Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-16
PUBLIC LEDGER,
NoNpAr EvEEINe. IUlY ID, lsss
Mr.. Randall and the Speaker
ship.

mr.. Randall and the Speaker
ship.
THE objection to Mr.. Randall for
Speaker is simply that he is under
stood to be opposed to tariff reform, and
is the embodiment Of thePennsylvania
idea Of high protection. The LEDGER
has already said, however, that he,
being Democrat and cool headed
man, would not, if elected, be likely
to commit any serious error or do any
thing to imperiI the success Of the
party at the next Presidential election.
The House will be overwhelmingly
Democratic, but with a Republican
Senate and President can do nothing
more than take position in favor OF
tariff reform; it cannot do anything
practically. The South is conserva'
tive in regard to this question. The
oretieally the people who thought
about it all and many who did not
think or investigate at all for them
selves, have been in favor of free trade.
This was sentiment as we'll as on the
supposed side of personal and
local interest. But since the
birth and development Of infant in>
dustries, involving a considerable in
ye3tment of capital, there has been if
not a better understanding ofthe sub
iect, a considerable ghittisS OF position.
Those who are engaged in the manr-
facture ofraw products begin to think
that a little protection is not such a
bad thing after all, and being men of
influence in their respective
localities many others adopt
their conclusions. We note
it as fact regardless of bias or pre-
conceived views that there is con-
siderable change going on in the
South. 1t does not follow that Mr..
Ran lall, Pennsylvania prOtectiOnist,
must be our first choice for Speaker, but
he is less Objectionable as regards this
issue than he would have been only
few years ago. The charge has been
made with telling effect that the
Democratic party cherishes a
communists spirit, and is therefore in
favor Of absolute free trade. This has
been answered thousand times by
acts that speak louder than words in
platforms, yet the charge is held in re-
serve only to be revived whenever a
favorable opportunity occurs. 1t is
hoped the Democrats will make some
mistake soon and thus pave the way to
easy Republican success We
find the more thoughtful ele-
meuts in the South very
seriously considering this subject and
90 quiet and sedate an old Democratic
paper as the New Orleans Picayune
thinks the surest way to satisfy the
public mind as to the ultimate inten-
tions Of the Democratic party is to
elect Mr.. Randall Speaker. The Pic
ayune concludes a long editorial in
recent issue as follows:
we have already expressed our
preference for Mr.. Randall for the
place III question. Mr.. Randall is
eminently q conservative statesman.
His personal purity and official
integrity have never beSn i'm
peached. He has had long experience
ia the chair, and having been
tried he has not been found wanting.
In the darkest hour he was true to his
party. and we may add that he has
ever been Just and magnanimous to-
ward the South. No public man in
the country has more ardently cham
pioned the improvement Of the Mis-
sisslppi, or has more perSistently or
consistently used his place and his
power to foster the special intsFnsts
of Louisiana. We cannot understand
how there can be any serious
objection to his election 10 this
quarter. And in regard tO his
character as a sound and represent
alive Democrat there can be no cues
tior at all. From the business point
of view be is regarded as thoroughly
safe man, and his election will Gllay
all that dangerous underlying dread
of Demoexstic radicalism to which
we REFERRED At the outset. On the
other hand, a poor man himself, simple
and frugal in his life, be is in sympa
Thy with the needs and wishes Of the
poor, aud his very snhitioU.:s pledge
Of his own devotion to every GEM.
inely liberal and essentially popular
measure. 81
We have only to add aud to repeat
that Mr.. Randall is a firm, prudent
man, who would be entirely acceptable
to the South, but for his supposed ex
treme views in regard to protection ,anC
as this Congress cannot legislate upoI
the tariff question, owing to the oppo
site positions held by the Senate an,
the Rouse, Mr.. Randalls election
might not prove such an unmixe
calamity or mistake after all.
THERE we're % deaths, 8 white an
Is colored, in Memphis last week, jul
the number reported for the CORES