi
lew and lar between. Nothing but bargain
ing and The mschiDations of The protection
lists can prevent his election to the speaker
ship OF the next House. He is in every way
qualified for the high duties of the presiding
othcer OF that body. He is, without excep-
tlon, The ablest and most accomplished par
lIamentarian In Congress. He is master
not only of the fundamental principles of
parliamentary law, but also OF the details
and technicslities of the existing rules of
the Hous'. In addition 10 these qualities,
Mr.. Carlisle has other mental traits neces-
sary to the proper discharge of the speaker
chip. He is fair minded and exceptionally
Tree from personal ana partisan prejudice,
ana has the respect and confidence
OF political opponents TO an extent
seldom equaled in public life. This
all may appear 10 some TO be very high
praise, but 1t Is not extrayagsni; it is simply
the Just expression of the study of the man
and his record-a careful study extending
over several years, and with good opportuni-
ties ior reaching a safe and accurate esti-
mate. "A nigh officer OF the Treasury Depart
men', man OF great knowledge of public
men and public sffairs, remarked the other
day: The election of Democratic president
IN 1888 will, in my judgment, depend
not little on the result of the speakership
contest. The selection of Carlisle would
nave very favorable effect upon the
country, and would be the beginning of a
new era IN the history Of American politics-n