The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-19
TIE CONGRESSIONAL skLK1RK.

The Speaker OF the House at Washington
is chief factor in the legislation OF the ses-
sion. He is monarch Of oil he surveys. 1t
is almost an anomaly that, in our form of
government such vast power as be possesses
should be in the hands of one man. He has
more legislative power, strictly speaking.
than any other officer in the Nation. But
then he is the very elect of the chosen. and
these high functions must rest somewhere.
The House itself is the immediate represent
alive Of the people. Freshly chosen one
year ago, the voice of its members must be
deemed the latest and most recent expres-
sion OF the popular will. The Executive
with Mr.. Arthur, the Senate with Mr.. Ed
munds at its head, were in the last election
discarded. They are now in the minority.
They are no longer in accord with the ex-
pressed wishes and policies Of the voters of
the United States. These public characters
are only kind of tenants holding over, rep
resentstives of by-gone opinions. without
living, real constituencies behind them.
The Speaker OF the next House should be
such a person, as clearly and Enthusiastically
to represent the great change in public opin.
ion which defeated the Republican factions,
and gave to the Democratic party the con-
fdence of the people and the control of the
popular branch Of the National Legislature.
He should be the organ of that sentiment of
dissent FROM and protest against, the policies
Of the Administration in power, which
brought about the political revolution Of
1882. We are very sure that the effective
controlling element in the last Congressional
elections was the dissatisfaction OF the peo-
pie with the present tariff and the principles
upon which it is based. The Democratic
party was successful at that time, because it
has always opposed protection per SC, because
ii has always been in favor OF tariff for rev.
enue with fair protection and just discrim-
ination ss incidents thereto. In other words
the first purpose of a tariff, as of every form
of tax, is to get money for the Government,
not to make if for private individuals or cor
porate monopOlies,
The Speaker of the next House ought to
be one who would speak and act for this
policy; form Committees and direct legisla-
ton to this end.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, with all his
Parliamentary virtues, and they are many,
is not such man. He is not in accord with
the political movement for tariff reform
which has given US power and prestige.
Mr.. Randall may truly represent the wishes
and interests of his own local constituency
on this SUBJECT, but he is not a representa-
tive, and never can be, of the opinions which
the country approved last November in
changing the political character of the Lower
House.
The Democratic party would do injustice
to ITSELF as well as to the distinguished mem
Der from Pennsylvania. BY imposing on him
the duties of the Speakership. Such posi-
ton would force on him the dilemma OF
either abandoning his past record and per-
sonal opinions or of conforming the action
of the House and the Chair thereto. The
latter course has been already once, and in
all ho IL
gentleman from Pennsylvania. The oonse-
quences in the country would be the same to
the party as before. The Speakership OF Mr.
Randall in the House would be followed by
danger of defeat at the polls. Mr.. Randall
was candidate for President at the last Gin
cinnati Convention, which adopted q plat
form OF "a tariff for revenue only" He was
ensuing campaign by quietly ignoring, If not
openly opposing, this announced policy of the
National Convention at that time. This
may have been accounted fortunate ma
Deuyer for success in single Congressional
District. But the Speaker of the next House
being regarded as public embodiment of the
principle which elected it, can not afford
either to repeat or initiate such manage
msnt. The large Democratic majority in
that body should not choose presiding Off
/ Ger whose policy and rule OF conduct in the
Chair would impose silence and lnsction
upon the subject uppermost in the hearts
and minds of their constituencies. We do
not believe that there is any dearth of Parlis-
mentary capacity among the Democrats OF
the next House, requiring at this time Mr..
Randalls election as a necessity. Mr..
Springer, of Illinois; Mr.. Cox, of New York;
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, are all of them old
members of long experience and tried cspac-
/ ity; each of them is faithful and competent,
and entirely worthy OF the position named.
/ We have the highest consideration for the
I talents and public services of the distln-