The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-23
Mr.. Randall.
A telegram In yesterdays Washington
Post reads a. follows:

A Telegram In yesterdays washington
Post reads as follows:
ATLANTA. Ca, November 2i.--The Con-
sfifufson has heretofore strongly opposed
the election Of Mr.. Randall TO the speaker
ship because OF bis position on the tarih
question, but In Its leading editorial TINS
morning withdraws further opposition ana
indicates that more important issues than
the tarid have arisen. 1t Is considered
probable that Mr.. Randall will get mt
FORTY Of the votes OF the Georgia deiega-
ton.
We have read the article In the Coassif,i-
ton. II Is very carefully worded. Itcom-
pliments the Georgia delegation 10 the
House Of Representatives as "high-
toned, honorable one"--" Georgia never
had bettcr.' In fact, II seems to us that
our contemporary "protests too much"
Perhaps after all Mr.. RANDALL Is not the
man It favors, though its language appears
to us to point to him when 1t says that
chow the congressman from Georgia VIII
vote on this question Is undecided, aud
ought to be. because il is grave question,
and ought TO be settled after mature delibe-
ration"
These words NAV mean that whatever
the Georgia congressman may have thought
q few weeks ago, it may now be their
duty to vote for Mr.. RANDALL. The Con-
S,itut,on further says:
Georgia Is peculiarly fortunate in hav-
iny delegation to represent her who will
certainly look into the question in all ito
bearings. and we are willing to trust their
Judgment, whether IL comedies with what
we think or not. These congressman
ought TO be left free TO act rs they think
best, and so far as we are concerned they
shall. We know no member from this
State who would in the slightest be sweryed
from q faithful discharge OF his duty by
the hope OF reward in any shape, and the
man that would charge it against them Is
paid TO do IT,"
That Is rather oracular. We are willing
to believe that it means what the telegram
above quoted says IL was intended to mean.
Momeutous consequences are involved In
the election OF Speaker OF the next House
OF Representatives.
First. The presidential election may
turn upon the rulings and votes and action
OF the next Speaker. ~ will require ex-
traordinary presence Of mind. sound judg-
ment, cool reasoning. and rapid thinking,
70 enable that officer to shun the pitfalls
which the able Republicans in the House
OF Representatives will prepare for him.
Secondly. II southern man be elected
Speaker, he must needs be doubly cautious.
He Will not be half 30 free as would be a
northern Democrat. lie would be unable
TO do justice to all sections Of the country.
The southern States would particularly
suffer IN failing to be duly represented
upon the committees. 1t is much more
important to the South TO have full repre-
sentltion on the Committee Of Ways and
Means, the Committee on Appropriations,
the Committee on the Improvement OF
Rivers and Harbors, and other committees,
than to have the single Office of Speaker
accorded to her. Isn't II certain that RAN
DALI or Cox would put southern men at
the head OF more committees-in fact, put
more southern men upon committees
than Mr.. CARLISLE or any other southerner
would be likely to dos
II the Democratic members Of the House
of Representatives knew that in electing a
Speaker they were in effect choosing 4
Democrat to be the next President Of the
United States, or else were making il i'm
possible to elect Democrat to that exalted
Office, for whom would they cast their votes
for Speaker Well, we suspect that good
many members Of the House of Repre-
sentative do actually believe that the presl-
dency and the speakership are quite closely
related, and, so believing, will vote for the
man whom they would be wise enough to
nominate for President OF the United States
II this last were the Office now to be filed.
Rumors that Mr.. RANDALL's defeat was
probable have been flying thick and fast
this week. Ii the facts be as we have sup
posed them to be, he will nevertheless be
the next Speaker. We have an abiding
faith in the wisdom of our Representatives
in Congress.