The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-22
THE SPEAKERSHIP,

The conuesU for the Speakersnll
of the next House of Representa-
tives has not included many candi
dates. Early in the season the name
of William M. Springer, of Illinois
was mentioned quitg frequently in
connection with this matter, and
occasionally the names of Eaton, of
Connecticut, Belmont and Hewitt,
of New York, and Tucker, Of Vir-
ginia, have appeared; but practi-
cally the contest has been between
Carlisle, of Kentucky; Cox, of New
York, and Randall, of Pennsylvania
Everything else being equal, Mr..
Randall would have the decided
advantage, having occupied the
position to the satisfaction of his
party and the honor and credit of
himself. But Mr.. Randall has
lately shown that he is not in per-
feet harmony with all the cardinal
principles of Democracy. However
he may have stood formerly, he has
found it convenient to adopt and
approve the idea presented by the
late Senator Randolph and unfor>
tunately promulgated by General
Hancock in his letter of acceptance
of the Presidential nomination,
namely, that the tariff is a local
issue. This may be technically true;
but it is not democratic. and will
not be accepted by the party. Free
trade is the party doctrine. 1t
cannot afford to demand free
trade for one section and tariff for
another. The principle must be
general or it becomes no principle
The Pennsylvania iron industry
cannot be "protected' by the party,
if there is to be free trade as to any
other industry in another part of the
country. Randall happens to reside
in the best protected State Of the
Union, and from fear of losing
popularity or through association,
he has become Republican in the
matte Of tariff. If by reason of his
dese1 a IF the Democracy in this
imL rtanl articular the party shall
REFUSE to honor or trust him with
the Speakership he will find
no good cause for complaint.
Cox's abominable reputation as
humorist reduces his chances for
winning the prize. It would seem
too much like joke to vote him in
Speaker. He is unquestionably one
of the ablest and most consistent
Democrats in the country, and as
presiding officer of the House he
would see that neither the country
nor the party suffered, if it were
possible to prevent it. at the same
time, members could not forget that
the Speaker was joker, and while
he would be fair, just and agreeable
it is questionable if he could mani
fest the dignity and command the
respect that should characterize the
Speakership.
It seems impossible that the
Democrats can avoid the cleo
ton of Carlisle, one of the
ablest, purest and noblest
men in the party, or in the
country. He is statesman of
broad ideas and generous impulses,
and in a comparatively long public
career has managed to keep himself
clean and above reproach; while his
Democracy is pure and unquess
toned. The only obstacle in the
way of his advancement to the place
is one that should never be taken
into account, but which unfortu-
nateIy is and will be forced into the
contest. This is the circumstance
that he comes from the south. After
eighteen years of assumed forgetful-
ness, there is lingering fear and
hatred of the south, and Mr.. Carlisle
and his party must suffer therefrom.
However. the matter will have to
be adjusted some time, and the
proof given that southern men In
Office are not a menace TO
government but a true to the Union
and its best interest as those resids
ing north of the line. Southern
men cannot be kept back for no
other reason than that when they
were boys or young men their
States were in rebellion against the
nation. The issue might as well be
met now as later, particularly as we
have SO good a man and eminent a
statesman to work With as John G.
Carlisle