National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-13
BOURRONS no TINE FRONT.


The Speakership Claimed for the south.
The following letter from Colonel w. ii. Nc
Cdrdle of Mississippi to Representative Man
nlng Of the same State, sounds the keynote
ofthe Confederate. Bourbon policy in the pend
ing Speakership campaign. The sublime AFRO
gance of the writer in assuming for the South
crn Democracy all the prestige of power and
place in the next House is justified under the
circumstances for the Bourbons have been en-
couraged all along by their Northern Dough-
face allies in their egotistcal assertion of sec
tional aud personal superiority. There is not a
| line or an idea in the entire letter which is
not worth its weight in gold as Republican
campaign document:--
WASHINGTON, d. c.. March II, 1879.
MY DEAR COLONEL: The interest | feel in
everything that effects the South must be my
apology, If one he needed, for addressing you
! this letter. The contest for the Speakership is
! the absorbing question OF the hour aud learn
1 with u surprise akin to disgust that very fGw
Southern representatives, have reached the
prcpustcrous conclusion that it is "unwisa,
! imprudent, and impolitic " to elect II Southern
/ Democrat Speaker of the next House of Rep
rcsontatives! This objection is crystalizea by
| the Hon. Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee, MS reported
in the following language: The Democrats
cannot afford to elect Il southern man Speaker
of the House"
Has it ever occurred to the Southern gentle
men who oppose the election OF n Southern
man to the position of Speaker on the ground
that he is II southern Democrat aud ras u Con-
fedemte soldier that not one OF them could
have been elected to Congress but for the fact
that they were intensely Southern and had
also been Confederate soldiers?
1t was these considerations that enabled
them tn secure an election over q capet-bagger
or n renegade and if they think "the Demo-
Gratis cannot afford to elect n Southern man"
why do they not remedy the blunder by q
prompt resignation? The Southern Demo
Gratis in the House are or they are not the
equals of their associates. If they are equals
they are entitled to the privilege of being
elected to any position within the gift of the
House. If they are the interiors of their fell
lows, selfrespect and manly regard for the
honor of those they assume to represent de-
mand that they should retire from positions
which they taCitly acknowledge they are UNI
| worthy to fill. i have no doubt that u carpet
bagger or renegade can be found in every
Congressional district in tho South who will be
quite willing TO serve himself in Congress for
5000 n year and mileage, and If the South is
to have the brand of shame placed upon its
brow, in Gods name let it be so placed by
some alien or renegade hand, and not by those
whom the southern people have warmed into
life.
The contest for the Speakership seems to be
between the Hon. Mr.. Randall of Pennsyl-
vania and the Hon. Joe Blackburn, of Ken
lucky. II Mr. b. is unworthy of the high
position TO which his friends desire TO elevate
him, let his Southern opponents say so like
men. If hc is dishonest or incapable, let them
have the manlnoss to state their objections
boldly, and not attempt TO whip the devil round
the stump. If he Is incapable, or false TO prin-
ciples, let them select some other Representa-
tive for the distinguished honor. While such
Tom Ewing and the Hon. John A. McMahon,
of Ohio; the Hon, n,William X. Morrison and the
William NJ. Springer, of Illinois; the Hon.
Gabriel Bouck, of Wisconsin, and many others
whose names might be mentioned, are warmly
and zealously urging the election of Southern
man as Speaker, it seems passing strange to see
n man of his own section and his own faith stab
bing him in the back and damning him with
faint praise for no better reason than that he
is in personal and political accord with the
people of the South.
If, in the language of Mr. Atkins, rs renort-
cd in the Radical organ of this city, "tho Dem
ocratS cannot afford to elect II Southern Demo-
crat Speaker" how can they afford to have
more than 100 Southern Democrats as Repre-
scuatives in the House? And II the party
Cannot afford to elect q Southern Democrat
Speaker" in Heavens name how has il man
: aged to afford" to have Mr.. Atkins as chair
man of the Committee on Appropriations for
committee is almost equal in dignity import
ance, and power to the Speakership, and to be
q member of that committee is equal in dig
nifty to the craftsmanship of half the commit.
tees Of the House and yet oddly enough, Mr..
4 Atkins doubtless thinks "the Democrats can
Afford to have him in that important position
until he hears the cheerful invitation, Friend,
> come up higher
Another thing the objectors to Mr.. Black.
burn or any other southern Democrat forget
there are fOrty.two standing committees in the
House of Representatives, and the chairmen of
twenty-five of these in the last Congress were
Southern Democrats. | have often thought,
in looking over these committees, that Mr.,
! Randall had taxed human credulity and the
patience of the Democratic party to the ut
most limit; but to the best of my recollection
| have never heard Of one of these eminent
chairmen objectng TO his appointment by rea'
son OF his birthplace, residence, or previous
, condition of inCapacity, To our friends who
lay so much stress upon what they are pleased
/ 70 call prudence" (pusillanimity is n better
, word beg leave TO suggest that the victories
won in this world by maniness and courage
are almost as innumerable rs the sands on the
scashore, while those achieved by prudence
$50 called) can be counted on ones fingers. In
the contest between Mr.. Randall and Mr.
> Blackburn | am for Joe Blackburn, first, last
and all the time, and for Mr.. Randall never
? As have not the honor Of personal acquaint
ance with MI. Randall, no personal feeling
tinges my opposition to him. / oppose him
! because oppose all Of his school.
| With the exception OF his views in favor o.
;, Home Rule and his opposition to bayone
/ rule, Mr.. Randall holds no political opinion il
common with me or with the Southern De
G mocracy. He is for hard money, while we iavol
Y a liberal issue OF Government paper. lie iavor
I, q high protective tariff, while we of the South
p are for free trade. He is opposed TO aiding
= the South 10 build up her waste places by
n granting 10 US such moneyed favors as hav,
d been extended with Il lavish hand to the Nortl
. and the West. These reasons are quito SUN
/ cient with me, but II more were needed Mr.
G. Randall furnishes an all sufficient one in hi
n advocacy of Samuel j. Tilden for the Presi
s dency in 1880 TO which l am unalterably op
70 posed
q Thanking You for your manly advocacy O
fop olrar fnn IN q