ADDRESS OF MR. MCCREARY OF KENTUCKY.

Mr. SPEAKER: In the prime and vigor of early manhood, with a life only half spent, his noble qualities opening the way to success and renown and the glory of his achievements just beginning to reach fruition, Hon. MARCUS C. LISLE died on the 7th day of July, 1894.

He had been a member of Congress but little more than one year when his failing health compelled him to return. to his home in Kentucky. His last words to me were, “I am going home to rest awhile;" but the death summons came sooner than expected and his rest was eternal. yielded to the decree that

All that lives must die,

Passing through nature to eternity.

He

I was present with the Congressional committee at his funeral. The eloquent tributes paid to his memory and the vast concourse of his neighbors and constituents who were present showed how sincerely he was respected, admired, and loved.

While the air was redolent with the perfume of summer flowers and musical with the songs of birds, and all nature suggested life and joy, we buried him beside his loved ones who preceded him, and realized that—

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!

Mr. Speaker, the death roll of our public men is lengthening rapidly. What a roll of honor we would have if the names of those on whom we have relied as leaders in national affairs in the last quarter of a century could all

be written together. A great source of satisfaction and consolation, however, in our great country is that no matter who dies the Republic still lives and continues in its career of unprecedented liberty and glory daily, showing that as great actors in the drama of life disappear from the stage of action others seize the torch of freedom and guard it as valiantly and keep it as bright as those who preceded them.

The people of the Congressional district in which we buried him to whose memory we now pay tribute in a little more than two years mourned the death of two of their Congressmen. Just twenty-eight months before Hon. John W. Kendall, then a Representative of the same Congressional district, died in the prime and vigor of a splendid manhood while ably and faithfully discharging his duties.

MARCUS C. LISLE was born September 23, 1862, in Clark County, Ky. While still young in years, he became prominent as a lawyer, legislator, and business man, and in all the positions of honor and trust held by him he was conspicuous for his ability, integrity, and fidelity to those he represented.

He was my neighbor, friend, and colleague. We resided in adjoining counties, and I knew him from his youth to his death. When a boy he was a leader, and he was one of the best and brightest in his county. Educated at Winchester and Lexington, Ky., and graduated at the Columbia Law School, New York, he showed talents from the start far above the average man, and his popularity among men rapidly increased. When thirty years of age he was elected county judge of his native county, and at thirty-two he was elected a Representative in Congress. His parents loved and admired their gifted son, and he was the pride

and joy of his brothers and sisters, and the people among whom he lived and who knew him best believed there was no office of trust to which he might not confidently aspire and which he would not honor and adorn. Death is sad at all times, but it is doubly sad when the stricken one is young, able, accomplished, and full of promise.

In 1887 he was married to Miss Lizzie Bean, one of Kentucky's loveliest and most accomplished daughters.

Domestic in his tastes and affectionate in his disposition, his home was his sacred shrine. There his mild, genial nature received and reflected earth's truest love and richest joys. By a strange fate the happiness and sunshine of his married life was sadly dispelled on the very day which he had looked forward to and hoped for with so much pride and pleasure. On the 4th of March, 1893, being the first day of his Congressional term, his wife died. This terrible bereavement came upon him suddenly; but he bore it with the tranquil courage for which he has been conspicuous, and he was soothed and sustained by his faith as a Christian. A bright and handsome son, Ernest Claiborne Lisle, survives his parents, and he is all that is left of a little family which but a short time ago was blessed with happiness, hope, and love to the fullest extent.

Mr. Speaker, there is no fairer forum in the world than the House of Representatives of the United States. Here men are judged not by the offices they have held, not by the splendor of their ancestry, not by the honor and renown they have already achieved, not by the glamour of a conspicuous civil or military career, but they are judged by what they do here-by the capacity, fidelity, and honesty with which they discharge the varied and responsible duties

of Representatives in the American Congress. In this great forum questions are discussed and measures enacted which concern the destinies of the Republic, and he who as a representative of the people wins their approbation and advances their welfare, and helps to promote the great interests of the Republic, is not only a worthy and faithful public servant, but he has done that which in all ages and in all countries has merited and received lasting honors and continued veneration and respect.

It was on the 7th of August, 1893, that Judge LISLE first took the oath of office and commenced his active duties as a Representative in Congress. It is not my purpose to follow him through all the varied duties of his high and responsible station; but serving with him daily and studying with him the same problems, I with pleasure testify to his excellence and splendid service.

As a Representative in Congress he was diligent in the discharge of his duties, faithful to his constituents, earnest and unswerving in the support of measures which he believed to be proper and right. He accepted public service as a serious and important commission, and met its demand with a strong and constant sense of responsibility and duty.

He had the respect and confidence of all who knew him in public life, and his affability and attractive manners made him welcome at the Executive Mansion, at the offices of the members of the Cabinet, in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives. Few members of Congress have ever accomplished in so short a time more than he did in legislative affairs and for the benefit of his constituents.

His Democracy was as steadfast and as immovable as the mountains of the district he represented and loved so well,

and he always worked for the supremacy of his party and the equal rights of the people. He loved justice, truth, and honor, and was never happier than when doing something to elevate mankind, advance the cause of education, promote Christianity, and give progress and improvement to his country.

'The Pantheon of America is in the hearts of the people." We need in this Republic no national temple dedicated to the dead in which to place the images of our patriots and statesmen. The admiration and love of the American heart will always preserve the memory of our great and good men. Their deeds, their services, their memorials will be treasured forever in history and biography and handed down from sire to son; and a people who govern themselves, and who are therefore prepared to appreciate and properly value their faithful public servants, will never allow their services to be forgotten or their memories to be unhonored.

The people of the county in which Judge LISLE was born and reared, and the people of the Congressional district which he represented so faithfully, will always cherish and honor his memory and be grateful for his earnest and successful efforts in their behalf; and all who knew him will remember with pride that his life was full of usefulness and love for his fellow-men, that he served his country faithfully and ably, and that he died in the Christian faith.

Earth, that all too soon has bound him,

Gently wrap his clay;

Linger lovingly around him

Light of dying day.