Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-02

Washington Correspondence n. Y. Evening" Post.
Mr.. Blaine's humorous prediction that
.'the revolution will not reyolve" seems very
likely to be verified. The country has be-
come familiar with what is known as 'the
Beck programme" a line Of policy enun-
cated by the plain spoken Senator from
Kentucky during the closing hours OF the
last Congress, which may be summarized as
follows: If the Republican Senate fails to
acquiesce, in the plans OF the House OF
Representatives, an extra session Will be
forced at this extra session certain leglsla-
ton will be passed, and if these measures
arc vetoed as separate bills they will be
attached to the appropriation bills; if the
appropriation bills, as thus loaded, arc
vetoed, Congress will adjourn.
After Mr.. Beck had finish his long speech
this afternoon, Senator Iloar arose, and
reading the words of the March speech of
the Senator from Kentucky, asked him if
he still stood by them. Picturing in few
strong phrases the results Of Withholding the
supplies. such as the stopping of the mails,
the closing of the treasury, the pension
bureau, all the federal courts, and in fact,
stopping the wheels of government. he ask
ed in plain, short Saxon words: " Do you
stand by that now, or do you back down p
Mr. Beck tried in vain to evade this inter
rogation. lie fumbled among his documents,
sent for the Record, read select parts OF his
speech. resorted to the argument of the lungs
and tried to below down his opponent, told
him, in the Thurman style, to ''sit down,
charged him with inpertinence, accused
him of classifying the records, got very angry
and red in the face, and finally refused point
blank "to answer conundrums.' But the
Yankee propensity for asking questions was
not thus easily to be conquered. The Sena-
tor from Massachusetts was inexorable.
Something evidently must be said, and this,
so near as ! can reproduce it, was what MIR.
Beck had to say: 81 have made no threats
and | make none now. | hope the
President will sign these bills. believe
he will But in the deploratle ext
gency of veto | shall consult with the
wisest and best men, and when | am
convinced as to my duty shall do it. And
believe that the patriotism and intelli-
gence of the Democratic party will be sutfi-
cient to find ways and means to furnish way
out of this difficulty. The Senator spoke
with great passion and perturbation of
spirit, the latter evidently shared by his
associates on the right. could not but
recall, as | witnessed his confusion. SEN
tence from Bacon pithy essay on Boldness
Especially it is Sport to see, when a Bold
Fellow is out of Countenance for that puts
his Face into mo Shruncken and wood
den Posture"
The author of ''the Beck programme.
then, has expressly stated that the popular
conception of it, based upon his own words,
has been entirely wrong. lie only meant to
threaten an extra session. not the dissolu-
ton of the government and all he meant
to say was that if the President vetoes these
appropriation bills, why, he would-think
about it lie would call another caucus,
and the party would all see what was best
to be done under so distressing circum-
stances