The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-08-25

solely devolyes the formation Of all the House
committees, and these determine the charac.
ter of the legislation. He has, besides, much
control in the deliberations Of the assembly
over which he presides. lie has the power to
punish his enemies and reward his friends,
not only 10 constructing committees, but in
his daily rulings for or against members in
controversies that continually arise on the
floor. There should be, hence, no man
chosen for Speaker but one whose overriding
sentiment is patriotism, and his overriding
principles honesty and love Of justice, one
who is incapable Of subordinating public duty
to private enmity, or spite. There is no
difficulty in naming more than one such man
among recognized aspirants all Of whom Of
course, as to party, are Democrats. But we
are disposed to give special attention to the
claims OF Mr. Cox, of New York, on account
Of the great force there is in the demand of
the unanimous New York delegation Of Con-
gressmen for the Speakership upon the
ground that II is the right Of that State that
"the great empire State, with one-tenth OF
the country and one-sixth Of its wealth, and
nearly one half Of its commerce, has not had
a Speaker for 50 years" This, as argument,
is Gibraltar that can Withstand assault or
seige from all sections. New York City is,
besides, the commercial and financial, as it is
the social metropolis Of America. They
Justly claim that New York City is "the least
provincial and the most truly national city in
the United States, that its capital is invested
in every State in the Union, and its charity
and benefcence have gone everywhere" All
this is true, but ii ought to 60 for nothing If
New York has not a member for the
Speakershp that is excelled by no other in
the qualifications requisite for that high Office.
We think, therefore, that that is the sole
question. If New York has a Congressman
in whom all the essential requisites Of a
speaker are met, he is the man to be chosen.
The question, therefore, is as TO the fitness OF
Mr.. Coz. Now, Mr.. Cox, is almost the one
man la his party against whose fidelity, pa
triotism, natonalsm and personal integrity,
not one word has ever been said. lie is one
of the few men who has always denounced
and opposed partial Legislation, and to whom
the country may safely look for aid in the final
abolition Of that most gigantic wrong that
ever prevailed in this goyernment--the private
calender Of Congress. Mr.. Cox is an old
time Democrat so-called, who, however,
though true as steel to the sd Democracy"
is, in the largest sense, progressive, iavors
civil service and all political reforms, has
keen perception, a wise judgment and swift
resolve, as well as great hrmness when re-
solved in his course upon all measures. He
has been thoroughly conversant with the pub
lie business for more than quarter OF CEN
fury, and not only knows what House Of
Representatives ought to do in the present
condition OF public affairs, but how it should
be done. Mr.. Cox is an acknowledged orator
and debater of great and equal excellence,
which is rare. The maker of the great set
speech, or Grafton, is rarely an expert in de-
bate. But the best and most signal qualifca-
ton Of that gentleman is that he is beyond all
suspicion Of any convertible moral traits.
Through all the profigacy Of late years, the
Credit Mobilier, the salary raid upon the
treasury, and others in which many Con-
gressional reputation has gone down, not a
breath of suspicion has ever touched the
name Of this New York Representative. lie
stands before the country, and the party he
belongs to, as unsullied to-day as if he had
just dropped from the sky of the Jefiersonian
era. But we have, on our individual account,
one and only one objection to Mr.. Cox. He
is daily extolled by his friends in our Northern
exchanges as a man Of an excellent wit, one
who by jest and repartee enlivens the dull
and irksome work OF legislation. We rarely
see any mention of his name in Northern
journal without some alusion to this gift.
Now if the House of Representatives is TO
have public jester we want him on the floor
of the House, and not in the Speakers chair.
We know of no level in the representative
body Of a great people beneath that of the
recognized zany. In the Speaker, at least,
there should be dignity,if not majesty, serious
ness and earnestness in all things, and the re-
hottest opposites to everything that makes the
excellence OF the merry-andrew. We have
the same degree of admiration for the zany's
genius that we have for the PARLIAMENTARY
but want each in its place. We want no
zanies in Congress and, least Of all, to make
Speakers Of. This is our only objection to
Mr.. Cox.
Where Precision is Essential.
Al. IN. 10.