The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-04-18

administration ON many points of r,ethod,
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 +. Ran
dali became member of the committee on
banking and currency at the beginning OF
his second term. As q member of that COM
mittee he steadily opposed all legislation
looking 70 the Reputation of tho war debt,
and introduced a 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 the Demo-
cratic leaders of tho day.
Elevated to the Speakers Chair.
The first time the Democrats gained con-
troll az the lower house after the war, Mr..
Randall's name was urged by. his friends for
speaker, "a position for which de was the b st
equipped man in the party; but the caucus
decided in favor of Kerr of Indiana, and
Randall had 70 wait until 1876, at time
when firmness and familiarity with the rules
was an absolute necessity 1t was fortunate
for the country that a man of Randaips
ability held the. gavel, for shortly after TAX
ing the seat the most trying and delicate time
in the career probably of any one who ever
occupied the chair was precipitated by the
contested presidential election of 1876. He
added to his reputation for fairness and JUS
tice during the excited period of the electoral
commission. There was no hesitation in his
rulings they were prompt, and the iron will
of the man was never more thoroughly tested
than at that perilous period; aud it stood the
test
Could Choke OF Obstruction.
This memorable dispute excited congress
to condition bordering on fury, and al
most brought the country to the verge of
another civil war. Suspicion was so keen
that ordinary parliamentary courtesy to a
political opponent was the cause OF severe
party criticism, and for the last month of
the session the speaker had to exert all his
ability and strain to the utmost his influence
with his party to steer the ship of state safe
ly. Through that exciting ordeal he passed
with pronounced success, expediting in q
marked degree the settlement of the vexed
question which agitated the country. While
he could filibuster when necessary to defeat
bill he considered very bad, he was quite
es able to choke off obstruction when the
country was in peril from it, AS speaker he
was not tender in the administration of his
Office. He was a commander, and ruled the
house with heavy hand. While he was
thoroughly conversant with the rules, and
always judicial in his decisions, he frequent
ly denounced in vigorous and emphatic Ian
guage the unruly behavior of some of the
members. He was leader in the chair as
we'll as on the floor, and when he grasped
the gavel he welded rod of iron.
Other Services in Congress.
Mr.. Randall held the gavel until March,
1881, when the Republicans obtained con-
troll again, and later, when his party friends
were in the ma jority, he was set aside and
Carlisle chosen. This was principally on
account of Randalls stand on the tariff.
He was protectionist and his views on this
question gradually alienated him from the
majority Of his party, both state and ma
tional; and although no man impeached his
fidelity or sincerity to the principles of DEM
ocracy, yet this separation from his asso-
ciates had undoubted greatly weighed upon
his mind, and added to the other drains
upon his physical system. He served in
turn on all the important COMMITTEES, but it
was as chairman Of the appropriations COM
mittee that he was best known and in the
strictest sense the dominating power in his
party in congress He was thoroughly ia
miliar with all the details of the business Of
that committee and his word was the law.