Daily Republican., 1883-11-16
The speak ership Contest.

and will be Of no less interest to the
country at large than the battle OF the
ballots on the sixth Of November, in
which millions of voters engaged, but |
the contest will be fought out by the
few instead Of the many. 1t is con-
test which will be confined exclusively
to Democrats and one hundred and
ninety. seven Democratic Congressman
will be the combatants. The prize is
the Speakership of the House OF Repre-
sentatives and the real principle ILL
yolved in the contest is whether free
trade or protection is to be the policy OF
the government in the near future 1t
is a contest in which the Republican
party has no share by voice or vote and
only by the influence Of an existence
does it appear upon the arena as fac
tor. One hundred and twenty Repub'
lican members Of Congress have moth
ing to do in the contest but to look
quietly on, go through the form of
nominating their own candidate for
Speaker, only to be defeated by the
candidate Uf the stronger party.
The Democrats start out with fac.
iional division line more formidable
than the line which divides the two
great political parties of the day.
Upon one side of this line we find the
free traders of the party, with Congress-
man John G. Carlisle Of Kentucky, as
their leader and at the same time the
candidate OF the free trade faction, by
far the largest, for Speaker of the
House Of Representatives. Upon the
other side we find arrayed the protec-
tiOnists of the Democratic party, with
Samuel j. Randall, of Pennsylvania, as
their leader and at the same time a
candidate for Speaker. All other can
didates are mere side show arrange
mems to play into the hands of one or
the other more prominent leaders as
fortunate circumstances may seem to
require.
There is no doubt that the real choice
of a candidate of the Democratic mem
hers would b& a free trader whether he
be Carlisle or somebody else, if 1t We're
not for wholesome fear Of terrible
retribu ion which would be sure to fol.
low from thepe"ple of the North if q
free trader is elected Speaker. The
people in ten States of the Union on the
sixth of November spoke out in no un.
meaning terms that there must be NJ
more tinkering of the tariff in the inter
ests of free trade, and this voice the
free traders fear The voice comes from
States that must be absolutely carried
by the Democrats, if they would elec'
President, and therefore it is entitled
to the most profound consideration
Neither the voice Of Virginia, NJ ssis-
sippi nor Maryland means anything
than that one and all OF them can b
safely counted with the Sold South
where they have always been. Tn
voic. Of New Jersey, though Nortberl
State, means nothing more than that /
sill adheres TO the same party f.
which it has clung in the past. But
voice comes with potent and terribl
effect from Pennsylvania, from SeN
70. k, from Massachusetts, from Con
nectIcui, aud even from Ohio. Til
,oce though silent has alarmed Il!
free trader, and ina considerable 1T
aIec changed the current OF politIca
npling to the side Of Mr.. Randall, til
prottctiOiIst democratic candidate tO
Speaker
There are none 80 bind as not to st
that the election Of Carlisle upon til
declarations Of free trade plat;Orl
means the utter defeat Of the DemOCra
ic party at the next election. info
tunately for the free traders the III
chaniCs and workingtnen of The Mort
are not such "mudsills' that they d
not think and read. They are nos me
WHO have 10 opinions Of Their own an
these men, the more they think an
read the .ess they are inclined to I'll
principles Cf free trade. They are nt
particularly hostile ~ the DemoCratl
party, but they are hostile to any az
or measure that will in any manner d'
grade labor and place the working me
Of America rpon "a level plane with Il
pauper labor q: Europe, These Inc
sway tine pC.i'ica, deStinies Of the pow
ertnI States Of the North that are neCe
sary for the Democrats to carry if the
would elect President. 10 elect Z
avowed free trader as Speaker Of Il
House Of EepreSeLta LtatiVtS Will not col
riliate these working men. The Den
Gratis understand the situation throul
and through, and obey are heSitatil
about which horn Of the GileInu
to lay hold Of. If they choose tarlis
and free trade they will carry sol
South, but New York, Ohio
any other large State Of the Nor
necessary TO carry to insure the electi'
of Democratic President. II thu
choose Randall aud let the tarlii alOL
aso.id South will till be assured al
they will have Il pU sibIy remote chan
of carrying one o, 'he large Sla'rs Of T.
North 10 irip tr"In through with
Democratic President Which shall
be? viii 1t be Carlisle, free trade a
no chance for the Presidency, or sh
it be Randall, projection and a possil
remote nance This is the qucsti
which for the present Is disturb
DemOCratic councils. The contest is
tween themselves and is narrowed do'
to the rallying cry Of " Carlisle al
free trade" and ' Randall and prot'
tiou." The E"lmolIcans are the locke
on, satisfied that Up matter what nj
be the choice of the Democracy, TIN