Year: 1875

tional Importance to the selection, and
the country will watch eagerly to see
whether the Speaker is ultra hard money,
ultra soft money, or (what we feel GER
tain will be the best) mau who occu-
pies the middle position between these
two, and who believes that the currency
question should not be brought into un-
due prominence in the coming fight; but
that Radicalism in all its inquities should
first be disposed of, and then the time for
any now question will have arrived.


The men most prominently named
are MICHAEL G. KERR, of In
diana; S. S. Cox, of New York;
FERNANDO WooD, of New York, and
SAMUEL RANDALL, of Pennsylvania
Ex-Governor WALKER, Of Virginia Is
also spoken OF as strong compromise
candidate. OF all these, however, prom
,nent attention Is directed to Messrs
RANDALL, of Pennsylvania and kERR, o.
Indiana. Mr.. RANDALL is a good Demo-
crat. and took leading and manly part
against tho Radical policy of pcrsecu-
tion and prescription towards tho South,
for which he is entitled to credit. lie Is
also very popular in his state and there
in is the chief element of his strength
for the large Pennsylvania delegation
will probably vote solidly for him. But
there are many things to make Mr.
RANDALL al undesirable choice. He is
a high protective tariff man, which Is in
antagonism to the well known prIncl-
Piles of the Democratic party, and his
record is not otherwise as good in many
rcspects, rs it should bc'
for he voted for, grabbed and kept his
back pay, which must be serious obst"-
Gle in his path, and will tend to his de-
feat His position on the currency 1ues-
ton seems to be not definitely determined
although he is credited with the author
ship of the soft money plank Of the
Pennsylvania Democratic platform.


The other prominent candidate, Mr..
KxER, is certainly the favorite OF the
West. \ thorough Democrat he Is the
man on whose record there can be
brought no stain. He is hard money
man, il asmuch as he is in favor of keep
ing specie payments always in view and
opposing any step towards reputation
or initiation. But he is bitterly opposed
to the specie resumption act Of the Add
Congress, believing that to force specie
upon the country IN three years by law,
is nonsensical and delusion,
which il persisted in must ruin
the country. In short. he Is
conservative in his financial news, and
no doubt expresses the wishes OF ma
jority of the people throughout the coun-
try. Besides he is unalterably opposed
to all jobs and corrupt rings, and, as a
Washington writer says of him, "he is
so honorable in all respects, so intense a
lover of the whole country, that in the
event CT his election to the Speakership'
no section would be without its Legitimate
representation on any committee. He is
man of too much conscience to aspire
for or use any place for any but n
patriotic and unselfsh purpose, and his
friends, even remote from his home at
New Albany, Indiana, say that the West
and South trust him so much that their
Democratic representatives will largely
Join with those Of the East for his cleo
ton"


This is the kind Of man for the
place, for certainly it is to such
sentiments as these that the
Democracy should adhere, and
no one not embodying them, should
be nominated for the Presidential office
next fall. These two gentlemen will go
into the fight with stronger chances than
any others As frequently happens,
however, a compromise candidate may
come in at last and carry off the honors.
But if we cannot get Mr.. KERR, we hope
sincerely to see some one chosen who
will, like him. reflect honor upon his
party and the important position to
which he may be chosen.