, 1875-01-27

II tho ehHcuS proposition 10 repGnI tho two
thirds rule and prohibit the Speaker from
recognizing dilatory motions had carried on
Tuesday in Congress, it would hive opened
Pandora'a boz from which would have issued
mischief beyond present conception. Every
trne Republican in the country, therefore,
owes q debt OF gratitude to tho party men
who voted against the motion, n,-1surFEroS, Of
Massachusetts; BunouARD, Of Illinois; Bua-
LEIGH, Of Maine; DARRA11, Of Louisiana;
FOSTER, Of Ohio; HALE, o< Maine; KAssoN,
OF Iowa; LowSDzs, Of a1ary1aud; MERRIAM,
Of New York; PuE1ra, Of Now jersey;
PIERCE, OF Massachusetts; E. II. RonEnrs,
Of New York; J. AnnLEn SAITH, Of Virginia;
JONI Q. SMITH, Of Ohio: and WILLARD, Of
Vermont. So far from characterizing their
vote on this measure as m indication Of
now-party movement on their part, they nre
entitled to the credit Of having saved the Re-
publican party not only from griovous
wrong, but from policy that might havo
been fatal to its existence.
We say that the proposition was wrong in
itself, and for these reasons: It was an effort
to silence the minority, and entirely remove
whnt experience haa taught to bo q loalthful
and necessary ehook upon rash legislation.
Had tho new rule boon adopted, it would have
opened the way for tho easy passage Of ali
tho corrupt and desperate jobs now before
Congress. The vory head md front of the
new movement was Mr.. CESSNA, of pennsyl-
vania, who is standing advocate Of the
CHoapESs1No claim. Had his proposed rule
been adopted, there Is little doubt but ho
would spring this rotten old claim upon Con-
greBs during it's closing houra. Othor meas-
urcs, equally corrupt, would haye then had
fair show in Congress-. The old Choctaw
claim, giving away nearly $S,ooo,o 900
when it is doubtful whether single dollnr
should be appropriated, would probably have
gone through, especially as It IL Eaid that
s1,8oo, 900 lobby-money has been pledged in
caso the claim is allowed this session. AIr.
ToN scoTr could then have carried through
lis enormous subsidy with n hurrah, md the
country would thereby have been 1oadet1 down
Will, Job ton times worse tlnn Pacific Mail,
which Inns now become 30 infamous. The
huge party blunler Of appropriating for tho
army for two yours to come would also have
been feasible under the proposed change.
These nro tho more notRble Jobs whose pass-
ags whould ba rendered easy by change Of
tho rules; but, in addition to these, mass OF
private ' steals" would hove been facilitated,
and tho outgoing Republican Congress won!d
probably hive left tho pnrty record which
would have led inevitably to its defeat In
1876.
The proposition was not only vicious in
Itself, but 1t was utterly disastrous a. matter
Of party policy. The majority OF RopablIc-
ans III tue present Congress secm to ignore
the fact that their SUCCESSORS will ba Demo-
Gratis. They have become so accustomed to
ono Republican congrona being succeeded by
another Republican Congress that They fail
to comprehend tho present situation: They
must open their eyes TO the fact that tho
Democratic House majority in the Forty
fourth Congress will b. almost as large
MS tho Republican majority is In the pres
ent House. II the present Republican ma
jority had established tho precedent
| which the CAUCUS proposed, the succeeding
Democratic majority would undoubtedly
havo followed their example; aud the very
impunity which aoms Of the Republicans
now desire would have then been in Demo-
cratic handa. The Republican minority
would have bsen shut of next session as tha
Democratic minority would have been this
session. The proposition to make the army
appropriations for two yeara IL similarly o.
short.sightea ~ q matter Of pasty policy.
There Is no warrant In past legislation fo4
doing II. II 1t has been suggested by the