The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-13
The Great Democratic Commoner
Finally Responds to the
Last Roll Call.
Unconscious for Some Hours Be-
fore the Messenger Silent
ly Came.
Brief sketch Of the Iifc and Career Of the
Noted Statesman Of the City
Of BrOtherly Love.

peace to the patient sufferer after pro-
several times gave up all hope, and pre-
dicted that he could not live more than
a few hours at most. The wonderful vi
tality of the man, and his indomitable
will power sustained him. however, long
beyond the limit set by the doctors. For
the past forty-eight hours he had been
lying very low, gradually getting weaker.
At midnight he became unconscious, hav-
ing had severe sinking spell. beginning at
1880. The last vigil was kept until O'Clock.
when the spirit of the brave statesman
plumed its wings for flight and the tired
body was at perfect rest.
Samuel jackson Randall was born in
Philadelphia Oct. 10, 1928. He was the son
of we'll known lawyer and democratic poll
itician Of that city, was educated az a mer-
chant, and, after being four times men,
ber Of the city council and serving a term
In the state senate, was elected represent
ative in congress in 1868. He has since
served in that body continuously,
being the only democrat returned from
Philadelphia. He served on the committees
ON banking, rules and elections, and first
came into national prominence during the
reconstruction era, when, by reason of his
experience, ability, and force Of character
he naturally became the leader of his party.
He was a candidate for speaker when the
democrats gained the ascendency at the elec-.
tion Of 1874, but was defeated by Michael G.
Kerr. His speech against the force bill in
| 1876 was mastery effort and his skill as q
parliamentarian defeated that measure.
Speaker Kerr made him chairman of the
appropriations committee. He at once
entered upon rigid reduction of the ex
penditures which we're still being made by
the republican party on a war basis,
and did much to pave the way
for an overwhelming popular majority for
Tiiden for president in 1876. Speaker Kerr
died in the fall of that year, and Mr.. Ran
dali was chosen speaker for the rest of the
term. He WINS reelected to the office. for
two succeeding congresses, and retired from
the presiding officers chair March 8, 1881,
with an enviable record as par
Humanitarian and resolutely honest
man. About this time differences
arose in the democratic party on the tariff
question. Mr.. Randall was a protectionist
of the Pennsylvania school and found him
self at variance with large majority Of his
party in congress, which chose John G.
Carlisle for its speaker and leader. MIR.
Randall remained at the head of the appro-
priations committee, however, and his
efforts in behalf of retrenchment and
economical government were of incalcula-
BILE benefit to his party and the country.
His influence in this direction was retained
to the last, but as tariff reform became
more and more the paramount issue of the
day his influence in the party waned. At
the opening of the session of congress in
December 1887, President Cleveland sent
his famous tariff reform message to con-
gress. Mr.. Randall found himself unable to
support the presidents policy, and opposed
the Mills bill, which was based on it, as he
had antagonized the Morrison bill the pre-
vious winter. His following in the
party gradually deserted him in the course
of the long debate that followed,
and the house passed the bill in spite of
his opposition. Mr.. Randall continued his
opposition to the policy of the party at the
convention that re-nominated Grover Cleve-
land, but supported the ticket after it was
placed in the field. He always insisted,
however, that Mr.. Cleveland's policy
was suicidal, and that the party
could only win by returning to the
policy of protection outlined by him. He
recognized the fact that his views would
never be adopted by the national democra-
cy, but always maintained his party alleg-
lance. On all other questions he WAS a
democrat of the strictest school, and
through all the fierce contentious and
party strifes in which he engaged his
honesty of purpose and sincerity Of
conviction were never questioned by friend
or foe. He died poor man. With oppor-
tunities before him of accommodating untold
wealth, in period when legislators were
corrupt, and majority of public men were
venal no one ever questioned
the a integrity mteg y,h, Of Samuel 7o j. Randall.
Within ss lmpy almost oos0uie
plain little house over on Capital hill. So
cially, as we'll as politically, he was genu-
inc democrat-plain, STRAIGHTFORWARD, unos-
tentatious; never drawn into social "trip
peries and follies, he lived the life of an or
the country with fidelity as rare as it was
admi rable.
He leaves nothing to his family but the
modest little home where he lived and
GOOD name OF priceless value. Mr.. Kan
dall's fatal illness seized him more than
year ago. After long night session at the
capitol on hot summers night he partook
too freely of ice cream in the house
restaurant. An attack of colo and
hemorrhage of tho bowels followed.
His life was despaired of for time. but
he rallied, and hopes were entertained of
his recovery, but ulcerations of the bowels
succeeded, and to his few intimate friends
it became known that his days were num-
bered. He struggled bravely, with
iron will, but was at last forced
to succumb to the inevitable sum-
mons. His thousands of friends and
throughout the country will be
pleased to know that through the efforts of
George w. Childs and other generous
friends, fund of $40 coo was quietly SUBJ
scribed several months ago. and that his
family will be placed beyond want.
Mr.. Randall leaves a widow, the
daughter of the late Aaron Ward, formerly
a member of congress- from New York. two
daughters, one the wife of Mr.. Lancaster,
= rising young lawyer of Washington, and
the other unmarried. and son, Samuel
J. Randall, Jr., a lad of II, who promises to
Worthilv vear the family namA