The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-10
Tuesday. July 10. 1877.
The Next Speaker of the House.

rumOrs concerning the next Speaker.
With unblushing effrontery, as well as with
an air of assured authority, it has been
given out from time to time that the ad-
ministration expected by the detection of
Southern Democratic members to be able
to secure the prize in the person Of some
one who would use the position for the
benefit of the present administration. The
claim has been based upon the supposed
modifying influence of Mr.. Hayes South
ern policy, and the gratitude which South
ern Democrats naturally feel for this unex
pected amelioration of their political con-
dition. They are supposed not only to love
the gift, but also to have become suddenly
in love with the giver, This is the senti-
mental view Of the case; and is very much
as if a man should return thanks and do
favors to one who had persistently wronged
him for years but had at last been COM
PEELED much against his will to do right.
A less sentimental and more prosaic
statement of the grounds of hope entertain
ed by the president and his partizans is the
left handed bargain, called an understand
ing betloeen the parties, that in considera-
ton of Mr.. Hayes allowing South Caro-
lima and Louisiana TO pass from under the
rule of Chamberlain and Packard the or
ganization of the House should be allowed
through votes Of southern members to
come under the control of Mr. Hayes
friends. This idea has been, and is now,
somewhat prevalent in various quarters,
and from time to time is revived in sundry
shapes sufficiently often to keep the public
familiar with such possibility. Although
Mr.. Garfield, who at that time seemed to
be the presidential choice for Speaker, has
denied the correctness of the language
given in letter purporting to have been
written him by the president, requesting
his withdrawal from the senatorial contest
in Ohio, and in lieu thereof holding out
the chance of his obtaining the Speaker
ship, still the contents of the letter as pub
lished are doubtless sufficiently near the
real language used TO give fair import OF
the text; and what is Of much greater
Importance, the letter goes to show that
for some tlson the president at that time
entertained strong hopes Of Garfield
success, OF course every member, whose
previous political affiliations were Of such
character as to make detection from his
party appear like desertion from the rank:
and treason to his associates, was ready tC
cry out Lord is it l." and some who were
mentioned by name as being probably il
the scheme took the trouble Of making al
emphatic public denial; nevertheless the
periodic, and to the Democratic party, un
welcome revival of such rumors, and the
attendant political speculations in regarC
TO the possibility Of such an event, have
reused the several prominent Democrats
candidates for the position into unusua
activity, and the contest which naturally
under the circumstances would remain
partly in allegiance during the interval o
the summer heats and the congressional
vacation is receiving constant and vigilan
attention.
so recently rs July 3, the public is informe
"Becent adVices from the White Sulphur Spriug
indicate that In number the attendance of Demo
cratic congressman there will be large S. S. Co
has engaged rooms for the Goth OF July, Fernand
Wood for the 10Th, Senator Randolph for the l0u
Gov. Walker, OF Virginia IS already there. w. "
Corcoran and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston have 8,
cured quarters for the 18th instant. Milt Snyl,
will not 20 until after the Ohio convention on III
az A
the same time. Morrison and Blackburn htN
both promised to go. Mr.. Randall has not yet sil
one hundred Democratic members OF the next hou,
will be at the White Sulphur between the 25th
July and the middle OF August
Per Contra, the public is duly advised bv II
same authority Washington dispatch) that 4"
Democratic member OF congress from the sout
west Is authority for the statement that a NOV
ment Is on foot among his colleagues from tn
section, which will be likely 10 disturb the seren
OF the Democratic camp seriously. He says tn
there ~ good deal OF correspondence going
with view 10 selecting a competent man from Il
south for the speakership. The movement pr
ceeds upon the fact that OF the hundred and ff
Democrats who will take part In organizing Il
house, eighty-three from states south OF Il
Potomac while twenty-seven more are from ives
ern states whose representatives have little natur
affinity With eastern candidates like Mr.. RandS
and Mr.. Cox. Out OF these hundred and ten mer
hers from the south aud west II Is believed that
clear majority of the caucus can be obtained
support some southern Democrat who favOrs an a
Rroyal OF the presidents policy towards the sout
are rapidly falling Into line in hostility to the pre-
dent, that they the bitter enemies of the sout
and That therefore, the saGacious course for sOut
ern representatives to pursue is to antagoni
them. meeting OF congressman likely to fav
THIS project will probably be held at the II
Springs OF Arkansas early ia September n
comes of II will be a sort Of preliminary caucus
opposition to the White sulphur Springs gath,
ing The candidates talked Of are John II. Reaga
OF Texas Randolph Tucker, of Virginia. aud Ra
dali Gibson, OF Louisiana"
Whatever approval Democrats may
willing to give the administration, 1t ougI
NOT, and we are confident it does not, G,
tend 10 that direction or to that exten
The senate is already within the reach
the Democratic party, and within less tn,
the lite time OF the present administratiC
will in all probability be under its contrC
There is no valid reason so long as Il
Democratic organization exists why
should surrender the control of the hous
1t done through sympathy with Mr.. Haye
southern policy, the thing would be u
paralleled weakness and sentimental ella
trap; If done as the result of bargain ar
intrigue, posterity would never cease
donounce IL as a corrupt and unwortl
act. lfMr. Hayes can introduce and G
tablish thorough and needed reforms,
good citizens without distinction of par
should rejoice and assist him 10 his effort
To do this is one thing, to expect par
IN possession to relinquish its organizati,
and surrender its supremacy to the contr
OF president whose legal electlon II h