Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-03-20
Washington Correspc ..dence.


There Is enc act of the southern
democracy that shows their frrs deter
mination to insist upon the Dogma of
states-rights more than the defeat of
the senate bill to prevent the introduc-
ton of contagious Diseases in the
House of Representatives, because
they insisted that the money should be
expended under the direction of their
respective states. The object of the
/ bill was to prevent the outbreak aud
spreading Of the yellow fever, but the
southern democrats by their action say
they prefer~thc yellow fever to having
anything done under the authority Of
the U. S. government to prevent it.
Let the loyal north consider we'll this
action of the southern democracy.
Does it not clearly show that they con-
slider the principle Of state-rights Of
far more Importance than the most
vital measures for their protection
without its due acknowledgements If
their understanding of states4righes
prevails, what does the United States
! government amount to? 1t can do
nothing against any state that may SIZE
fit to enact laws contrary to the United
States laws.
The great topic at present is, who is
TO be the next speaker of the House
of Representatives, and the contest
appears to be between Hon. S. J. Ran
dali The speaker of the last House and
10. G. S. Blackburn, of Kertucky.
with the chances in favor Of Mr. Ran
dali who is backed by Gov Tiden and
his supporters. Col. w. Fl. McArdle
of Mississippi. published letter writ
ten to representative Manning of his
state in which he CLAIMS the speaker
ship for the south. 1 quote largely
from it to show the defiant disposition
4
My DEAR COLONEL: The Interest
feel in everything that effects the
South must be my apology, if one be
needed, for addressing you this letter
The contest for the Speakership is the
absorbing question of the hour and |
learn with surprise akin to. disgust Tat
a very few Southern Representative
! have reached the prepOsterous conclu-
sion that 1T is ''unwise, imprudent. and
impnlitlc" to elect Southern Demo-
cra5 Speaker Of the next House of
Representatives! This objection is
crystalized by the Hon. Mr.. Atkins,
of Tennessee, as reported in the fol
lowing language The Democrats
cannot afford to elect a Southern man
Speaker of the House :"
Has it ever occurred to the southern
gentlemen who oppose the election Of
southern man to the position Of
speaker on the ground that he IS a
southern democrat and uas a confed-
crate soldier ; that not one OF them
could have been elected to congress
but for the fact that they were intense.
| ly southern and had also been confed-
crate soldiers
1t was these considerations that en-
abled them to secure an election over
a carpet-bagser or a renegade. and if
they think 1.-THE democrats cannot af
ford to elect southern man" whv do
they not remedy the bIunder by
prompt resignation? The southern
democrats in the House are or they
arc 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
Ii they are the interiors of their fell
lows. seif-respect and manly regard
for the honor of those they assume to
represent demand that they should re-
tire from positions which they tacitly
acknowledge they are unworthy to fill
L have no doubt that a CARPET Dagger
or renegade can be fond in every
congressional district in the south who
will be quite willing to serve himself
in congress for $4,000 year and
mileage, and if the south is to have
the brand of shame placed upon its
hroV, III Gods name let it be Sc placed
oy some alien or renegade hand, and
not by those whom the southern peo-
pie have warmed into life. =
With the exception of his views in
favor OF ''Home Rule and his oppo-
sltlon to bayonet rule, Mr.. Randall
holds no political opinion in common
with ME or the southern democracy
lie IS for hard money, while we favor
a liberal issue of Government paper.
lie favorS a high protective tariff,
while We Of the south are for free
trade He is opposed to aiding the
south to build up her waste places by
granting to US such moneyed tavors as
have been extended with lavish hand
to the north and west. < Il
1t, IN the language of Mr.. Atkins.
as reported in the radical organ of this
city, 'the democrats cannot afford to
elect a Southern Democrat Speaker,
IN Heavens name how has it maintain
{ d to afford to have MIR. Atkins as
chairman of the Committee on Appro- |
prlations for the lass two years? The
Craftsmanship of that committee is al |
most equal in dignity, Importance, and
power to the Speakership, and to be a |
member OF Of that committee is canal |