The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-12-12
A Ridiculous Performance.

The Baltimore Sun few weeks ago at
tempted to be facetious in an article on
the rural press, but succeeded only in being
insolent, and its vanity cropped out boldly
when it alluded to itself as the ''leader
and "teacher' and guide" Of said press.
There is not Democratic county paper in
the state that is not more consistent, fair
and logical, for the SIN has none Of these
qualities 1t is purse-proud and arrogant,
wavering and uncertain.
On Monday it INDUCED in a double
loaded editorial on the Speakership. When
articles are thus printed it is done to give
them special prominence, and they are
supposed to be duly weighed and consider
ed before publication. Here is an extract
from it:
'sIf those Democrats who are personally
hostile to Mr.. Cleveland and would prefer the
nomination of some other candidate for the
presdency-or, if any person who himself
cherishes aspirations for the next Democratic
nomination-are seeking to influence the
election of Speaker for that purpose, they
have chosen an occasion for the promotion of
their private and personal aims and ambi-
tons most unfortunate for themselves and
for the party. fthose Democrats who would
like to see free silver substituted as an issue
for tariff reform in 1892 imagine that they
can bring that result to pass by excluding
from the Speaker chair the Democrat whose
1nE,t, Ea1 trytth
the cause of tariff reform before the entire
country than that of any other member of the
House, we can't help thinking that that also
is grave mistake in point of time and
method. The selection of candidate Tor
Speaker should be kept clear from all such
unnecessary and dangerous complications.
1t is Mr.. Crisp's misfortune, wholly unde-
served it may be on his part, that his candi-
dacy should have received such active sup
port. outside of the House, from men who
make no secret os their opposition to Mr..
Cleveland and of their preference for free
silver over tariff reform as party issue IN
the next election
1t is thus intended to show that Mr..
Clevelands fortunes were bound up in the
result. and that the failure to elect Mr..
Mills, 'whose name is more conspicuously
identified with the cause Of tariff reform
than any other member of the House,
would be Il set back for tariff reform. MIR.
Crisp's election, it is intended to show,
would be in antagonism to Mr. Cleveland,
&C.. &c. The article was endeavored to in
| fuence the Democrats of the House, and
| the argument, or rather mere statements
and insinuations, it was supposed, would
cause a general rush to act on its views.
Mr.. Crisp was chosen, however, and here
is another instance of the Suns impotency
in Democratic counses. Not only was
Crisp not defeated, but his vote was in
creased by twenty-five, enough to elect
and more, and the two Democratic Con
gressmen from Baltimore even had the
temerity to vote for him from the begin
ming to the end of the balloting. The San
stood almost alone in giving to the contest
its presidential aspect and its tariff and
silver bearing, though on Tuesday, after
Mr.. Crisp's selection in the Democratic
caucus, it undertook to throw the respon-
sibility upon others, and declared his
election had no party policy significance,
or that it was very slight. Here is an
extract from its Tuesday article:
1.-THE significance of Mr.. Crisp's success,
from the point of view OF party policy, is prob
ably slight, though in the heat of the conflict
| lust closed the attempt was naturally made to
give it great Importance. 1t was SAID by
some of Mr.. Crisps opponents, IN the ardor
of the struggle, that he was an anti Cleveland
and anti tariff reform man. This was warmly
denied by many of Mr.. Crisp's friends. 1t is
certain that he was supported for the speaker
ship by a number of out-and- out laritf-re-
formers on the ground of personal liking
merely, or because he was thought to be bet.
ter fitted by temperament for the quasi Judi
cial functions of presiding officer of the
House. The vote of 119 to 105, by which
Mr.. Crisp defeated Mr.. Mills, shows but a
narrow margin of preference for the Georgian
over the Texan, even if the division were
altogether upon radical differences of opinion.
1t would therefore be absurd to try to import
into the result important political meanings
which from the nature of the case it cannot
contain. Mr.. Mills has been the more prom
inently associated in the public mind with the
issue of the day, but Mr.. Crisp is also an out
spoken advocate of lower taxes. This was
shown Enthusiastically in his speech last night
after being nominated, in which he declared
to his fellow Democrats of the House that he
would take no step backward in the cause
Of tariff reform.