The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-11
VINO SHALL BE SPEAKER OF THE NEXT
HOINE2

rcsCntatives II second only to that OF the Presi-
dent The man who held this power in the last
| two Congresses and who ought to hold It in tho
! next IL Mr. Samuel J. Randall Of Pennsy lvania.
| About his character and history. therefore. tho
country has some right to bo curious and to
| quire something more than the meagre compi-
| at.on Of dates and figures which appear in tho
| Dictionary OF Congress.
Mr.. Randall was born in Philadelphia on Oct.
| 10. 1928. His father. Mr.. Josiah Randall. was
u very accomplished gentleman and one OF tho
| foremost men ut the Philadelphia bar. Ho was
for many years one OF the two or three pre-
eminent leaders Of the Wing party in that State.
When the Wing party dissolved. he went over to
| the Democracy. and in 1876 defended its candi-
dates and principles in series Of speeches.
which were then regarded and have ever since
been priced 10y his ancient political foes as
| models OF campaign logic and eloquencc.
| Samuel j. Randall never voted any ticket but
tho Democratic. He camo into public life at
very early age, and has never since boon even
| temporarily retired. IIo served briefly In tho
Common Council Of tho city and in the State
| Senate. and was then chosen member OF the
| Thirty-oighth Congress. He has been returned
at every succeeding election. until although n
young man. he il one u the oldest in continue
Gus service in that body. Hc was II candidate
| for Speaker OF tho Forty-fourth Congress, but
WIS defeated by the Hon. Michael G. Kerr. 10y
whom he WAS appointed Chairman Of the Com
| mittco ON Appropriations n position TO which
| he was entitled by virtue Of the vote ho had re-
ccivcd for Speaker. At the second session OF
| the same Congress. Mr.. Randall was chosen
Speaker MIR. Kerr having died during the re-
c'ss. lie was reelected Speaker Of the Forty
nth Congress Ly an overwhelming majority
over all competitors and has filled that high
onlce acceptably TO tho country and to the party.
by reason Of long service. and close attention
10 his duties. Mr.. Randall became the most ex-
| .er' iariigmcntarian on the Democratic side Of
| tis "A ..-. In scientific knowledge of tho rules
and all branches OF parliamentary law he had
no superior In either party. and when tho great
contest ON t!.c Force bill took place at the close
| Of the Foriy-tl.sl Congress, Mr.. Randall was
| by common consent assigned the leadership OF
| tho Democratic minority. The conflict which
| cisued was ono OF the most memorable in his
! tory. and. whether wo consider the magnitude
O.. Oh, issues or tho character OF tho struggle.
hss scarcely parallel in the parliamentary an
nais 70 the Englsh.spcaking world. For three
days aud nights Mr. Randall headed his gallant
minority. never leaving his post for an instant.
never sleeping. and never eating or drinking
except nt his desk and in full view Of the en-
envy lie regarded il as n battle for tho preser-
Walton Of free institutions. as indeed il was, and
one of tho most important ever fought on field
orr floor How long he might have held out in
tia an .qual struggle against n great ma
1 lurty with tho House organized in it's
! .nt.to... IA beyond tho reach Of conjecture
bus bee scemod TO have executed every possible
r,or,auvra. and 10 have exhausted every con-
ceiv.blc cNuedicnt. when tho gavcl fell to mark
tho close Of tho last Republican Congress. and
Nlr. Randall marched out Of the hall victorious
having in those three days earned a place in
hi4t9r, beside tho nl,ost defenders OF civil lib
| ertv This event was the beginning Of the end
Ii was tho Inst legislative effort Of the Ropubll-
can party TO perp.tuatc and strengthen the iron
military sway which had cloyen down tho
Southern States. and held them helpless while
they were sacked and trampled by alien thieves
/ II ia not too much 10 say that il was defeated
mainly nv tho bold and SIX ilful conduct Of Sam
mel J. Randall Had it succeeded the vote Of
,ho southern sta,cs would have boen wrested
from Tilden and Hendricks by force. the resort
Ia negotiation and fraud would have been un
. necessary. md the usurpation would have been
ncrmnncnt and irremedtable exeept by the
dreadful exnedlant Of revolution.
. AZ Chairman Of the Committee on Appropria-
,ous during the long session Of the Forty fourth
C.ngr.ss Mr. Randalrs labors wore siunly pro-
dieious Tn 10 that time the Democrats had
beon in an insignificant minority in both
branches OF Congress. Since the beginning Of
| tina civil war they had exercised no particle OF
rover in shnninc lie policy or regulating the
o Conduct Of the Government. and the Repub.
. liraps had formed and executed their measures
p without any OF the wholesome restraints i'm.
nosed bv a formidable opposition. Tho conso
\ nuences were Grontism-the rule Of Rings AM
p generations corruution and extravaganza il
D evorv department and A system of almost ire
sponsible expenditures Immensely beyond m,
70 actual wants Of the public service. This systen
' md these obuses Mr.. Randall undertook TO Gu
70 nm hv the roots and he succeeded TO an exten
u lint nor seems most remarkable. No man
r without actual and extensive experience. cal
Il form nnv concoption Of the labor. patiencc. Wig
g lance and resolution required 10 frame III
n Nils necessary 10 the execution OF such giganti
u reforms and stilI less OF the parliamentar
u aim and unbending will reoulred To pas
O ,hau through Tho House. Yet notwitbstand
y I'M, MI tho an,lionces Of the execut.y
Jnnor,morts tho dctern,ined opposition Of III
II p.ruilicnn senate and tho outcry Of tho r.
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