The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-02-01

bondman. Argument and debate may be
regulated, not by fairness but by favories-
ism. In this way by slow graduations.
the speakership has become q despotism
Ii ia a conspiracy against free speech; and
the power accorded the Office in the sp-
pointmant of committees would never
have been conceded by body jealous OF
its own dignity, and conscious OF repre-
senting the greatest free constituency In
the world. The speaker of the American
house of representatives. to-day. Id sort
of respectable gang boss" The mem
berB who are permitted to serve under his
right royal dictation are afraid of him.
To kick means obscurity on the committee
list. Not to kick means the aeknowlsdg-
ment of q taskmaster aud the forfeiture Of
many of the prerogatives granted the
representative by the sufrages OF the
people of his district Either way the
custom 10 bad-very bad; and an vnder-
standing with the speaker is greater
requisite for success in public lite than the
possession of brains, bravery, or education
And this is why such great interest is now
being developed ia the matter of electing
a functionary to succeed MIR. Randall
This successor must be, according to the
new order. Republican in politics. The
house Ia choosing master sill claims for
itself the moderate right OF selecting some
one with whom it is well acquaiated, and
who understands its pecuiiarities. In
return, the members love to be iashed.
but they desire to be we'll accustomed to
the gentleman who lays on the stripes.
After he mounts the tribune, he may
place any one of his former associates who
should happen to offend him on the par
Iiamentary triangle for punishment and
the victim would have the consolation at
least of knowing that he helped in choos-
ing the rod by which he was seourged,
The most familiar republican boss" that
tbe house can think OF at present is kas.
son, of Iowa, who has been abroad good
deal. but whose countenance is familiar
te the old mem bers and whose reputation
is not unknown to the new. On personal
grounds alone this gentleman would be
sure Co win. but he is nss backed by any
of the great party chiefs, whereas Hlscoek
of New York, now basks Ia the sunshine
OF Roscoe Conkling's Grecian nose and nod
and New England lie illuminated By beam
from the falcon orbs of the massive
senator from Maine. This senatorial
in house matters is but an
other instance of the marked decadence
of the popular body. 1t displays in every
fresh movement n feminine desire
to lean upon something stronger. It
was SO with the disseminated Hs~
brew gentlemen of old. who. tired of
popular representation, cried out for
king and got him. handicapped by more
wives than could be rallied in a day in
the sanity streets and squares of the
Mormon capital. AS the house is not
liable to choese Mormon speaker. there
is small danger of such visitation in
their case. Our legislators have BECOME
as ivy, and Irvine syaophantiy around the
naughty senatorial oaks that overshadow
the halls of congress Uriah Heep was
never half 50 humble il his hypocrisy as
our congressman hass Esso4a in their
ahject sincerity. II they hold on their
present course they will soon amount TO-
nothing 10 the land, and the trusts reposed
10 them by the people wlii have been sur
rendered to a syndicate mada up Ct few
interesting senator's and paternat speak-
er: aud the historian hereafter. In dealing
with this portion Of American annals. will
apply the words of the poet TO the forego
ng lamentable cas-: IS marking tie begin
ming of the end of American Dem oeratism
and the decline of.the rule OF the mai ority:
Enough: No foreign foe could quen
Their power till II 1n themselves they fell,
For establishment paved the way
To villains bonds and despot sway"
In sober earnest. it is really about tim
hat the house should begin to cut the
lmbilical cord that binds it selGshly to
he speaker. aud do things more like as If
Is members were born in a country where
very man is supposed to be able 10 scrare
egether littlel brains 90 bis owo ao-
count
Qua LADIES FRIEND for female com
plants, never known to fail. Only fifty
vents bottle. Sold by g. Speidel, Rock
Island snd Richards & Songbeck, no