New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-14
The Opposition Elephant.

sentatives. How will they use their power!
Will 1t be possible for them to make any
good use OF it! Will it be possible for them
to act together. and to act efficiently! If one
examines attentively the list of opposition
members elect. he will probably reach the
conclusion that it will be impossible for
them to act together as party with respect
TO any Of the prominent questions of the
day, and that they would labor under seri.
Gus disadvantages even il they could agree
upon any definite policy.
The first thing that impresses one on
.hat are familiar to the public. All the op.
position members who have made them.
selves known to the country as men Of supe-
rio- ability, and all who have had any
considerable experience as legislators may
be counted on ones fingers: a. II. Stephens.
Of Georgia: NJ. e. Kerr and w. S. Holman,
of Indiana; J. Proctor Knott. of Kentucky;
Thomas Swami, of Maryland; n. p. Blnks
an! Professor Seelye, of Massachusetts: 5.
II. Is. Payne, Of Ohio: S. j. Randall and
Hester Ciymer. of Pennsylvania. These
are about the only men OF the opposition
concerning whom the world knows much.
Others may rise into prominence hereafter.
but these are the men to whom the country
must necessarily look rs organizers Of the
House. and members at first OF the chief
committees.
Now whers in this list is there a Suitable
man for Speaker! General Banks has
served with distinction in the chair. and is
doubtless able to serve we'll again. Blu: is
he the man upon whom the choice OF the
homogeneous opposition men is likely to
fall! The Times thinks not. The Demo.
Gratis claim the victory Of this fall rs their
own, and Banks processes not to be
Democrat. He was not nominated as a
.Nn%a aud csp fha
ization Of the Republican party he has not
called himself Democrat. Ii. was
Speaker Of a Republican House. He was
nnspicuous as a Republican all through
the rebellion. The strength OF the oPposi'
t;on in the House comes from the Western
and Southern States. and consists mainly
of Democrats OF the rock.roO.ed persuasion.
who have been yearniEg ter the flesh pots
these many years. 1t IS hardly supposab'e
that they will bestow the highest honor in
their gift upon a man who has received the
same honor from the Republicans. The
fact that he trained with the organized
contradiction in 1872 will not recommend
him to favor. The putrids do not think
they owe much to the little squad OF dis.
affected Republicans who helped row them
up Salt river in 1872.
Upon what one Of the above list. then.
are the Democrats likely to bestow their
highest honor! Certainly not upon
Stephens, or Kerr, or Holman, or Knott,
or Randall, or Clymer. The man most
likely to suit them is Mr.. Fernando Wood.
Of New York. He it was who was put
forward as the Democratic candidate for
Speaker when the present House was or.
ganized, and he it is who is most likely to
suit the majority Of the Democrats Of the
new House. Of Fernando Wood as rep.
resentativs Of reform OF any kind. it is act
necessary TO speak. Ills political record is
we'll enough known.
The next question is. how will such
Speaker as Wood construct the leading com.
mittees out of such material a. his party
affords! OF what material will he construct
the Ways and Means Committee, for in.
stance! In answering this question 1t is
necessary 70 consider: First, that Mr.. Wood
is Democrat OF tho Pennsylvania sort--a
prOtectionist Democrat; second, that very
large proportion, Il not y majority. OF the
opposition members are protectlonlsts IN
fact, even though they may call themelves
tree traders; and third, that speakers are
always governed more or lees by sectional
considerations in making their committees.
1t is perfectly safe to assume, therefore. that
no such man rs Kerr, or Cox, or See!ye. Will
be named US the chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee. Tits safe to assume that
the chairman and fully half OF the Demo.
Gratis ca the committee will be the Pennsyl'
wanna sort. and that the Republican mem.
reia viii! al! be prctectlonists. The country
need no: expect the smallest relief. there.
fore. from the tariff piracy as consequence
OF the opposition successes this tall.
The like is true with respect to the Bank.
in. and Currency Committee. which Just
now is.nOt less important than tbs Ways and
Means. If Nj. Wood were 70 be governed
solely by his own views, and no. 1t all by
party or sectional considerations, very likely
.,,lS
Blu. i. can hardly be doubted that the oppo.
si;ion is composed chiefly Of sshinpiaster III.
natics. 1t i, lvue that the Eastern Demo.
crats, like the Eastern Republicans, believe
in honest money, and the honest payment
of tho public debt. But it is also true that
nine out Ut every ten OF tbs opposition
members elect from the Western and South.
ern States are iDtiationisss. II not down
right repu6iAtiOEists. The claims Of these
men 70 . majority Of the committee the
Speaker can hardly ignore. Holman and
Campbell are far more likely to DO placed
on the Banking and Currency Committee
:ban Kerr ana Payne.
The prospect with rosncct t. other cnin.
mittees is NOT very much better. In Mr..
Eanks there ia very good material for chair
man Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs;
but where in the opposition is to be found
material for constructing an able Judiciary
Committed 1t may be there. but it would
trouble the average citizen 20 find it.
Again, what is the prospect with respect
20 efficient leadership Stephens has the
ability and experience. but he is too infirm
and feeble 10 take a very active part in the
business of tho House. Kerr, Holman,
Knott, Cox, Randall and Clymer also have
had experience, but not one of these gem
tlemen possess that skill in parliamentary
tactics. or that ability to influence men
that are necessary to make a good leader.
For years the Democrats have had no men
in she House capable Of coping with Blaine,
Dawes, Garfield and Maynard, and they
will find ahemselveE no better OFT in the
next Congress. Thsr will find themselves
antasonized, not Oaly by Republican
Senate and Republican President. but by
a strong. compact and skillful opposition on
the floor Of the very House where they will
he il majority.
But. worse than ali. they vii! probably
find themselves unable TO cooperate 20 any
good purpose. They may succeed in uniting
sufficiently to secure the organization OF the
House. bnt when it comes to tho shaping OF
a volicv, OF 60 action upon any question OF
important measure. they will find them
selves a body Of jrreconcilabie opposites
Instead Of acoherent party. Unquestionably
a majority of them are in favor Of come sort
Of shinpiaster initiation: but the New York
aad New England Democratic. together with
such Weste m Democrats 10 Kerr and l'ayne.
will act with considerable body OF Repub'
Leans to defeat any measure OF lnIlatIon.
And SO on the tariff question such men az
Kerr and Cox will antagonize the Pennsy!'
wanna sort Of Democrats. Possibly ma
jori:v q the opposition are in favor OF