Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-17
KEIFER SNUBBED.
Why the Majority in the House of Rep
resentatiyes Deelined to Offer Reso-
Iu,ions Complimentary
To the Presiding Offieer-Robeson's
Body serrant and Plant Tool
Justly Rebnked.
New York Sun.

Il has ALWAYS been customary az the close
of session of Congress LOT me minority IN
the Senate and 10 the mouse oil Representa-
i've 10 FIR resolutions OF compliment 10
their rssosctive presiding officers, whatever
oav bav,e bsen the intensity OF party feeling
or actor This courtesy belongs 10 the
amenities If parliamentary life, and is never
5en,eJ ,vi,bnut some extraordinary reason
In III Ssna,e resolution was passed
unsn;monsIv on tbe motion of Mr.. Pendle-
ion cbairmsn Of the Democratic caucus,
tbankino Judge Davis "for the uniformly
able. courteous and impartial manner in
which he has presided over the deliberations
of the,Senate." But no sign Tor the Speaker
was ~iven and no syllable OF commentator
Wa 5ttsrsd in the House of Representatives.
This eTcentioual omission has naturally
causea remark. and the country should I'M
derstand the facts as they exist
Josenb w Keller was elected Speaker by
a corrnnt baroaip, which made him the tool
III the faction and of the combination that
fnrnish, the votes. Secor Robson made
The contracts for his election, and he has
controlled the acts and decisions of The chair
from first to last.
In the organization of the House the per-
sonaI animosities, the partlalities, the jeal
ousies, the meanness ana me vindictlVeness
nj Secor Robesoa were visible in every direc-
lion. There was, indeed, no attempt at con-
ceaiment. He seems 10 revel in exhibiting
revengefnl power. The foremost Democrats,
who had rendered distinguished service in
former Congresses, and who were entitled by
all the conventional prophecies to recogni-
ton. were ipsultingly prescribed.
Mr.. Randall. Mr.. Holman and Mr. Hewitt,
who had each and all become known to the
whole country by valuable work for retrench-
ment and reform in the public expenditures,
and for other important legislation, were ex-
cluded from the Committee on Appropria-
tions, because their presence there, and the
opportunities derived therefronb, would have
tbwarted the rings and the jobbers in their
large schemes OF spciiation.
Mr.. Whitthorne was stricken from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, where be had
attained a national fame by exposing the
enormous frauds. collusion and robberies of
Secor Robeson while secretary of the navy.
So far as malice could degrade public man
in the House. Eobeson exercised it with
venomous pleas1fe 10 drop Mr.. Whitthorne
frcm any plsce Of distinction. But he could
not silence the tongue that branded him as
"a thief, liar and perjurer."
Men like Andrew @. Curtin, who, as the
war governor Of Pennsylvania, had reached
distinction. were prescribed and thrust aside
as unworthy of the least attention. La cases
where it was ipconvenient to pass over men
like Mr.. Cox, Of New York, they were put
on new service and taken away from the
posts which they had lifted into eminence.
In administering the rules of the House,
the Speaker not only exhibited the grossest
partially to his side and the most marked
injustice 10 he Democrats, bnt he trsmpled
parliamentary law and the accepted usages
under foot whenever a political or selfish
object was 10 be gained by it. Ignorant,
vulgar, stupid and obstinate, and carried
away by the possession OF power, he reioiced
in every chance 10 use il arbitrarily and TO
show the capacity OF brute force.
For these and for other reasons no leading
Democrat could be found who was willing to
offer the traditional resolution. Indeed,
every word of snch resolution would have
had lie in il. Who could express thanks
honestly for the ability OF coarse igno-
ramus, for the impartiality of violent
partisan, or for the courtesy of a rufiian in
the chair?
Yet it is factihst in the face of all these
glaring outrages there were men, few in num-
Der, il is true, but Sufficiently numerous TO
make record and to give Keller the benefit
of an insincere vote, who thought the usage
ought 70 he nbssrsed. and that forgiveness
was duty in the hour of separation.
When that suggestion was made Governor
Curtin promptly and msnfully notified the
person engaged in It that if such resolu-
ton was offered from the Democratic side he
would move TO postpone it TO the Sd OF
March next, and give his reasons in the
House for this opposition. This vigorous
notice stopped the insidious movement, and
saved the House from possible discredit,
because some decent Republicans would have
voted for the resolution who in their hearts
despise Keller, and who really rejoice at the
disgrace put upon him.. He goes out TO the
country branded, in company with Secor
Robson, who placed him in the Speakers
chair, as a political body-servant.
Governor Curtin is entitled 10 thanks for
The performance Of duty from which many
would have shrunk. But as he is an indie
pendent legislator, and not afraid of conse-
luences, it perhaps was becoming and fl
that public man of his standing and char
acter should afiix this stigma TO the unblush-
ing front OF the dishonored Speaker.