The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-17
SUNDAY, DECEMBER II. 1876.
7 ne Revolution thatis Announced .


when the fathers Of this republic were
constructing form of government for the
American people, they modelled the House
OF Representatives after the British House
OF Commons. which, from the first instItu-
ton OF constitutional government IN Eng
land. has bcon the barrier protecting
the lights Of the English people from
the tyranny of kings and from the
encroachmeut OF privileged class. =.
This body, which in Great Britain is
the third in point OF dignity, Is in reality
The first In substantial power, Tor, repre-
pnting directly the voic, Of the British
people, neither the sovereign nor the
House Of Lords, nor both combined, can
garry any measure in opposition to its VIII.
From the time of Henry VI. the power
" the House OF Commons has been firmly
established. aud every attempt made 70
turtail its authority has only resulted in
The extension OF its powers. Under the I'M
written Constitution OF Great Britain, no
Ministry can remain IN olice after the
House has manifested disapproval OF its
eourse; and thus 1t Will be seen that IT Is
the House of Commons, rather than the
sovereign and nobility. who are the real
rulers OF the British empire.
The great secret OF the power Of the
British House Of Co <nols consists in the
fact hat to that body Is given the abso-
lutte control OF the public pu' Sc, which IN
wolves Indirectly that OF the army aud
navy. 1t is the exclusive right of the
Commons to originate all bills which.
either directly or by construction. prov ide
81, a.
eminent, or which require tax upon the
public for any purpose or in any mode.
Aud in order to give to the American
House, rs direct representatives OF the
people, the same predominant authority
which for centuries has proved such a bull
wark of liberty in Great Britain. the
founders of our republic gave them a sim
ilar absolute control over the use OF tho
public funds. by providing In the Consti-
tuition that all bills for raising revenue
shall originate in the House OF Representa-
tves. The Constitution further cnlarges
the powers of this House by providing
that, III case there is no choice OF Pre-l-
dent by the people at any Presidential
election, then the House of Representa-
tives shall choose one by mode which
that inst ument prescribes.
Soon after the first election of GRANT to
The Office of President, his disposition to
nsurp authority belonging to Congress be-
eame manifest. 1t has since been shown
In many illegal acts, some OF them OF slight
actual Importance. though exceedingly
vicious rs presidents, while Others have
been among the most atrocious that
II Is possible to imagine 1t Is not
necessary 10 recite the ways in VIII ch
GRANT has encroached upon the domain OF
the legislative branch of the Government {:
his offences in that direction are familiar
20 every intelligent reader. And now the
Senate, having "A maj ority of members who
are extreme partisans, observing how
quietly the people have submitted to
the usurpations and llwless acts OF the
President, are following in his footsteps.
an /, according to the declarations Of their
leaders, in the effort to install by force aud
fraud a candidate for President who was
defeated at the polls, propose TO exclude
the House of Representatives from any
practical share In the work OF verifying
AMI declaring the result of the PresIdeu-
tial election, while vague threats OF still
further aggressions upon the rights OF tde
popular branch Of Congres by the Senate
and the Executive are floating in the air.
A plot by two branches Of the national
Government to deprive third OF Its con-
Httutioual rights III such IN emergency ~
this, h rs reasonable a conspiracy against
free government as would be IA plot to de-
clare GRANT Dictator with absolute pow
ers We do not believe such con-
spiracy can be carried into any permanent
effect.