National Republican., 1885-12-21

AS the victory has been won on high
plane, let it be used in the same spirit
"No friends to be rewarded, no enemies to
be punishedn should be the maxim of
Speaker Carlisle in making up the standing
committees. Messrs. Carlisle, Morrison,
and Randall are the three leaders of the
dominant party In the House. II the Ma
TIoSAL REPUBLICAN, had elected the forty
ninth Congress their party would not have
been dominant, and their leadership would
have been relegated to history. But, being
compelled to accept things as they are and
not as we would like them to be- we find
these three men at the front and charged
with great responsibilities. Mr.. Carlsle's
place has been fixed by his reelection to
the speakership. lie has in his hands the
assignment Of Messrs Morrison and Ran
dallas well as more than three hundred
and twenty other MEMBERSHIP the various
committees. 1t is great responsibility,
and it is to be assumed that the speaker
will regard it as a high public trust, to be
administered for the public good, and not
for the qualification Of spite or malevolence.
By universal consent, Mr.. Morrison goes
TO his old place the ways and means chair
manship. Mr.. Morrison represents much
that the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has op-
posed in the past and will oppose in the
future. His ''waysn are not our ways, and
his plans for providing 'meansf strike at
the very sources Of national prosperity. 1t
is fortunate for the country that his theories
cannot be crystallized into legislation. But
no man questions the honesty of Mr.. Nor
rison. His great experience in legislation,
and the harmony Of his views with those
Of Mr.. Carlisle and the leading faction of
the Democratic party, renders it fitting that
he should continue TO be the leader on the
Democratic side and the trusted counselor
of the speaker.
Hints have been thrown out, from time to
time, that Mr.. Randall was to be ''pun-
ished" or "degrGded" by being given some
other place than that of chairman of the
appropriations committee. We do not be-
lieve Mr.. Carlisle has contemplated any
such punishment" or that he now
has any idea of offering such
"degradation" to the leader OF pow
erful faction Of his party. Mr. Randall has
providing for the needs Of the various de-
partments of the government. lie has
sometimes mistaken narrow stinginess for
statesmanship and plcayunish mlseriness
for true economy, but he has not been
dishonest. lie has leaned in the right di-
rection too far has sometimes crippled ben
cflcent enterprises, has not duly appre-
ciGted all the wants created by the marvel
Gus growth and development Of the coun-
try; but he is still the best Democrat in the
House for the head Of his old committee,
aud that committee, shorn as II is, is still
charged with labors and responsibilities that
will sufficiently tax the powers OF all its
members.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, does not ex-
pect to be often delighted with the work Of
the present House Of Representatives, but
IL does expect and intend to support the
House in all efforts TO be faithful to the in
tcrests Of the nation. 1t will continue to
practice perfect candor both in commcuda.
tion and ccnsurc, not to crafty friends or
punish enemies, but to promote the public
good. II hopes that the Democratic side of
the House will not try to retard the
slow return of prosperity which is now appa-
rent In the industrial interests Of the coun-
try, by attempting impossible legislation,
but If such disaster is on the bills and can
not be ayerted, let it come as soon as pos
sihle, so that quletus may be given 1t In
the other end of the capitol