Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-12-23

that of the most dangerous and wicked
usurpation. Whether il succeeds or not.
the steady effor. that has been made to
force it to success must be terribly de-
moralizing. because It tends to accustom
the public to the tactics of gamblers in
the prosecution Of public aims. lift
could succeed. it would 90 tar toward
making republican institutions i'm our
country sad and disgracefnl failure.
The Democratic House has not been be-.
hind the Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent in its attempts to override law and
decency In order to secure its political
ends. This is shown by its conduct in
the case of the Representative of the state
of Colorado. in that of the Representa-
tive of the Second district Of South Caro-.
lima. and I'm that of the appointment of in
vestigation committees in the South.
l. Colorado Is state in the Union. 1t
was enacted by Congress at its last ses-
sion. the present House cOncurriny. when
it was certified to the President that q
Constitution. with certain provisions. had
been adopted. he should proclaim Colo
RADIO a state i'm the Union. without fur
Their action by Congress. The Constitu-
ton was adopted; its adoption was certi-
fled to the President: and Colorado be-
came state. Yet the Democratic House
refuses to receive its Representative on
the ground that he state may not have
vet been admitted. For the first time i'm
the history of the country the House re-
fuses to accept as prtmd fdcte evidence of
election the credentials ola Governor
whose authority Is undisputed. Plainly.
IL such course can now be taken, the
House may refuse to seat any member or
members. however authoritative their
credentials. until majority may be re-
dnced to q minority. and the minority
may elect its Speaker, the Speaker may
appoint his committees. and the machin-
cry of legislation may pass into the hands
of the usurping members.
2. In the Second district of South Car
olina the House assumed power still
more recklessly. The Representative i'm
this district was elected by 5000 MAORI
ty; an unswOrn protest was presented
against his admission by dozen private
citizens of the district. containing state
ments, some of which are VIGOROUSLY un.
true. The House thercupon refused to
admit the Representative. and referred
his case to committee which need new
er report. This. ard the foregoing prece-
dent were made with purpose. If the
next House should, by the filling of va
cancies occurring meantime. be Republi-
can, the Democratic minority on meet
ing. presided over by Democratic Clerk.
will arbitrarily refuse seats to enough
Republicans to leave them the power to
elect Speaker and seize the machinery
OF legislation.
3. Hewitt's resolution for committees
to the South, required suspension of
the rules by two-thirtls majority. which
was declared to have been received. In
this declaration, the vote of Mr.. Plasted,
Of Maine, was announced In the negative.
but was not counted, aid did rot get re-
corded i'm the negative. The next day
Mr. Plaisted demanded that the journal
should be corrected. and his vote record
ed, by which the resolution would have
been recinded. The leader of the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Holman, arrogantly argued
against this simple act OF justice. and the
Speaker sided with him, until Demo.
crat from Indiana claimed that his vote
had not been recorded i'm the affirmative.
This restored the balance. The Speaker
allowed the two corrections, and then by
his casting his vote secured the adoption
of the resolutions. ~
These are specimens of the temper, OF
the Democrats. They show what the
country has to expect in the way of un-
scrupulOus usurpatiOn, and what it must
be prepared to meet.