The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-02
MIR. Carlisle Critics

No incident Of the session in the
House has caused so much discussion
among members and in the newspapers
as the displacement of Governor Curtin
from the Craftsmanship Of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. The opinion
seems to prevail on all sides that by his
action in this matter Speaker Carlisle
has shown remarkable weakness of
character, and that Mr.. Bayard has add
ed another to the long list Of his blum
ders rs Secretary Of State.
In the organization Of the last Con-
grcss, after bitter contest for the
Speakership, in which Mr.. Curtin had
been Mr.. Randalrs right hand man,
Speaker Carlisle made Governor Curtin
Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. The appointment was received
with great favor in the House and was
recognized as one eminently fit to be
made. The work of the committee was
well done, aed many matters, such as
the French Spoliations bill, the Chinese
Indemnity fund, which had been pend
ing for many years, finally settled. The
committee was strong one, and no bill
reported bv it failed to command the
support of majority Of the House.
At this session Mr.. Carlisle received
the unanimous support of the Demo.
cratic members in caucus. 1t was an
nOunced as his intention to reappoint
such chairlncn OF his former committees
as had been reelected. 1t became
known, however, that an effort was be-
ing made to displacc Governor Curtin
from his craftsmanship and to give it to
Mr.. Belmont. Mr.. Belmont and his
friends were ueceasins in their efforts to
impress Secretary Bayard. Mr.. Curtin
was tquietly spending his holidays at
home in Bellcfonte, Pa, when the com
mittees were announced. Mr.. Bclmonts
name headed the list of members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr.. Cur
tin being placed first on the moribund
!Gonsnittee Of Bankipg. sndrzGmrency.
There was great indignation in the house
After few days delay, MIR. Curtin, in
quiet dignity, declined his craftsmanship
The reason for his declination was of a
personal character. He is veteran
politician and believes in that discipline
which requires member of party to
perform the service to which he is as
signed but in this case, ut an advanced
age Of life, with no special familiarity
with the duties Of the position, and
with self depreciation rare among
congressman, he was unwilling to take
up anew study, and diftident Of his
ability to perform with credit the duties
of craftsmanship Of the committee.
The criticism on Speaker Carlisle is
directed to two points; that he should
have allowed the Secretary of State to
bulldoze him into dcposing Gov. Curtin
which he was very unwilling to do and
second, that he should have been so
wanting in courtesy as to fail to notify
Mr.. Curtin in advance Of his intended
action. Although the contrary story
has been circulated, it is fact that the
Speaker did not inform Gov Curtin of
his intention to make, him Chairman of
the Committee on Banking and Curren-
cy, and that at no time. either before
the announcement Of committees, or af-
ter it, did Mr.. Curtin say he would
serve.
There has been great deal of spccu-
lation as to the motives by which Mr..
Bayard was inspired. Whatever the
motive. the fact apparently stands out
in bold relief, that the Secretary of
State inteposed the full power of his
great position to force the Speaker, who
was most reluctant to yield, to depose
one Of the leading members Of the
House from position he had honored,
which he desired and to which by c6ur-
tesy and precedent, he was entitled
In the corrupt days Of the British
Parliament, when the government was
in trouble and needed majority in the
House Of Commons, it was common
practice to purchase votes of memb bers
by promise Of official positions. Thus
the independence Of the legislative and
executive branches became myth if q
member Of the executive. branch Of the
government Of our country can force
the Speaker to yield to his wish or 60.
price. then qaestion much greater than
the assignment Of any one man to any