Daily Republican., 1881-12-06
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6,lssI,
Our New CONGRESS.

Congress met yesterday promptly Il
noon and was organized by the election
of General James W. keiter, of Ohio
the Republican nominee for Speaker, h
receiving 14S votes to 100 for Mr.. Ran
dali, Democrat, and s for Mr.. Ford
Greenbacker. AS will be seen by tn,
vote, Mr. keifer received five votes NOR
than necessary to elect, though the Re
publicans actually lacked one of a ma
jority of the whole number of member.
of Congress. The present Congress may
become remarkable in the history o
the country, though there is nothing in
its composition that would lead the
public to expect anything of special
importance. There is really no abso
lutte majority in either the House or the
Senate for any party, as the Republi
cans lack one of what may be called a
straightout majority, though there are
several who allied to other parties will
vote with the Republicans in preference
to Democrats on party tissues between
those two parties. The Senate is pre-
sided over by man who finds little of
good and much of evil in both of the
great leading parties of the Nation,
while seated before him are 81 Demo
Gratis and 81 Republicans with Senator
Malone in the back ground as an ally
so far for the Republicans, but at full
liberty to be an ally Of the Democrats,
and most probably would have been
their ally had they not treated him so
harshly. 1t will be noticed that the
two Readjuster Congressman from Vir-
ginia, Fulkerson and Paul, voted for
General Keifer, the Republican nom
inee for Speaker of the House. A re-
view of the House fails to bring out
into bold relief the man that can fill
the place the lamented Garfield used TO
fill, though there may be hidden be-
meath some modest exterior latent and
brilliant mind and character that may,
when brought out fully, rival the bril-,
liancy, learning and character of the
late loved President. This country is
ever producing great men, aud when
one dies there are Others TO take his
place.
Congress also meets with new Pres
ident, who for the first time meets the
Matt 0nal legislature, and at a time
when there is no leading question before
the country which will require from the
President any bold or even very
sharply defined course. His past course
since the terrible calamity which befel
the Nation and placed him in his pres.
ent position, inspires the country with
hops that he will act circumspectly
and prudently.
One Of the most interesting features
in the composition Of the present Con-
gress is that in all political questions it
will be controlled by Southern men
who have broken away from the Demo
crati3 party. The South no longer
comes into Congress in a solid Demo.
craft pha!anx. The South is no longer
solid for the Democrats any more than
the North is solid for the Republicans.
There will no Ioubt he discussion of
Southern affairs yetin Congress but not
as they we're discussed four years ago,
and 10 sweeping legislation will be re-
qure,i nor insisted upon as at that
time.
Tue peculiar composition of Congress
and the lack of any partisan majority
combine to open the way to the discus
sion Of administrative, fiscal and tinan-
cial reform, and OF such discussion we
shall undoubtedly hear great deal
within the next SIX months In regard
TO the work likely to come before Con
gress some positive steps may be taken
in regar,, to tli9 finances, Encouragement
of the DEBT, and modification of the
National banking system. Fiscal and
civil service reform will no doubt occu-
py considerable of the time of Congress,
but it is not likely that much change
will be made in tie existing situation.
Pelygamy in the Territories and the
admission Of Dakota as new State
will also he amongst the questions
which will claim the consideration of
Congress, and now that it is organized
business. will Immediately commence