Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-15
j. G.. Carlisle.

the present generation, has COM
manded such respect as is accorded
John Griffith Carlisle, of Kentucky.
Although Il pronounced partisan, he
has ever been just in his deci-
sions and impartial in his recog-
nitions. This business on his part
has met with equal respect from the
floor and at the end of the Forty
Ninth Congress he was presented
with magnificent service of plate,
contributed by both Democrats and
Republicans. Mr.. Carlisle was born
IN Campbell county, Kentucky, Sept.
! ., 1885. His early life possesses no
particular point of interest. He was
compelled to work hard for living,
and his education was mostly attained
in the unpropitious atmosphere of a
district school, as opportunity afforded.
He was hard student and before ho
had attained his majority he was
earning his living by teaching. He
employed his leisure hours in reading
law and little by little qualified him
self for the bar, to which he was adj
mitted in 1858, when but twenty-three
years OF age, after term in a dingy
law office, and has since, when not in
the National or State service, de-
voted himself to his profession. In
1856 he was elected IA member of the
Kentucky House of Representatives
In the secession he inclined to the
Northern side and was IL firm be-
lever in the Union. In 1864 he was
nominated as Presidential elsctor on
the Democratic ticket, but he de-
clined the honor. In 1866 he was
elected to the Senate of his native
State and again in 1868. He was
present as Delegate at large from
Kentucky at the National Demo-
cratic Convention held in New York
City in 1868. His nomination for
Lieutenant-Governor of Kentucky in
1871 by the Democratic Convention,
caused him to resign his seat in the
State Senate, and being elected he
served from 1871 to 1875 in that
position. He was chosen a Demo-
cratic elector at large for Kentucky in
1876. Chosen to represent the ia
nous Covington District in Congress it
was soon evident that his constituents
had made no mistake in their selec-
ton. He was proven a well informed,
competent, able and diligent member,
a skilled debater and an excellent
orator. After an exciting canvass in
which his skill for strategy was ad-
mirably tested he was elected Speaker
of the Forty-Ninth Congress, over
Samuel j. Randall. As far as honesty
and capability are concerned, Carlisle
Is the peer of his leading competitors.
He has never concealed his opinions
and his exact stand on the question
OF the tariff may be CLEANED from one
OF his speeches in which he says
"In the broad and sweeping sense
which the use OF the term generally
implies, | am not free trader; of
course that is understood, at least il
should be. l will add that in my
judgment it 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 the approx
mate free trade, which has no idea of
Gripping the growth OF home industries
but simply OF scaling down the in
dignities of the tariff schedule, wher
they are utterly out of proportion tC
the demands of that growth. After
We have calmly stood by and allowed
monopolies to grow fat we should not
be asked to make then bloated. OuI
enormous surplus revenues are
illogical and oppressive. 1t is entirely
undemocratic to continue these bur
dens on the people for years after tn,
requirements OF protection have beer
met and the representatives o
these industries have become incrust
ed with wealth. This is the genera
proposal on which | stand. The rest
is a mere matter of detail to be set
tied with judgment, discretion ant
caution, but at the same time in 8
perfectly fearless spirit"