National Republican., 1876-12-04
MR, RAFpALHs OPPORTUNITY.

As was expected, the Democratic caucus
Saturday night selected Mr.. Sam. ]. Ran
dali TO be the Speaker of the rump session
of the Forty fourth Congress. This was
done at the dictstion Of MIR. Tflden, Demo
cratic aspirsnt 10 purchased Presidential
honors. We may now expects to see all the
influence and power of those corrupt and
grasping railway nonopolies that hive in
Wall street, of which Mr.. Tilden is the
chosen and pampered counsel exerted to
force him into the Executive chair Of the
nation. Having cheated the producers of
the West and the consumers of the East by
forcing them to pay two prices for freight
upon their breadstuffs and provisions by
their nefarious manipulation Of railway
stocks and bonds, they cajoled many of
their dupes into voting the Democratic
ticket under the false shib boleth of re-
trenchment and reform, and now they i'm
pudentIy ask these same deluded people to
aid them in forcing count of fraudulen:
votes in three Republican States, in order
to verify the Southern pledge of 'tsolid
South" for Tilden. Mr. RIndall is a capa-
BILE and experienced legislator, and if left
to be governed by his own instincts and
inherent views of what is just aud equita-
bic will make fair and respectable presid
ing officer. But he is so much indebted to
the ConfedeI ate -Tilden element for his ele-
walton 10 the Speakers chair that it is quite
doubtful if he will be ablu to steer clear of
those sectional influences which have pro-
claimed the intention of obtaining the con-
troll of the peoples purse and sword by
banditti law-"fair means or foul" Thus
far the political career of Mr.. Randall
has been eminently creditable for
one so extremely partisan as he
is inclined to be. Personally
and socially he is a general favorite, but
politically he is the obstinate slave of his
party. If he had the mind. the talent and
the will to improve the pres ent opportunity
to become its msster-spirit, to take control,
to spurn dIctstion, and by a course of
equity, justice and lofty patriotism extri-
cate his party from the revolution ary posi-
tion into which it is apparently drifting,
those insane acts which it has in contem-
plation, he could carve out for himself q
glorious future. If he is equal to the occa-
sion he will improve his present opportu-
nifty to become not only the idol of the
rank and file of his own party, but the
arbiter of the destinies of this Republic.
From this day forward MIR. Randall be-
comes his own biographer. If he is con-
tent to enact the role of passive tool of the
TildeR cabal he will be used in the present
emergency and thrown aside as so much
worthless rubbish. But if he fills the posi-
tion of Speaker with impartial fairness,
and determines all questions with prompt
accuracy and wise judgment as they arise,
discarding all pettifogging tricks of poll
ticians as beneath the dignity of his posi-
tion, and refusing to assume doubtful
powers as dangerous to the peace
Of the country in the present in-
famed condition of the public
mind, he will become the honored leader
of the respectable and patriotic element of
his own party and command the respect of
the civilized world. His position as
Speaker and the performance Of its duties
may involve the future OF this Republic.
On his voice aud action may hang the al
ternatives of peace, or anarchy, freedom or
despotism, popular government in its pur-
ity or chaos Of rI1e-club terrorism. If
the spirit and policy that have recently
triumphed in several of the States lately in
rebellion are countensnced now by the Dem
ocratsin Congress, andtheirlog gicalresultsar
attempted to be fastened upon the country
in the shape Of Tildeu administration, to
be under the djctstiol of terrorist leaders,
there can be no doubt that the same tactics
will gradually invade all sections of the
country as part of the Legitimate machinery
of the Democratic party. Is Mr.. Randall
ready and willing to become both the
apologist and apostle of this school of poll
tics! Is he prepared to become the first
victim of Southern terrorism in the Ma
tional Capitsl2 These are the questions
which he must answer. This will be Mr..
Randall's opportunity. This will be the
tide in his affairs which, taken at the flood,
will lead on to fortune.