Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-05
SpE1EEP BLAINE AND FILIBTS7ER-
JEE

SPEAKER BLAINE AND FILIBtS1ER-
ING.
Speaker Blaine has come through the
filibustering in the House with new honors
added to those already won before in the
arduous position he occupies. Pressed
during the past week as no other Speaker
of the House ever was, with Butler on the
one hand insisting upon peculiar and I'M
fair rulings to suit his temporary purpose
and with Randall, Cox and Lamar upon
the other watching every opportunity to
embarrass and annoy him and secure adj
vantage for themselves, he showed HIM
self complete master of the situation, just
and prompt in his rulings. and able and
bold enough to maintain and vindlcate
them against the assaults of all those who
objected to them. The press speaks in
high commentator of his course. The
correspondent OF the Boston Journal says
the effect of his remarks in opposition 10
General Butler in the scrimmage OF Tues
day was marked and electrical" 1.-The
House subsequently sustaining the Speaker
in every point and leaving Butler alone
among the republicans in opposition to
the rule. The Boston Herald correspondent
says 1.-THE republicans generally commend
the course OF the Speaker, and his whole
course gave satisfaction on both sides OF
the House" The New York Times and
Tribune approve the course OF the Speak
err, and the Herald does likewise. In the
following editorial remarks the Herald
speaks handsomely and impartially OF the
Speaker and briefly sketches the salient
points in the situation.
Speaker Blaine came down from the
chair and made a vigorous speech. on the
floor in opposition to the views Of Butler.
The sharp sparring between him and sew
eral democratic members in an earlier
stage of the proceedings might have justi-
fled the suspicion that he was carried too
far by the heat of party feeling. if he had
not afterwards defined and indicated his
position by his speech on the floor. His
rulings during the long iilibustering strug-
gle last week were impartial and consider
ate, and if some of his language in the
early part of the day yesterday was tinged
with unusual acerbity he had good deal
of provoca.ion from the ilihustering dem
ocrats. But his speech against Butler was
a full recognition of the right of the mi
nority to be protected against sudden sur
prises and to have their arguments listened
Il r., 10y cnnh a Rntlpr
wished to fasten on the minority. But he
also asserts, and justly asserts, the right
of the majority to control the legislation
OF the House and to pass such bills as it
may deliberately approve. The new rule
carefully guarded and restricted as it is,
will be considered as unobjectionable by
fair-minded men. and the democrats them
selves will not undertake to change it
when they come into power in tho next
House. In that House Mr.. Blaine will be
the leader OF the minority, and he processes
his willingness to be bound by the same
rule then which is adopted by the majority
now. He favors deliberate legislation
and fair opportunities for debate; but
power to block the wheels of legislation
and bring the business of the House to a
perpetual deadlock is what no minority
has right to ask and no majority should
be expected to assent to. We are glad
this protracted contest is ended,
and are not dissatisfied with the
result. We approve of the action
of Speaker Blaine in giving the
democrats the full advantages which
they claimed under the discarded rule,
and II the effect has been to expose the
absurdity of the rule the democrats must
blame themselves for pushing it to such an
extreme as to necessitate its repeal. They
will lose nothing by the passage of the
Civil Rights bill, if it should pass; and if
the republicans should pass more objec-
measures for reducing the South
TO q humilating military vassalage the
democrats will be furnished with new par
~ measures and will be strengthened for
a successful appeal to the people. But
they will gain nothing by declaiming
against the new rule or denouncing
Speaker Blaine. who, batting some asper-
ity OF language under strong provocation,
has borne himself with great fairness and
prudence throughout these extraordinary
proceedings.