Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-13
THE SPEAKERSHIP

The all-absorbing topic of discussion IN
political circles at Washington is the speaker
ship of the next House. There are really
but two candidates in the field, Cox, Mona
hon and Ewing being practically out of the
race. The two that remain are Randall, who
desires to succeed himself, and Blackburn, of
Kentucky. There is all manner of gossip
afoat in regard to them, their friends appar-
emily caring little what they say provided they
can, by starting story, advance the cause
which they seek to win. Mr.. Randall has
not been as popular aspeaker as many of his
predecessors He has been placed in pc
culiarly trying position. His party had just
regained power in the House after an inter-
mission of fifteen years, and was full of dis
cordant elements. Each individual sought
to receive the best places on the committees,
and if he failed to receive what he asked he
was indignant at the speaker. Then, care
had to be exercised that the Southern mem
bers should not be forced too far forward,
through fear that their influence might exert
an injurious effect upon the political senti-
ment of the country. Then, too, his protec
fist theories biased his conduct to certain
extent in the formation of the committees,
House from his support. He has, during his
term of Office, sought to conciliate these hos
tile elements, and, if we may judge by re-
ports, has succeeded to certain extent. 1t
no Io,,ia1 how bof Of %ho
alimosities that have been engendered dur
ing the past four years are still active and
operative, and may prove barrier to his re-
election. It is to be regretted that more
acceptable representative of Northern Demo-
cratic sentiment is not in the field for the
Office.
Mr. Randall's chief competitor is Joseph
@. S. Blackburn. He was soldier in the
confederate army, and still snffers from a
wound received in that service. He is man
of fine abilities, a captivating orator, and a
man who, at the head of the appropriations
committee during the past two years, has
shown himself to be honest, impartial and
thoroughly patriotic. In politics he is not
an extremist, and though hailing from a
Southern State, will, if he is elected, do JUS
tice to all sections of the country. He will
be supported in his claims by the entire del
egation from Kentucky and considerable
portion of the Southern representatives gen
orally. lie claims, also, considerable sup
port from the North, and will probably re-
ceive it.
Which of the two Will be; chosen by the
caucus that will assemble next Monday can
not at present be OWNED. Each seems to
possess about an equal strength. One argu-
ment that will be used with effect against
Mr.. Blackburn will lie that he is repre-
sentative of the South. While that argu-
ment is peurile to the honest, bipartisan
citizen, it will no doubt be potent with some
who fear the political effect of the election
of man of Southern birth to SO important
position. Some people can never learn,
apparently, that the Southern States are
other than alien provinces, to be repressed
by every possible means, and denied the
privileges of citizenship whenever that shall
seem possible. They seem to have forgotten
that they are part of the federal union in
as full a sense as are the States of the North,
and entitled to foremost place in the coun-
ellis Of the nation provided they can attain
that position by their abilities and their
votes. The people of the North have
nothing to fear from such contingency as
wOn!1 arisa from, tho elactior IF Rlool,.-,r,
to the speakership, though we would prefer
to see Northern man selected for variety
of reasons.