The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-27
Leaders in Congress.

The debate on the Amnesty hills offered by
Blaine and Randall. which has occupied the at
tenton Of the House of Representatives dur
ing the week. possessed a significance outside
of the Immediate question at issue. 1t pre-
scented forensic contest between Che leaders
of the opposing parties that will cxerci e IL
certain Influence in the arrangement Of party
affairs for the Presidential campaign. fhe
most important point decided is that of the
Democratic majority i'll the House is badly in
want of leader. Mr.. Randall has enjoyed
the reputation Of being an accomplished par
t;amrntaran. hut in recent tactics he has been
entirely endorsed. Mr. Blaine took his own
amnesty bill out of his hands and Obtained tie
control of it almost before Mr.. Randall knew
what was going on. The Bl1ine management
of the amnesty bills has been throughout an
exceedingly sharp example OF tactcAl slreWd-
ness and the close of the debate finds Mr.. Ran
dali placed at a disadvantage. while Mr.. Blaine
" III be conceded the credit Of having made
better use of lie minority than its numerical
strength would suggest. The majority have
not succeeded in tin..ing a leader thoroughly
a-.,nai'1c, with parliamentary law and own
ing the Intellectual power that party leader
should possess.
When the session opened first heard OF
Fernando Wood as the Democratic leader. He
is not able to make il speech, but he knows
something Of parliamentary law and has a
great deal "f political experience. His impo$-
ing style also an it, III in his favor. But,
unfortunately for himself. he opened the se.s-
sion by asking 1ii, House TO ASSUME that the
question of the Governor>hip Of Louisiana was
not settled. MIR. Blaine called attention to the
fact that the previous Congress. of which Mr..
" cod WAS !, member, had decided that qiies
ton. There was technical conflict and the
end was that Mr.. Wood sank out uf the list OF
possible Democratic leaders in Congress. MI.
Randall stepped across Woods body and walk
ed up to the front in the capacity OF the great
parliamentary tactican but he stumbled at
the outset, aud has made several more stunt
bles since. He movcd the adoption of the
rules of the previous Congress, iinmindflll of
the flcl that such rules are considered adopted
in the absence of objection. al d so Mr. Ra. dali
scored zero on his first shot. His next and
greatest mistake was to apply the gag-laN to
the minority and make simultaneous a.ftcta
ton OF generosity. Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Gar
field were too shrewsl for Mr.. Rantlai at this
crisis. and by clever strategy obtained not only
control of the bill, but also privilege 10 make
the stirring speeches that within the past three
days have bee. read everywhere that the tcle-
graph and the mail prl,etrates.
Mr.. Randall having been hilleted failure us
the leader Of the minority. Mr.. Cox put III his
claim through the medium of speech which
Was as witty as all that 2entlenan'S rlfoltsAre.
DuG W IL SDihPii'S Hills VI IL bHCi W WV
scope of great questions. and Mr. Cox probably
discovered that the debate was pitched Oh too
high level to admit of the participation of the
professional Joker Mr.. Bialle argued that be-
cause Mr.. jefferson Davis is responsible Tor tie
horrors of Andersonvile lie should be disqlall-
fed from holding amy Office under the Govern
ment. Mr.. Cox replied by accusing Nr Elaine
of President al aspirations. and cracking some
small jokes concerning them. Granting even
that in principle Mr.. Blaine was wrong, and
Mr. Cox was right, still lie former plays the
part of the statesman. and the latter that of
buffoon. Mr.. Randall has shown that lie has
neither the s'it nor quckness required in the
leader of the majority, and MIR. Cox has proven
that, although his ready sarcasm is often an
important actor in Il debate. he is not large
enough 10 fill the clothes OF Il leader.
The Democatic majority in Clngress is i'll
urgent need OF somebody TO whom it c.i look
for leadership. Woodland Cox have lamentaby
tailed and Mr.. Randall does not entirely fl
the bill. In the abscnceof leader like blaine
or Garfield, the majority is uuwieldy and cium-
sy 1t appears not TO know what to do. or even
how to propose anything. 1t looks with won
der upon the minority gaining tactical victories
that would not have been possible ii the major
ity were ruled by shrewd and competent lead
ers. he trouble with the intellectual Demo-
Gratis in the House appears to be that they let
their passions Iun away witt: heir brains. and
having done so, are no match for the cool wa
riness Of the otler side.-BaH. american.