National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-12


The one great mistake Of Mr. Carlisle in
the appointment of the House committees
was the selection of Mr.. Belmont for the
chairmanship Of the committee ON foreign
relations.
In this action the speaker did not consult
the wishes or reflect the views of the domi-
nant party or the people In general. 1t is
probable that there is not another mcmber
Of the House whose selection for that place
would have been more unweleome or more
directly violative of obvious proprieties.
The Chicago Tribune is one Of many
papers-and they represent all parties aud
sectlons-which utter protests against this
appointment. The Tribune says:
The appointment of young Perry Belmont MS
chairman of the House committee OH foreign
relations Is fitting illustration of the Jeller-
sonian simplicity and Democracy as enforced
by The poor mans party" Belmont is n
young New York dude, distinguished only be.
cause he belongs to n wealthy family. lie was
elected to Congress after Il liberal distribution
of campaign DOODLE and once improved uu
opportunity to insult Mr. Blaine. lie Is mil.
llonHire by right of inheritance, associates
familiarly with the great barons of "the poor
mans party" and hence, in the allotment OF
honors, was preferred to men of more brains
and less "nmily," To place man of Bel.
monts limited ability and experience at the
head of the important committee on foreign
relations was little less than grotcsque. 1t was
! purely a recognition of "aristocracy" and
| wealth.
There is no special inclination on the part
| Of Republicans to make n martyr out OF
Mr., Curtin. Republicans do not more than
Democrats admire the men who go over to
the enemy. Mr.. Curtin's political course
| in recent years has cstranged him from his
old political brethren. But, little as they
| are inclined TO cry for his spilled milk, they
cannot look on unmoved when he is turned
down to make place Of honor for Perry
Belmont. The Chicago THbwc voices a
very generally prevalent sentiment in the
utterance Of these words
The appointment Is still more sticking when
| It Is remembered that In order to ind pos
for this Ollshoot of II barOnial family OF New
| York It was necessary TO dIsplace Curtin, whc
| once served as governor OF Pennsylvania and
| afterwards as minister to Russia, and Is now
man OF ability and ripened experience. De
| spite Curtins diplomatic service he had tC
lhNhA why lbl N'NhB ANAAs iN'ANHN' ''N
dude chairman Of the foreign affairs committee
cXempliNes in his own person the JeOersonlar
ideas us nurscd and amended By the moderr
Democracy.
As for the old.tlme fallacy that De
mocracy implies something in the nature oI
simplicity, II vanished long before Mr.. Car
Isle perpetrated this bunder. But Mr.
Carlisle has unnecessarily eXasperated the
public mind by this most nal apropos selec.
tion. And the young man who has been put
into such an absurd position will find that an
uncarned ana undcseryed honor is the re-
verse Of benefaction.
"Pigmics are pigmies still though perchcj
on Alps, and pyramids are pyramids II
vales.m Mr., Belmont will be no greater
Mr.. Curtin no smaller by reason of this un
fortunate business.