Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-17
SPEAKER AND LEADER.

SPEAKER AND LEADER.
A late number of the New York Even
inc Post has an editorial under the above
heading in which it discusses Mr.. Blaine's
peculiar qualifications and success as
Speaker, and his fitness for leader of the
republican side of the House, also the op-
portunity which the latter position will
open to him. The Post thinks that Mr..
Blaine will lose nothing by exchanging
the Speakership for the leadership OF the
republicans All the honors that he could
win from the former position he has gained ;
row he steps into another place where his
abilities will have wider range and bet
ter opportunity to display themselves
"Mr. Blaine,n says the Post, "may be
glad to exchange the after all rather neu-
tral-tinted honors of Speaker for the more
brilliant and conspicuous leadership OF
the republicans in the new House of Keep
resentatives, which his own unauallhed
fitness as we'll as the doubtful fitness OF
other members secures for him. The lat
ter position is more fruitful than the form
cr of opportunities for those who aim at
personal renown The Speaker is large
" impersonal He is the embodiment OF
impartial parliamentary law. II he does
his duty he is stranger to sympathy and
can know nothing OF enthusiasm. There
Is for him no fertility Of partisan resource,
NO. bcldness of attack, no courage or hard
ihood in defence. He is cold and passion
less Justice, with gavel in hand. When
he comes down from the chair. il he has
filled lit well, he is the object OF great
deal of respect and confidence, and some
times, as was shown last Thursday, of a
warmer and heartier regard. These are
to some men the highest OF honors, but
they lack the brilliancy and notoriety Of
other political rewards. There is more oil
conscious and conspicuous personality in
the leadership Of party on the legisla-
tive floor. To a certain class of minds
leadership of minority is even more at
tractive than leadership Of majority
There is more freedom in the opposition
than on the government side of the House.
So far as individual ambition is concerned
Mr.. Blaine has no cause for regret in
leaving the republican Speakership for
the head Of the republican opposition. 1t
is trne that it is the opposition in some
what qualified sense. The republicans
still occupy the executive departments
and have majority in the Senate. They
are therefore largely responsible for the
administration. For their conduct now,
as we'll as for their past acts, they will be
open to attack in the House of Represen-
tatives, and the minority there may be put
on its defence. A defensive opposition is
exposed to embarrassments from which
an aggressive opposition is entirely free.
But 50 far as the House of Representatives
is itself concerned the republicans will be
purely the opposition. The democrats
are responsible for legislation in that
branch of Congress, they must initiate it,
and in SO doing will encounter the assaults
Of the minority. Mr.. Blaine will be de-
fective in tact if he does not contrive to
put them into that position. We believe
that he has that quality and other qualities
Of leadership in larger measure than any
man the democrats have vet found to sci
against him"
d The government finances will probably
make better exhibit when the new tax
bill operates fully than at any past period
since the war ended. Beside the revenue
provided for, systematic and wise re-
trenchment has been pursued which will
have favorable effect AS an example a
retrenchment has been made of ten per
cent. per annum of the expenses of collec-
ting the customs duties. The reduction
for the port of New York is $224.O0O
Boston, 100000; Philadelphia. $4,000
Baltimore, $S8, 900; New Orleans. $685.
900; Mobile, 1922 900; Norfolk, $4,000. Al
other ports on the Atlantic Coast there has
been a reduction of 100000. This makes
q reduction of 800, 900 in the expense Of
collecting the customs of the country.
This is the day devoted by the Sons of
Erin to the celebration of Saint Patrick.
All accounts of this patron saint of Ireland
give him the reputation of leading chris
tan. benevolent and quiet life, and the
Irish who make st. Patrick's day the
noisiest. most drunken and turbulent day
Of the year cannot be governed in their
conduct by anything that appears in the
character of their sanity patron.
Thurlow Weed was considerably sur
prised at the success of the republicans in
the New Hampshire election. He was
not prepared to see the democrats beaten
quite so soon. He thinks the sending OF
two rebel generals into the State to speak
for the democracy helped the republicans
and that the victory won by the latter will
have a very important bearing on STATE