The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-12-10
The Speakershin Contest.

The animated contest among the Demo
cratic members of Congress in relation tc
the choice ola candidate for Speaker of the
House was ended on Saturday last by the Sc.
lection, in caucus, of the Hon. M. C. Kerr, OF
Indiana, who was nominated on the third
ballot. The caucus was harmonious, and
upon the announcement of the vote showing
MIR. Kerr to have majority, the Hon. Sam.
uel D. Randall, his principal opponent, NOV.
ed that the nomination be made unanimous,
in courteous and graceful speech. Hon. s.
5. Cox, of New York, was also candidate.
Accordingly Mr.. Kerr, on Monday, received
the votes of the Democratic members of the
House, and was duly elected Speaker.
His selection for this important position
means much more than the personal choice
of favorite. Indeed of the two men Mr..
Randall appears TO have been personally
more popular than Mr. Kerr. The selection
ofthe latter, therefore, at the present time,
may be taken as Indicating, to some extent,
the temper and disposition of the Democrat.
ic majority in Congress, and as foreshadow-
ing the line of policy it is inclined to pursue.
1t means, according to the able and patriotic
speech of the Hon. L. @. c. Lamar, the chair
man of the caucus, that there will be thor
ough and sweeping reform of the civil SER
vice of the country, (which shall be conduct.
ed in spirit that will secure the appoint.
ment to places of trust and responsibility of
fbn hpnaSf ba nj a., IL
1t means that the administration of the
public revenue of the country will be yigi-
lantly examined; that corruption will be
terreted out, and wrong-doers, no matter how
high or low, shall be fearlessly arraigned and
fully exposed and punished.
1t means economy in the administration of
the government, and the perfection and
adoption of such system of taxation as will
bring in the required revenue "with the few
est restrictions upon commerce and with the
least burden to the people, and that burden
equitably distributed and skillfully adjust
ed" In other words free trade as nearly as
practicable.
1t means the carrying out in good faith OF
every pledge made by the government the
payment of the national debt in full, and the
restoration of the currency of the country to
an equality with that of any nation on earth
1t means the equal rights of all the States
and all the people, the restoration of the
Constitution to its ancient strength and all.
thority, as the protector of every State and
of every individual
In the contest for the Speakershp Mr..
Randall labored under the odium of being
the favorite of Boss Shepherd and other
prominent Republicans, and it was intimat-
ed that the course Of investigation as desired
by the Democratic party, would find in him
a lukewarm supporter. On the currency
question, also, he was represented as unsound.
Whether these charges were true ornot, they
nevertheless overcame his personal populari-
ty, and enured to the benefit of his rival, Mr..
Kerr, whose record upon all points, as q
Democrat, and whose personal honor, ability
and uprightness marked him as the proper
person to preside over the first Democratic
House of Representatives that has assembled
in Washington for fifteen years. Let us
hope that their counsels will be guided by
moderation and wisdom, for the benefit of
the whole country.