Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-25
The Threatened Revolution.

The Boston Advertiser had the following Wash
ipgton special, dated the 22nd
The democrats in the House to-day were com
PEELED to make a record which they would gladly
nave avoided, but II is most significant one to the
country. Carter Harrison, who weakly yielded his
convictions and finally voted for the Potter resou-
ton, has been smartng under the contempt his
conduct 20 well merited, his vanity being buheted
nv the scorn of both parties. To-day all of his own
accord not having consulted with his associates,
he rose to question Of privilege and submitted
two resolutions, the first authorizing the commit
tee already constituted to extend its investigation
INTO tue states of South Carolina and Oregon al
Its discretion and the second declaring that 1t Is
out Of tue power OF this Congress to snnu the &C
ZION of the forty-fourh Congress, de-
clarng HAYES and Wheeler elected. The soniu
SION produced on the democl ais by tins bomb was
immense, aud the rage against lisrlson bound
less Finley rushed to the front with n motion TO
Law on the table. Others moved the reference OF
this resolution to the Investigating committee,
the purpose OF ali being to get rid OF 1t IN the quIck
est possible way. Several gentlemen made the
same point sgalnst 1t that was made against the
Potter resolution that il wa. not question OF priv
il,re. The speaker pro TEN Ssyler could not so
soon reverse the decision made by Randall last
week although he would have been glad enough
to do 20. Referring TO that precedent, he ruled
that it was a privileged question, but said he
would submit II to the House. On a vIvavoce vote
the democrats, utterly Itthltss VI COueisAebN1,
numbered out NO" but they were not 10 be let
of So aud the yeas and nays were demanded and
ordered The democrats wanted most OF all IN
this exigency time TO consult, and Sayler fav-
or,d them by those devices which are re-
sorted to under such circumstances. The call
was suspended several times to bring the house
to order, the clerk called the loil slowly, and
three lines the call was suspended under pre-
text of sending for tue sergeant-at-srms. The
leading democrats were gathered in groups for
conference, and did not answer when their names
were called. Potter went TO the clerks desk and
studiously conned the resolutions; ne was pale
with exciteme ut and anger. Meantime the man
who had hurled this apple OF discord into the
arena srutted through the ssles. his hands 10 his
pockets. surveying the scene with apparent eat
lsfacton, and acting rs II he was ready to defy
a universe in arms aud die IN the last ditch. Ons
every eide be was assaulted with hot word
and upbraided without pretence OF respect
MANY democrats lodged the vote some members
of po,ter's committee voted mo; Potter himself
did not vote until the second call. and then an
swered "yea" with evident reluctance. But few
epu blcans voted at all they could not vote yea
unless prepared to stulty themselves, having last
week taken the opposite SIDE 10 vote mo
would seem like unwillingness to allow the demo
Gratis a chance to make declaration that they DID
not intend revolution; they lett the de nocrats to
settle this matter among themselves. Foity-seven
democrats, who voed last week in precisely
similar case that ii was a question OF privilege,
TO day voted that it WAS not. When the vote was
announced-7l yeas TO 81 nays-the point was
made that there was mo quorum. Then came
lIarrison's opportunity to show himself a weak
and foolish bfsggsrt again. Instead of demand
ng call OF the house he surrendered to the party
bull DOING. and Withdrew his resolution. Then
Wilson OF West NiTgi ina rose to question oil
privilege, and offered resolution authorizing the
investigating committee to investigate frauds IN
any other States than Florida aud Louisiana, pro-
yded they have reason to believe that such + aud,
existed; which means, simply, that the democratic
committee NAV Investigate democratic frauds II
they are convinced IN advance that there were any
Springer several members of Potters committee
aud other leading democrats were concerned in
deyising this scheme to blind the country, but
there had not been time to inform all the party OF
its emptiness, but there was another scene OF con-
fusion. Cox of New York moved to refer it to
the investigating committee, which wa, of course,
TO smother it. Mills tried to raise question of
privilege, but was not recognized. The yeas and
nays were ordered on the question OF reference,
and 80 democrats voted for 1t. The republicans,
however rallied to prevent such disposition of il
and with a few democrats defeated 1t. The dem
ocrats then had TO face the music, and the same
Cox expressed the hope that it would be adopted
unanimously. Nevertheless many democrats vot.
ed "no." Absurd and laundering as Carter Hsr-
rison is, he has in thu. matter done the country
real service by pressing the democratic party to
rev,a al the emptiness of all professions that they
do not mean revolution As the end OF the investl-
q ation they have undertaken. Nearly hall the
party entirely stultfed themselves to- day in their
frantic effort to prevent being called upon TO vote
yes or NO on the question of the legal validity OF
the Presidents title. There Is no longer q doubt
that revolution is intended and that the investgs
ton Is only All instrument to discover pietext