Year: 1874

elected to the next Congress-, which we print
this morning, they express their preferences
among candidates for the Speakership, and
it appears from these interviews that
the Speaker will probably be either
Walker, of Virginia; Kerr, of Indiana,
OF Cox or Wood, of New York. In attempting
to estimate their respective chances the only
safe way is to put ourselves in democratic
point of view, since the choice will necessarily
be determined by democratic public sentiment
and democratic votes. The reasoning must
not be regarded as our own, but as that OF


various sections OF the democratic majority
! in the next House. Ii We had the selection
of the Speaker different order of considera-
tions would be offered in support of our choice.


We do not undertake to express our own
wishes. but the probable motives which will
govern the action Of the democratic members
on this subject We will take up the four
leading candidates in the order in which we
have mentioned their names.


Beginning, then, with Gilbert c. Walker, it
must be conceded that he is man of energy
and abilities, who is likely to make his mark
in Congress, and that the election OF q South
ern member to the Speakership would be
proof of the disposition of the democratic
party to treat the South precisely as if all un-
pleasant memories were effaced and the peo-
pie of that section were entitled to their full
share OF public honors. Ii Mr. Walkers per-
sonal qualifications for the Speakership were
high it would be polite as we'll as magnani-
nous to bestow upon him the most con-
spicuous national position in the immediate
gift Of the democratic party But as Mr..
Walker has never served in Congress it would
be a hazardous experiment. to put him in .
place which requires not only tact, readiness
and self-possession, but familiar acquaint-
ance with parliamentary proceedings and the
rules Of the House. There are few men who
could acquit themselves with credit in the
Speakers chair at the beginning of their first
term or service. The only new member we can
think of in our time who could have stood such
test was the late Henry J. Raymond /; but he
would have succeeded in consequence Of his
previous training as the presiding officer of
both branches Of the New York Legis-
lature. Mr.. Walker has no such train
y
legislative body. We have no doubt that Mr..
Walkers inexperience will be regarded by q
majority of the democratic members as an
insuperable bar to his election. Nor would it
have as conciiating effect on the South as
might be inferred from the fact that he is sent
to Congress from Virginia. He is a man of
Northern birth and education who went to
Virginia after the war. Though not carpet
bagger in the offensive sense, he is too recent
resident of the South for his election to the
Speakership to be regarded by that section as
much Of a compliment.


Michael G. Kerr is one of the purest, ablest
and soundest men in the democratic party,
and his election as Speaker would have the
advantage of silencing all adverse criticism by
the republican press He is a man against
whom there is nothing to be said, except by the
infationists of his own party, to whose views
he has never truckled, even when his own
election seemed to depend on subservience.
He scorned and repudiated the financial here
sizes of the Indiana democratic platform, and
was elected on his personal character. But
his steady opposition to every species Of
financial quackery will weaken him with
the democratic inAationists from the West
and Southwest. Mr.. Kerr ought to
be a very acceptable candidate to
the Eastern hard money democrats, whose
views he has courageously maintained in the
face Of o strong local opposition in his own
anti.inaationist as Kerr to the Speakership
would be equivalent to party declaration in
favor Of prompt return to specie payments
but the democratic members are 80 divided on
this question that there would be some danger
Of split If Mr.. Kerr's claims were vigorously
pushed. The one thing for which he is most
conspicuous is the soundness Of his fiscal
views aud the unainching boldness with
which he declares them but, as the Western
and Southwestern members will have Q ma
jority in the democratic caucus, his nomina-
ton is improbable unless they experience
change of heart within the ensuing
year. Nor is il probable that the Eastern
democrats will press him, as they do not wish
to disclose the strength OF the indationists in
their own party nor to run the risk Of disturb
ing its harmony before the National Conven.
ton Of 1879 declares the party creed on this
subject. They will invent specious reasons
for not making Mr.. Kerr their candidate.
They will say that the Speakership is not the
only important position in the House that
the Guardianship of the Committee of Ways
and Means is, in financial view, of more
consequence; that Mr.. Kerr is, of all the
members elected to the next House, the one
who is the most admirably qualified to be the
head of that committee, and that, while it
would not be difficult to fnd as good a pre-
siding officer, it Is impossible to select SO trust
worthy financial guide among the members
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