St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-12
TOPICAL TALK.

Judge Kelley's IL not the most con-
spicuous figure, GER
Independence. tainly tine most famil-
lar figure was re-
moved from the halls of congress when
Judge KELLEY died. Up to the time of
his death he and Mr.. RANDALL were
the best known men in public life. Mr..
RANDALL still stays; but it is only
question OF time, and very short time
at that, when he will join Judge KEEL
LEY on the other side. They belonged
to opposite political parties. yet they
possessed one trait in common which
often placed them in antagonism to
their respective parties. That was in
dependence of character. Party ties
sat very lightly on both KELLEY and
RANDALL when it came to a question
of conscience or fidelity to the interests
of their political constituencies. RAN
DALI has always been at loggerheads
with his party on the tariff question:;
yet there have been times when,if he had
consented to yield his convictions on
this question, he could have been the
nominee of his party for president.
Judge KELLEY was more fortunate in
being in accord with his party on that
issue, and was recognized as the leader
of the protectioniStS on the floor of the
house; but there was another question
concerning which he did not agree with
his party associates, and he fought
them as Strenuously on it as if he be-
longed to the opposition. That was the
question Of finance. Judge KELLEY,
like Ben BUTLER, was Greenbacker,
and he never lost an opportunity to
fight the Republicans on their financial
policy. lie differed from Mr.. RANDALL
i'll one respect. The latter would either
Sulk in his tent. or resort to parliament
airy tactics to hold his party associates
in check when a tariff reform move
ment was before congress. That was
not Judge KELLEY'S style. He was an
open fighter, and when measure came
up before congress proposing to dishon +
the greenback currency he could array
himself with the opposition and fight
his party as vigorously as il he had al
ways been Democrat. / remember
listening to memorable debate IN con-
gress about the time JOHN SHERMAN
was pressing his resumption plan. Gen.
Tom EWING was a representative from
Ohio. and he led the Democrats in that
fight. The day the bill was discussed
in the house of representatives, the
galleries were packed to overlooking,
and most of the senators had come over
from the other end of the capitol to
listen to the debate. Gen. EwING led
off i'll brilliant style, and evoked round
after round of applause. He is man
Of commanding physique, and he APP
peared TO better advantage that day
than ever saw him. He was followed
by GARFIELD, who was the idol of his
party, and right well did he handle
himself. His speech was pronounced by
those who were accustomed to hear him
to be the greatest effort of his life. His
party friends were more than enthuSi-
aStic over it, and when he closed the
popular superstition was that no Demo-
cratic DAVID could be found to combat
this GOLIATH of Republicanism. Fort
unately for the Democrats, they were
not put to the test. The DAVID was in
readiness, but he didn't come from the
direction of the Democratic camp. Gen.
GARFIELD had scarcely taken his seat,
amid the congratulations of the hard
money men, when Judge KELLEY got
the floor, and delivered the most re-
markable speech ever listened to. 1t
was not only red-hot argument in sup
port of the greenback dollar, but it was
a fearful indictment of the Republican
party for what he denominated its ruin
Gus financial policy. He roasted JOHN
SHERMAN, tore GARFIELD's argument
INTO shreds, smOte his party associates
on both cheeks, and urged the Demo-
Gratis of the house to stand Loyalty by the
people in their fight against the money
power. TWAS the sublimeSt exhibition
of personal independence l ever wit
messed, and from that time forth was
constrained to invest Judge KELLEY
with species of hero worship. 1t is
pity that such men have to die.