Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-14
TIE GREAT coMMoNeR's CAREER.
Samuel jackson RandaIrs Life and Pub
lie Services. Briefly Sketched


Samuel jackson RandaIrs Life and Pub
lie Services, Briefly Sketched.
Samuel jackson Randall was born in Phil
adelphia Oct 10, lS2s, and his career through
life Justifies the assertion that he was a born
statesman. He received good academic
education, and pursued his studies with the
intention of devoting his life to mercantile
pursuits. After he had finished his studies,
he obtained position in the counting-room
of mercantile establishment, but in a short
time his work became irksome, and he con-
ceived distaste for the duties of a mer-
chant. His father, the late Josiah Randall,
was one of the active Democrats of Phila-
delphia, and he inspired his son with "a de-
sire TO enter political life, which feeling in
creased in intensity as he attended conven-
tons and meetings, until he finally adopted
1t as the calling most suited 10 his taste
Nearly Thirty Years In Congress.
Though Mr.. Randall had barely passed
the prime of life, yet he had spent nearly
thirty years in continuous service in the
house of representatives His colleague
from Philadelphia, the late Judge Kelley,
alone of ali the members of the present
house served longer, although another col
league, Mr.. O'Neil took his seat in 1863 with
Mr.. Randall. The story of the life of this
great citizen is contained, therefore, in the
record of congress from the dark days of the
war, when he was first elected, until the
present time. In this work his life was alb
sorbed. For twenty-eight years he gave his
la5ors without single abstracting pursuit,
to national legislation. That was the bust
ness of his life, and no other employment
could tempt him to abandon it, notwith-
standing the rewards of a commercial life
would have been far greater in a financial
sense than those of the career which he
chose
There Were Giants In Those Days.
He entered congress when young, and
found the Republicans in control with
many men of great ability on their side In
this group were statesmen who afterward
became chief among story-makers-one of
them was chosen president, another was
nominated for the presidency but was de-
feated; three others were candidates for
that nomination by the Republicans, and
swo others were leading candidates for the
Democratic nomination; one was a candi-
date for vice president upon the ticket with
Mcclellan, while number of his early as
sociates in congress afterward served in
different cabinets and in the senate Mr..
Randall was not lawyer. His preliminary
education in political matters was obtained
in term in the city council of Philadel-
phia, ana as a member of the state senate
His first election to congress was as a MEM
Der OF the the Thirty-eighth, in 1852.
Loyal to the Union of States.
When the civil war broke out he took
strong grounds in favor of the maintenance
of the union, and while he differed with the
administration on many points of method,
he was one of the most steadfast supporters
of an undivided country TO the end. He was
at that time member of the First troop,
Philadelphia city cavalry, and volunteered
with his command under President Lin
coins first call for troops, and served the
ninety days. At his own request ST. Ran
dali became a member of the committee on
banking and currency at the beginning of
his second term. As member of that com
mittee he steadily opposed all legislation
looking to the reputation of the war debt,
and introduced resolution declaring that
every cent, principal and interest of the
debt, and every obligation of the govern
ment should be paid according to their
terms. He also opposed the proposition to
force the government to pay the rebel war
debt, and his action upon these two PROPOSE
tions brought him conspicuously before the
country and placed him among tine Demo-
cratic leaders of the day.
Elevated to the Speakers Chair.
The first time the Democrats gained con-
troll of the lower house after the war, Mr.
Randalrs name was urged by his friends for
speaker. position for which he was the best
equipped man in the party; but the caucus
decided in favor OF Kerr of Indiana, aud
Randall had to wait until 1876, at time