The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-11
THE SPEAKERSHIP.

| The Indications now are that Randall's de-
! feat for the Speakersbip is by no means as
sured. The opposition to him, however, Is
| very formidable and determined, and the
probabilities now are that 1t will consolidate
til Blackburn, Of some other Southern Hen1o-
| crat, In which event the fight promises 10 be
very close, with the chances all against Ran
dali
| The reelection Of Randall would be the
greatest calamity that could happen to the
Democratic party at this particular juno
| ture, and would 20 further than any other
| imaginable circumstance TO destroy the
unity Of the party and disorganas the adj
mirable discipline which was displayed In the
recent struggle over tho repeal of the test
oath and election laws. All the advantages
Of that short but mastery struggle would be
jeoparded and anything like organized party
action on other than these purely political
measures, would BIO rendered extremely
problematical.
The Southern opposition to Randall Is ex-
ceedingly bitter, and not without abundant
and oft-repeated provocation. Ii amounts
not merely to political and sectional difficult
ties, but TO positive dislike and distrust of the
individual himself. The cofnmon sentiment
at the South Is that Samuel J. Randall is I'M
worthy OF the place; that he is hostile to the
South and Indifferent to her welfare. and that
he has dishonesty and unserupulously used
and abused the high powers and trusts of the
speakership In order to defeat all legislation
peculiarly beneficial to the South, and In the
interests OF the local Eastern interests he Is
identified with. Under these circumstances.
and holding to this estimate OF the man, the
South will be disposed to bitterly resist his
reelection particularly II the Issue be directly
made of the right Of Il Southern man to the
speakership.
Upon this point the DEMOCRAT has long
since and repeatedly avowed the conviction
that the position belongs of right and In all
justice to Southern Democrat. AS party
question, simply, the preponderanee of
Southern Democratic congressman clearly
entities them to it. They constitute the rei-
able voting strength of the party, and 1t
would be the grossest injustice to confer the
highest and most responsible political
position at It's disposal upon man like
Randall, who belongs to the weakest and
most unreliable element of the party. Regard
ing it as matter Of policy, our views are
duty of the South, imposed by every con-
| sideration of manhood and seif-respect, to
assert her power In the national councils,
and to demand that her representatives In
Congress be relieved Of all imputations and
| accorded an equal consideration with those
Of other sections OF the Union. It is equally
the part of wisdom and duty on the part of
the National Democratic party to encourage
her to do SO, and to assist in the yindication
Of its most important element Of strength
against the partisan ISLANDERS and imputations
with which they have been assaiIed, In season
and out, during the past fifteen years, by
every Republican Thersites who chose to
howl treason In order to divert attention FROM
his own infamies. The time has come when
this thing must be stopped.
The time has also come when the South
should demand and receive just considera-
ton in the distribution OF the public revenues,
to which she contributes the lions share
Certainly Randall is not the man to befriend
her in any of these aspirations. On the con-
trary, his action, both at the Just expired
session and the preceding one, In regard to
all Southern measures, and especially the
Brazilian mail subsidy, prove him to be the
enemy OF our section, and the INSCRIPTIONS
enemy who has hesitated at no treaehery or
abuse Of his official powers to deprive our
people of their just deserts.
There is yet another view OF this question
not less preiudicial to Randans claims. The
Democratic party has reached crisis In its
history which calls for leaders of a different
temper and quality from Randall Its sue
cess now lies In boldness, vigor and aggres-