The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-07
MIR. CARLISLE AS A cANs1DATE.


Secretary Carlisle has addressed a
letter on the subject of his candidacy
for the presidential nomination on the
Democratic ticket to Mr.. Charles R.
Long, chairman of the Democratic
state central committee of Kentucky
He states that he has received many
communications upon the subject of his
possible candidacy, and asking that
those from whom they come may be
authorized to use his name, but he has
not been able 20 reach any conclusion
that the existing conditions require
him to comply with their request. Then
Mr.. Carlisle says:
While 1 feel a profound interes. in
the welfare of my party, L am much
more concerned about it's declaration
of principles than its selection of cam
didates, because, in my opinion, its
failure or success at the election, as
well as its capacity for useful SER
vice in the country in the future, de-
ponds upon the position it takes or
omits to take upon the public ques-
tons now engaging the attention of
the people and especially the ques-
lions affecting the monetary system Of
the country and the character and
amount of taxation to be imposed upon
our citizens.
He could scarcely have said less.
while to have said more would have
spoiled the effect of what he did say
He placed principles before candidates,
which evinces a becoming modesty on
Mr. Carlisle's part. Should the Chi
cago convention see fit to name him
as the Democra tic standard bearer
such declaration will in no way be
found embarrassing: and if it should
not, he will have maintained his dig
nifty.
Mr.. Carlisle does not refuse to allow
his friends to use his name though he
does not authorize its use. There is
nothing in his letter that can be con-
strued into a declination to become a
candidate. We should not be at all
surprised if he does become one and
if his candidacy is backed by the pow
erful influence of the administration.
Because of his views on the financial
question Mr.. Carlisle would not be an
acceptable candidate to the western
Democracy. They recognize in him
man of great intellectual power; that
he has an unblemished character and
that his integrity is of the highest;
all this they recognize, all this they
are glad to acknowledge; of his record
in the house and senate they are
proud. yet all these things cannot
make him acceptable to them as
candidate. Holding him in the high
est esteem, approaching his many ex-
cellent qualities, they cannot fail to rec
ognize the fact that as secretary of the
treasury he has been completely DOM
mated by President Cleveland, that in
his strong personality Mr.. Carlisle's has
been swallowed up completely. They
cannot but think that if he were ele-
waited to the office of president of the
United States he would perhaps be
dominated by some power behind the
throne; that he would in fact be a
mere figurehead. They realize that he
has high character, but they do not
believe he has a strong character
Were he in full accord with them on
the silver question, still they would
doubt his availability as a presidential
candidate.
If he were to be nominated at Chi
cago, Democrats and Republicans alike
would regard him as Mr.. Cleveland's
personal representative.