Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-06
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 6. 1892
Mr.. Crisn.s Committees.


The Lynchburg Advance has courteous'y
responded to the interrogatory we lately
addressed 10 that paper inquiring what it
was in Mr.. Speaker CRisP's conduct that it
was opposed to. The reasons mentioned
by our Lynchburg contemporary might be
condensed into the general affirmation that
the Adoanoe and Speaker CRISP differ in
their estimate OF the abilities OF Mr..
GpRNaKE and others, and as to the consid-
erations which ought to have influenced
the new Speaker in making mp his com-
mittees.
Let us say here that Mr.. CARLISLE was
very differently circumstanced from Mr..
CRrsP. The former lives on the banks OF
the Ohio river, and never had the least
sympathy with the rebellion" or the
rebels" Suffice it TO say that he could
take the iron-cIad oath. We might have
said that he preferred that oath TO the
ordinary one. OF he need not have taken
Il. He was an out-and-out Union man
during the war. Therefore. in appointing
his committees and in selecting chairmen
from them he was not compelled to face
the charge that their constitution was the
work Of the rebel brigadiers.
Mr.. CRrsP, on the other hand, was
"rebel" in name and act (using that word
not Extensively but technically. When he
was elected Speaker the South secured the
most important and influential Office in
the House of Representatives. The North
was surely entitled to the next highest and
most important place-namely, the chair
msnship of the Committee on Wars and
Means and the leadership of the House
Mr. CRISP did not feel FREQ to bring re-
proach upon the Democratic cause or TO
slight the southern Democrats. He is the
frat rebel" that has filed the Speakers
chair since the war between the States
ended. We have heard, and we suppose
Il 10 true, that while the contest between
him and Mills was going on he expressed
bis intention Of giving the North full re-
presentation on the committees. and to
bis particular friends gave it as his opin-
ion that 1t would be wise TO place north
ern men at the head of the Committee on
Ways and Means the Committee on APP
propriations DC, thereby heading off the
cry that q "rebel brigadier was, as chair
man of the frst-named committee. en-
deevoring to "destroy northern indus
tries"
The Adranoe says that Mr.. CRIsr has al
ways ~professed to be "a MILLS tariff
"NuLs." and we will say that Mr.. CRISP
10 still "a tarif.reform Democrat" He
will attack the tariff bill in detail and not
as whole. He will adopt the Democratic
policy and not the Republican policy. He
il more practical tarif-retormer than
Mr.. NnLa He will countenance no step
backward. Instead of reporting a gen.
eral bill which would never pass the Sen
ate and yet be a target for the Republicans
in the next presidential campaign and
place the Democrats on the defensive, his
committee will probably report one CON-
pact bill or various separate bills enlarging
the free list, placing tin-plate. salt, wool,
cotton-ties, lumber. &C.. On that list. Out
pray do not assume that we are Mr.. CRIsf's
spokesman in this matter.)
The Advance Gays that BYSuM and BRICK
INRIDoK ought not to have been turned of
the Committee on Ways.and Means. They
were left of. not turned off. We repeat
that our Lynchburg contemporary simply
says in effect that Mr.. CRIsP's judgment of
men 10 not good. We admire BYNUM and
like BkxcKNRIDoH. but we expect their
successors on the committee to prove
themselves equal to those two gentlemen.
As to Mr.. SrRISorR's connection with the
admission as States of the new Territories
of the far Northwest, we need not say
much. Mr.. SPRINGER's ability seems to us
to be conceded in what the Advance says on
this subject. II he Numbered, he never
thelsss carried his poil We are sorry
that the Adrdnc finds it in its heart to
predict that Mr.. SPRINGER will be "a fail
ure" a. chairman OF the Committee on
Ways and Means. We hope for better
things; and we confidently expect our
Lynchburg contemporary to be agreeably
disappointed in Mr.. SPRrsoEB. and to be-
come, ere long, one of Speaker CRIsP's
warmest admirers. We feel high respect
for the Adoanoe, and can assure IT that
we live to learn and would not be ashamed
70 learn from the AdUance, or to &C
knowledge that we had thus learned.
Since writing the foregoing We have
come across report Of an interview
Of New York Word reporter with MIR.
CoLouur, of Georgia. From that report we
borrow Us follows:
81 see nothing 10 complain OF in the appoint
ments Mr.. Crisp has made. lie Il charged with
committing grave error and threatening the
harmony Of the Democratic party In the selcc-
tions be has made OF chalrmen OF various CON-
mittecs- Especially Is this true OF his selection
Of the chairman OF the Ways and Means Com
mistee. II IL said that courtesy required that he
should have appointed Mr.. Mills chairman be-
cause be was charm an Of that committee In tue
Ftftieth Congress- II such courteey Was neces-
cary the same was due every other chairman Of
scommittee In tho Fiftieth Congress. II he had
been controlled by this idea and appointed the
committees as suggested, bo would have i'm
psrilied the suocess OF the Democratic party. lie
was obliged 70 depart from such precedent II
any existed, or such courtesy, II courtesy re-
CURED
"Nr. Crisp IL southern man, aud was Con.
federate soldier. IL was an suspicious and sig-
nincant event when he was chosen TO virtually
the highest position In the country next 20 the
President Of the United ststes 1t was pleasing
Testimony 70 every patriot that soctionalism IL
waning. But We would soon have found this 20
b natteripg delusion had he appointed the |
chairmcn Of these committees from oonsiters-
eions urged ~ those who are censuring him. |
Let the Democratic canvassers In the northern |
lp1 western States Ia 1892 consider how they |
would have met the charges On the stump that |
ne Speaker OF Democratic Congress was
'oboi aud that the chairman OF every important
was q rebel, and that the day had |
Iome when the South was again ia the saddle,
rooted and spurred, controlling the destinies Of
govsrnment which II bad sought to oyersurn."
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(1na Sabbath for lew and GENTLE.