The herald., 1896-04-07
HONEST CARLISLE

The letter of Secretary Carlisle to the
chairman of the Democratic state CEN
trail committee of Kentucky leaves him
more than ever the ideal candidate of
the Democracy in the coming presiden-
tial contest. While the same is not
needed it furnishes anew the evidence
that stamps him as man of deep con-
viction and outSpoken honesty, and 1T
brings him out in striking contrast to
Mckinley, Reed, Allison and the other
Republicans who are candidates at any
price and on any platform that is vague
or deceptive enough to befuddle or de-
ceive the voters. Secretary Carlisle
plainly intimates that the condition of
his candidacy is the adoption by the
Democratic national convention of
platform that will be clean cut and
frank in it's avowal of the party's at
titude on the leading political is
sues of the day. More especially
does he demand unmistakable
questions of fundamental Importance
regarding which there has been so
much quibbling, double dealing and
downright Standardization and
finance. The letter is characteristic of
it's eminent writer and in harmony with
that impersonal and candid manner of
treating subjects pertaining to the pub
lie welfare that has ever distinguished
him.
1t is probable that John G. Carlisle,
in common with thousands of other
Americans, and with better reason than
almost any, cherishes an ambition to
be the chief executive of the mightiest
republic of the world, but in the Ian
guage of an eminent journalist, in writ
ing of him, he is "a man whose ambition
would not be apt to lead him far outside
of his convictions"
Like another illustrious Kentuckian
he would sooner be right than be pres
ident." Unlike the political poser, with
the fat-frying facilities, offered the peo-
pie of the United States by the Ohio
Republicans. a platform scintillating
with glittering generalities about "a
currency of gold, silver and paper with
which to measure our exchange that
shall be as sound as the government
and as untarnished as it's honor" will
not suit the man who should be, and,
The Herald believes. will be the next
Democratic president. He proposes to
enter the contest, If he enters at ALL
as the exponent of well-defined princi-
pies; he believes that the Democratic
candidate, whoever he may be, shall
seek the suffrages of the people sup
ported by a platform comprehensive to
the simplest intellects and capable of
but one construction in all sections of
the country and at all times. For this
position he deserves the respect and ap-
probation of every American citizen
with correct conception of the course
that should be pursued by a political
party. When a party resorts to eva
sion, suppression or distortion of is
sues it deserves defeat, and will in time
receive it most overwhelmingly
1t is well nigh certain that the Demo-
cratic platform framed by the Chicago
convention will be after the manner
and in accord with the views of John
G.Carlisle; that it's declarations on tax
alton and finance will leave no room for
misunderstanding; that it will declare
that the federal government has no
constitutional right to levy taxes for
other than public purposes; that taxa
ton for protection is robbery of the
many for the few, and that the stand
ard money of the country must be OF
the kind that is accepted everywhere
and at all times for what it purports to
be. To defend this sort of platform be-
fore the people and to execute its
pledges as president, no better Ameri-
can citizen can be found than John G.
Carlisle of Kentucky