Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-07
THE NEW .SPEAHER-REBELS AM
COPPERKE4D.S Nv THE ASCENDEN-

THE NEW SPEAKER-REBELS AND
C0PPERKEADS ~ THE ASCENbEN-
CT.
The election of Mr.. Kerr rs Speaker
is the first important step of the dem
cratic majority in the House. MIR.
Kerr is from the Third Indiana district, is
reputed to be good lawyer, and mas served
several terms in Congress. While there
has been a great deal said in democratic
papers in the Eastern States about Mr..
Kerr's hard-money principles, as though
this was the issue upon which his election
depended, it is quite certain that he has
been elected on no such issue. but by a
combination of Tammany Hall, the South
and the West,-a combination containing
all the worst elements of the democratic
organization, and formed with a view TO
the next Presidency rather than to the res
toraiion Of specie payment or any other
measure demanded by the interests of the
country.
The one feature which appears to have
recommended Mr.. Kerr over Mr.. Randall
was bis straight record rs a Bourbon. Mr.
Randall during the war supported coercive
measures towards the South. The cores
pendent of the Tribune writing from Wash
ington before the caucus said: The indi'
lana candidate has the straightest Bour-
"bon record OF any democrat in the House.
"In the years Immediately following the
'war, when the republicans were busy
"clinching the victory of the Union cause
''by Legislation, Mr.. Kerr was the stock
Spokesman, and bitter one, too, of the
handful OF democrats who opposed that
Legislation. An extreme States rights man
"before the war, it is doubtful whether he
''believed in the power of the nation to co.
.erce rebellion. He certainly was never
=, lassed with the war democrats, and was
lin full fellowship with the wing of his
party popularity known as Copper
heads On the other hand, Mr.. Randall
supported the war. and, since it closed.
has been about as liberal as democrat
'could be and retain standing in his
party
This straight Bourbon record, supple
mented by The free use of the money of
Tammany is what elected Mr.. Kerr
Speaker. 1t will be claimed as victory
for hard money, but before many weeks
elapse that deception will be fully exposed.
1t is victory for Tammany Hall and Sam
uel J. Tilden. 1t is defeat for that lib
eral wing Of the democracy which sank
party spirit in patriotism when the govern
ment was in danger
If we glance at the other successful
democratic competitors for places in the
House organization, we see represented in
them the dominant sentiment of the dem
ocratic majority. The West and South take
everything. Adams of Kentucky is Clerk.
J. G. Thompson of Ohio is Sergeant-at-
Arms. He WAS chairman of the democratic
State Committee in the late campaign in
Ohio, doing everything in his power for
the rag-baby candidate, Uncle Bill Allen
lie is the same person to whom T.. S.
Dodd telegraphed while the election was
in doubt. the returns not having been fully
made: Would 1000 majority in Wood
county help YOU'D. To which Thompson
replied: at would help much Their
little game was detected and exposed, but
Thompson now reaps reward for his Ia
bors in favor OF soft nancy in Ohio ly re-
ceiving position in which he viii have
considerable sums OF currency to disburse
The door-keeper (what an insult to loyal
men) was formerly Sergeant of
the Confederate Congress-, His name is
Fitzhugh OF Texas.
The postmaster is James Stewart of Vir-
g'nia, doubtless an admirer and defender
of the Lost Cause" Even in the selection
Of Chaplain nothing would answer but
a copperhead clergyman. now haling from
Washington but formerly obliged to leave
Connecticut Oh account of his sympathy
with the rebellion.
From such beginning as this it is plain
20 be seen that the cause for which Abra-
ham Lincoln died at the hands of the as
sassin, and for which hundreds of thou
sands OF the young men of our country
laid down their lives and more are suffer-
ing by wounds, is to be under the ban
wherever the democracy rule. and the Con-