The Evening critic., 1881-11-18

him is lrreparaDlc,
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THE INDICATIONS ARE that the contest
for the Speakership will be waged entirely
on sectional lines and that the principle of
territorial distribution as to party plums
will govern the policy of the Republican
majority. Six weeks ago Frank Hiscocls
was largely in the lead. He counted more
votes than any other two candidates, and,
representing as he did the cardinal Repub-
lican doctrine of protection to American in
dustry, the track seemed clear before him.
Whether the principle Of territorial dis.
tribution of offices is sound ethics of party
management or not is.a disputed question.
So far rs it has been tested in actual man
agement it has generally resulted TO the
advantage of mcdocrity. However, in the
days of parties without principles, perhaps
it is consistent to select men as representa-
tives of localities since there is nothing else
to represent
The immediate application of the dis
tributive rule to the Speakership would
cause the selection of n Western man. Mr..
Hiscock, If beaten, as now seems probable,
Will ONC his " thC iutb tuul NcW
York has the President and two members
of the Cabinet already with New England
to be shortly seated in the Cabinet in the
person of Boutwell,, Rice or some other
Massachusetts, Stalwart, and New Jersey in
the person of Frelinghuyscn.
Thus, so far as this class of considerations
can weigh in the result, the West has
largely the advantage in the race for
Speaker. But, by way of ofTsetting their
incidental advantages of position, the West
ern men are as yet frittering away their
numerical strength among some half Il
dozen alleged candidates. of whom but one
is of stature approaching the Dimensions
that ought to be required in Speaker of
the House, This one is Kasson As for
the Others, they have cut so small figure
in public activity heretofore that one needs
u directory to keep track of their names.
If the Western delegations would unite on
Mr.. Kasson there is little doubt that ho
would be nominated, perhaps on the first
formal ballot.
But we understand that certain other
Western candidates, notably, Keifer, OF
Ohio, and Burrows, of Michigan, arc quietly
assailing Mr.. Kasson on his tariff proclivi-
ties and with some effect. II is pretty Ger.
tain that no man can be nominated fol
Speaker of the House who will not subscribe
to the doctrine of protection to American
industry in its broadest acceptation.
We presume, however, that when Mr.
Kasson deems that the time has come fol-
HIM to define his position on this question
ho will dispel the bulk of the unfavorable
impression his adversaries have produced
His actual views in those directions have
been known to us n long time, and we do
not hesitate TO say that he is to all intents
and purposes sufficiently Protectionist to
faithfully shape in the preliminaries of leg
islation any tariff policy to the support
of which the Republican party in tho House
could be brought solidly.
The canvass ON the ground will begin
actively next week, and promises to be cx.
citing, There are so many minor compl-
cations at the outset that intelligent pre-
diction is out Of the question. But the
present indications, so far as any exist,
point TO the nomination of either Kasson
or some second-rate Western man not yet
mentioned.