Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-13

indicates frmness of character, while his
long period of service gave him an acquaint-
ance with parliamentary practice of great
value. Added to these qualities were
well balanced intellect, great common sense,
patient industry, and close attention to pub
lie duties, qualities which oftener bring
success than what is denominated brilliant
genius. The fable of the fox and the tor
toise forever aptly illustrates the difference
between the man of labor and the man of
genius. The latter, like the fox, make some
startling jumps, but too often goes to sleep
by the way, leaving plodding industry to
win the race and gain the crown. Perhaps
the capacity for patient labor is as Eluch
entitled to the appellation of genius as the
more brilliant qualities to which the term
is generally applied.
HE WAS FREE FROM SCANDAL.
Another secret of Randalls success was
undoubtedly his recognized personal integ-
rity. No breath of suspicion was ever
blown upon his character. During period
when corruption 'ruled the mart" to an un-
precedented extent, both in Congress and
the Executive departments, Randall's hand
was free from the taint of base bribes, and
he would have been bold man, think
who would have dared approach him cor
ruptly. To his credit be it said he was con-
tent to live and die poor, and brave enough
to live within his means during the period
of his Congressional service in an unpre-
tentious house in an questionable quarter
of Washington rather than seek social no.
toriety by questionable means; an instance
of moral heroism that is rarely met with in
public men, and which, if it had been fol-
lowed by some others, would have saved
them FROM wrecking good name and fall
ing into irretri 'vabla public disgrace.
Although man of very positive quail
ties and decided partisan he always COM
manded the respect of his political oppo-
nents, as well as the confdence>of his polit-
cal friends.
BETTER WATCHDOG THAN HOLMAN.
He devoted his energies in great measure
to resisting all unlawful raids upon the
public treasury or questionable appropria-
ting of the public moneys, with as much
persistency as Holman, but with more dis
elimination, as he simply objected to every
thing, while Randall never opposed a
proper and legitimate expenditure of the
public moneys
And vet, with all the natural abilities
which he possessed, his political success
under the circumstances was almost phe-
nomenal. The circumstances were peculiar
and perhaps anomalous. He was not only
in minority party during the greater part
of his Congressional career, but he was in a
minority of his own party, and in direct
antagonism with the majority, as also with
President Cleveland on the only real issue
between the two great political parties, to
wit, the tariff policy. On this he was far
more in accordance with the Republican
party than with his own. He could hardly
be otherwise as the representative of a Phila-
delphia manufacturing constituency. That
l.. ha oF 4.
party under such circumstances indicates
marvellous amount of political tact
REPUBLICANS LOOKED OUT FOR HIM.
His position in this great industrial uues-
tion gained for him the moral support of
his political opponents, however, and the r
liberation to an extent which would hardly
have been accorded to anyone differently
circumstanced, and this undoubtedly con-
tributed to his political success The rela-
ton was one of reciprocal advantage. If
the Republican party helped Randall in his
political aspirations, he helped it in its pro-
tective policy. ''The Randall Contingent" "
as it was called, could always be relied on
to make good the detection Of some of the
Republicans who were possessed Of free
trade tendencies. 1t was undoubtedly the
recognition of his value to the Republican
party that that party, while in control of
the PENNSYLVANIA Legislature, was careful
never to disturb Randalls district in any
Congressional apportionment.
His peculiar relation to the political par
ties was aptly shown in the language of his
acceptance Of the denomination in 1884
when he congratulated his constituency and
himself that che had been able, with the
aid of others in the previous Congress, in
preventing ruinous blow at Pennsylva-
MAS interests" referring in this to the at
tempted tariff legislation of his own party
This was certainly a unique position for any
politician and would have sent almost any
other man speedily to the rear instead of to
the head of the column.
WAS A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
must not be understood as intimating
that Randall was governed in his political
course only by the motives of political ex-
pediency. He was man of decided con-
victions and thoroughly honest-minded,
and, though an intense partisan, there was