The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-06
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL THURSDAY MAY 6 1876

friends. Yet his aptness at repartee
and airihess of fancy seem to disqualify him
in the public mind for the grave and re-
sponsible duties OF the speaRership. One OF
the penalties of character for V=it is
character for levity; tor men have Little faith
In that rare style of genius which possesses
with the flash of the gem its solidity too.
To another and much morS prom.
inent candidate, the Hon. Samuel.
J. Randall, of Pennsylvania, tAere are far
more serious objections. His claims
are urged on the ground of his skillful man
euyering in the last congress. 5y means Of
which the force bill was defeated. His SER
vices in that battle are certainly some
thing TO be proud OF. 1t may be remarked.
however, that he never shore so conspicu-
Ously in the cause until the popular will
showed that it was the strong
one. His asking go nuch for one
achievement leads to criticism
of his general deserts. In the first place,
il should be borne in mind that he is an adj
vocats OF the infamous tariff system by
which his own state is growing wealthy at
the expense of the South and West SO far
sacrificing his democracy as TO pander
to local and class interests. AS might be
expected from man who forgots
principle In one emergency, he has forgot
ton It in others. He was one of Ben. But
ler's sblest and most enthusiastic allies IN
pushing the nefsrious back pay salary grab
through the forty second congress. His
name is found enrolled in favor of the steal
in all the test votes. He spoke for the meas
ure, and served as the colleague of Butler
ia the conference committee to which
the subject was submitted. This plain fact
is enough to damn him as the candidate of
the democracy. The party can nor, coming
into power as it does under the banner OF
reform, choose as speaker leader In ore Of
the pieces OF legislation that has had
so much to do with the overthrow of
the republicans. Such a course would
be an open confession of our political hypoc-
risy. The representatives of the organize
ton must, above all things, be pure and
clear from public plumber. 1t is to be re
GREETED, moreover, that Mr.. Randall
should be pushing himself fox the position
of speaker so shamelesslY as he appears
to be. He ia not inclined to sit down mod
estly and wait for honor to seek him
cut. He is intriguing for It. The Washing
ton correspondent of the Chicago Times de-
clares that he is in the capital "laying his
pipes for next winter" The chief means at
his command is bargaining in regard to the
constitution of the committees of the next.
House. He has already made the most
lavish promises, regardless OF his
known principles. He is willing to
throw protection overheard if the
majority desireit. He viii maize his finance
committee up of infia.iOnists' against his
own convictions if necessary. He is ready 10
advocate government aid to internal i'm
proyements if the sentiment OF the House
runs that way. In fact, be promises every
thing to everybody for the sake Of the
peakership. Thess representations OF the
Times are corroborated by the Wa hlngton
Republican, and the Chicago Tribune's
correspondent, while not giving the same
details, shows clearly that ne talks Of
himself as having the "lead in the race
thus far" In fact, his course is simply dis
graceful. and threatens to give US demo
cratic speaker whose election shall be the
result of a series of skillfnl barters OF sup
poTt tor positions of power and responsible
tty. In contrast TO such conduct we need
only point 10 the man who has absolutely
refused to solicit the speakershp, or 10
accept it as the reward of series of con6i-
tons and pledges.