Year: 1875




difficult, OF all triumpls; aud the selection of
Mr.. Kerr is a great triumph of the purer and
better elements of the Democracy over their
organization. His personal integrity no one
doubts Those who, like ourselves. have
sharply differed from him upon some questions,
will the more readily acknowledge his uncom-
promising fidelity to his convictions. His
ability, knowledge Of parliamentary rules, and
dignity of character, make him peculiarly
suitable man for the position OF Speaker. We
have every reason to hope that he will be found
merciless opponent of jobs and swindes
of every sort, and it ia to his credit
that the agents of some of the most notorious
and dangerous schemes bitterly resisted his
nomination. Mr.. Randall and Mr. Cox can
both be quite as useful on tho floor or III the
cOmmittec-room, but of all men III the House
Mr.. Kerr will be most useful in the chair to
the Democratic party. if it wishes to secure
public confidence. His election is rare proof
of the increasing power of public opinion upon
party organizations. He had no clique to back
him; he had little skill in the arts of personal
solicitation and management; the best organ
ized, the noisest, and hitherto the most eff
cient elements in hs party were against him,
and he had the active hostility of the Rings
which usually control party caucuses. Against
these influences his nomination was clearly
forced by the general judgment, outside of his
party as well as in it, that he was on the
whole, the best and safest man for the place.


Upon some points We do not expect that We
shall be able 10 agree with Mr.. Kerr. But
the cause of hard money and administrative
reform wins splendid triumph in his selec-
ton. Let H. hope that il will be followed by
no compromise with infitionistS and no quar-
ter for plundereis Of either party. Mr. Kerr
may fairly regard it aS an official approval OF
his change from the attitude OF 1870, and OF
his manly position a. to the currency during
the sharp contest of 1874; and he will be
perfectly warranted, both by usage and by the
plain meaning of his election, in organizing
the Committee Of Ways and Means in SYM
patty with his own views, and with especial
regard to the settlement of the currency Ques-
ton upon u just and honorable basis. lie may
the more properly place this Interpretation
upon the act of the caucus when he recalls
the ringing utteraECos of Mr.. Lamar in his
opening speech


Again. Mr.. Kerr who knows well enough
the powerful interests that sought his defeat,
has right 20 regard his selection as an en-
phatic rebuke of all subsidies and jobs. He
may Justly consider it a. mere obedience to
the decision of the caucus to select the most
uncompr0msing opponents OF all Legislation
of that character as chairmen OF the various
committees before which such schemes must
come, and to give them the support OF clear
ma0rities of their committeeman. IL he takes
the Speakers chair, as his friends proudly
claim, free from pledges aud entanglements
of every kind, his past record warrants
the expectation that he will form COM
mittecs altogether distressing to corrup-
tionists of both parties. The Repub-
ican party ought to demand nothing
less the Democratic party can desire nothing
better. The work will not then be over, for it
il by no means certain that the House will
uniformly sustain trustworthy committees, but
the Democratic party will have taken long
step in the right direction, and both parties
will have the night to rejoice in the Increasing
power of their better elements.


All independent citizens must be glad to SEQ
either Of the great parties achieving victory
over the demoralizing tendencies within its
ranks. Those who intend to choose between
the Two parties, with sole regard to the good
of the country. must desire to see either a.
free from fault as possible. The nomlna-
ton of Mr.. Kerr which is the triumph Of
sound currency and administrative reform.
is the first fruit of that wholesome defeat
which Democracy has received in Ohio and
PENNSYLVANIA at the hands of independent
voters. By that defeat the Democratic party
has been compelled to realize that it has no
chance of success unless it can win the firm
confidence of citizens who care more for prac-
teal reforms than for any party. 1t may fail,
even with Mr.. Kerr as IFS official leader. But
it is far moro likely to succeed with him than
il would have been with any man who had
the support of the raying mob of inilatonsts
from the West or of those shining lights of
reform who help the Canal Ring or follow
Morrissey in NewYork.


Mr. Randall was associated in the public
mind with those who conspicuously fought his
battles. 1t was fatal to him that the worst
class of Democrats and the worst class of Re-
publicans were both anxious to have him sue
ceed The repudiatOrs for whom The Cincinnati
Enquirer speaks, the ofscourings of Tammany,
the tools of tho Canal Ring, the jobbers at
Washington, and the Republican Third Term
ers were of one accord in this contest. The
Jealous aid of the most corrupt Administration
men injured Mr. Randall beyond measure.
Though they were doubtless anxious for
his election chiefly because they knew
it would make Republican victory easier.