Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-07
The south and the speakershlp.
New Ysrk Herald. an.

New lerk hcrtld, 18th.
We notice disposition in certain
Republican quarters TO sound the
alarm OF "seetiopalismn in connection
with the result Of the Speakership
contest and to treat the election 81
Mr. carlisle as a dangerous triumph
OF The solid South.N The Tribune
tor INSTANCE. said yesterday, "Demoe.
racy, then, means Uarlisle-th il ii
is a Southern sud not a Northern
party" The National Republican, Of
Washington speaks in tbs same vein.
The election. ID says, clearly shows
that Democratic success now means
Southern success, and that no matter
who Is put forward and elected As
their representative the fruits Of their
victory must necessarily inure to the
section which was 10 rebolliou twenty
years ago Other Republican organs
might be quoted to the same effect,
This attempt 10 uraise a sectional
issue out OF Yesterdays choice for
Sperker finds no support or color in
the facts or character Of the contest
On the contrary. the election OF
Southern man in the person OF Mr.
Carlisle is, under the circumstance TO
De hailed as one Of the encouraging
political signs of the day, Mr.. Gar,
Isle was not elected because he Is q
Southern man, nor does he represent
a Southern policy in any sectional
sense. In the choice OF Speaker, and
in the discussion which preceded the
choice, no prominence was given to
any sectional consideration; nor was
any importance attached to the fact
that one candidate was from the
South and the rest from the North.
The consideration which controlled
all others was the tariff issue, with the
conviction in the minds Of large ma.
jofily o. representative Democrats
that this Is By Jar the most Important
problem that now OonIronts the states.
manship OF the nation. .aIsZ
Mr.. Carlisle believed that the inter-
ests OF the coun ~ demand q " Sc,
judicious tariff r,fornl, and that the
Democratic party ought to undertake
that work, He took firm stand,
squarely, openly .hnd bravely on that
platform HE candidacy represented
principle. u meant 40 affirmative,
active, manly policy, not negative, do
nothing, eyasiye one. 1t was because
be stood for these things, and because
he had in a high degree all the other
qualifications for the Office, that be
gas the choice Of the majority for
Speaker. ~
An analysis Of the caucus vote re,
Yeals also an encouraging sign in the
Southern States OF Mr.. Randalrs
dity-two votes, twenty, or nearly half,
were given him by nine Southern
States, while two Southern States kave
one vote each 10 Mr.. Cox. OfeipAtg
three Southern votes Mr.. Carlisle ~,
but slxty-one, or about three-fourths.
This indicates not q solid, but a
divided South. IT. proves that the
South is not disposed TO vote ss unit
Tor ? man simply because he is a
CSNAhVAlpAs.U
In view Of these considerations. the
fact that Mr.. Carlisle is Southerner
makes bis election q natter for ma
tiOnal cOngratulation. 1t shows that
the time has CONE when one Of The
great political parties no longer hest.
tates 10 take q representative from
the South for one Of the nost impor,
tant Offices 10 the nation when the
right sort Of a man is found in tie
South. 1t shows that Southern
man is not to be shut out from high
places simply and solely because be
happens to. DO a Southerner. So far
rom ahording any occasion for reyiy
ing the Ill timed cry Of "seclionalism .
It shows dying out Of sectional feel.
ing, and an OblIteration Of sectional
lines 1t shows that the country has
become more Ilationalized politically
And II Is high time that this desirable
resultshould be brought about. We
rejoice that good Southern man Ia
been elevated to leading poitio q II
the national government by a con !
bined Northern and Southern VOTE,