The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-18
This VIII Not Answer.


In their caucus Of Wednesday afternoon.
the Republicans OF the House after u full
debate, unanimously resolved that they
would resist the adoption Of the Potter in
vestigation "by all tho means that are au-
thori2rd by the rucs " tho House" Now,
let Us see how they carried out their
own resolution Ono of those rules makes
it the Imperative duty Of each member who
Is i'm the House to vote ON every question
that is presented for its determine tion. I'M
loss he Is excused from voting blythe House.
This Is ono Of the fundamental rules Of all
| Legislative bodies, and without strict adj
hcrcncc to its requirements every such
body would become an unmanngcablc mob.
And yet, moro than ono hundred Republican
Congrcs5m sat i'm their seats dayaftor day.
and refused TO answer to their names when
called to vote on any matter relating TO tho
resolution OF Mr.. POTTER providing FOR an
investigation Of alleged frauds in the Louis
lana and Florida elections.
ono OF the reasons given by the Rcpub-
leans in their caucus resolutions for thus
stultifying themselves was prctcnce that
the proposed investigation was revolutions
any il an inquiry which might lead to
the impeachment of the de fdcto Secretary
of the Treasury and the Minister to France
could be revolutionary. But was not their
own conduct in Professionally violating the
rule that marks the line between a mass
meeting and II Legislative assembly, and
thereby obetructng all public business. to
the last degree revolutionary In its essen
tial qualities was 1t any better, and In its de-
structive tendencies was it not quite ~ bad
as the withdrawal of JEFFERSON DAVIS
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS. and their rebel AS
sociatcs. from the Senate and House of
Representatives seventeen years ago whore
10y they aimed TO block the wheels Of the
Legislative department Of the Government,
just a. EUGENE HALE, GARFIELD. and their
fellows have been doing
Tho leader in this revolutionary attempt
to put stop to the Legitimate action of tho
popular branch of the national Legislature
seems to have been EUGENE HALE Of Maine
good many Republicans in the State of
New York, who would fain try TO think well
Of JAMES q BLAISE, are anxious to know if
Mr.. BLAINE hopes to work himself into the
Presidency by the use Of such Instruments
as HALE. II HALE is lighting ON his own
hook, BLAINE had better make haste 10 in
form the country OF the fact.
Now that the porrER resolution has been
passed.. 1t is in order for the Republican mem
bers Of the House to ask Themselves Whether
the policy Of iactioUs obstruction has paid.
ON Utafs anI lsatis A h.4t4iltAN hiAuta.
Whom HAYES and Fraud have ceased to oc-
cupy the highest place In this republic.
1t Is probably q fortunate thing that an
all-nisht session u the House was avoided II
the middle Of the afternoon found member-
irritable and quick To- take offence. In what sort
OF temper would they have bocn by four q elo K
in the morning'
HAYEss visiting statc-mcn and conlden-
ual bargain maker may as well Boz spr adin.
their umbrellas. 1t ISL ny TO Poe "a good deal
more OF shower than they have been e, uniting
for
CoNGm Of Michigan virtually accused
GOODS OF Virginia OF d.-hpuorably breahIn his
pair with LomSeoi Ma-sl .husrus; and GoopE
Of Virginia virtually mumatel to CoVolR of
Michigan that that Was lighting talk. Ii ia not
believed that there viii p, any blood shed.
EucrSr HALE was understood yesterday
20 intimate aputiis"o OF lrne.u; forward l'+
gitorno lu % resolution Cor t.' arpliutn-At OK 90
comm .f"e. or committee 90 iut -teat. Mln. q
Demo rlus frauds 100 States which east tarir
electoral votes for Sir. TuDlS. II Hale. or
any ontose. can show reasonable grounds fHr
loiio, lng t.At l.il fluul, Wrr' commit n. a.d
that oy inauus of them the viii oi uIe peo.4o 0f
those Stat s, Hs expressed az the po. W.s .ul-
sig. aul defeated. iot tIem b1 ia, ..u.,u,.i hY
al mQaus
When Mr. Porter offered the resolution
To- iAy,sii gate uc frauds in florida AMI L1a.-l
ana. thn .tu,lI AN -.draf ths House hgi,tlod
with points ol order objections. questions OF
privilege. and parliamentary qu.bo.D,. IL was
cout"udoi boy Mr. CoNDrR and his usso,iat s.
that tho resolution mot only eives very cx-
traordutrJ privileges and powers 10 lohefal
committee, hut undertakes to give 10 II sub
committee and 10 the Chairman ola sub-a1m-
mlttee power which the law ioH- not permit in
regard to the administration OF oaths."
It was shown that this authority was con-
and fV,rssI Ina Cha, f..af t.ntrr..a with,