The Portland daily press., 1873-10-01
The West aud the SD ,akership.

The St. Louis Globe discusses the question
o. ''The West ana the Speakership,' and
reads a sharp lesson to those Westerners VINO
claim hat their secti)n has not been suffi-
cien y recognized on committees, that the
Chairmen of the most important committees
are from the East, and that the earnest de-
mand of Western people for legislation in be-
half of their interests will be defeated, if Mr.
Blaine should az Iin be elected, bv the selec-
ton of Eastern men for the Chairmanship
aud control OF the very committees upon
which the action of the House regarding sui
jects peculiarly important to the West will
largely depend. While admitting that this
objection has some force, it urges that the
West has not sent men suitable for the Chair
10 anship of great committees-that they have
been men devoted to some petty local scheme,
and that their whole Congressional career has
been devoted to struggle to abstract the
largest possible amount of money from the
national treasury tor some river improvement.
or railroad, canal, custom house, post Office
or other enterprise. They had not breadth
or fairness of mind sufficient to qualify them
f,f responsible duties involving the welfare OF
t he whole country. This picture Of the aver
age Western Congressman is ce.tainly not
fattering, but it is undoubtedly substantially
correct. The Globe, however, says that now,
the West has developed disposition to send
better class of men, and that no man will be
so quick to recognize the fac as Mr.. Blaine.
1t adduces all The facts of his career to sub
stantiate this view and concludes that the
Western opposition will practically cease be
fore the assembling Of Congress. In the
course OF the article. which is long and ex-
haustive, it pays the following high tribute to,
Mr.. Blaine character and qualifications for
the Speakership
1t is not argued that Mr.. Blaine is an unfair
man; his conspicuous inpartiality as Speaker
has been recognized by his political opponents
Neither IS It denied that in ability and expe
rience, and in that swift decision which so great
" facilitates the transaction OF business, Le is
decidedly better qualified than ally other mem
Der OF he new House yet named Indeed. his
marked fitness and high popularity have cause'
IL TO De very generally conceded that Mr.. Blaine
would be reelected without serious opposition
LIZ is worth while to remember that Speaker
biaie has III other respects made record emf
nenGly worthy OF recognition and honor. In
oeeu, we uoaoI very mucn whether the Repuh
ican party can well afford, ii il gives to West
ern Republicans no especial ground for opposi-
ton, to set aside Speaker conspicuously quail
ned, under circumstances which w,ud MAKE
bis deteab seem ike triumph of the back
salary interest. Mr.. Blaine's streng opposition
to that m easure, his refusal 10 permit his owl
salary to be increased, backwards or forwards
and bis determined hostility to the Credit Mo
bilier frauds, have made him one of the
most popular men in the Republican party. If
In regard to Western interests be pays that
consideration to the wishes of the Western
member which we presume he will, his defeat
on other grounds would look too much like
triumph vi the back-pay element over The
more sturdy integrity OF the party which Mr.
Blaine so fairly represents.