The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-02
The Battle In the House,
Garfeld's speech-A Crowd of Eminent
Listeners-The Democrats Dismayed
Tribune sneciaI. March al

Yesterdays session of the House of Repre-
sentatves will be remembered by those who
witnessed 1t as one of the most important in
the recent history of Congress. There were
times two years ago during the controversy over
the counting of the electoral vote when the ex,
citement of Representatives and spectators was
higher and deeper than it was yesterday
times when wise men trembled for the peace
OF the country and wheE public interests of the
greatest magnitude seemed to hang upon the
courage and discretion of few men. Now no
Democrat offers to bring to the Capital hun.
dred thousand armed or unarmed men TO over
awe the representatives of the people, but
those who represent the intelligence and patri-
otsm OF the great North believe that couspir-
scy has been formed against the life of tbe
Government that may be franght with greater
dangers even than that which failed in 1876
and lS77. And this is why the daily proceed
lngs OF Congress are watched with such alb
sorbing interest.
Yesterdays session was not specially impor.
tant Tor what was accomplished, although
ruling was announced by the chair which,
while lt was expected, gave official proof thas
the rules are to be construed in this Congress in
the interests of the majority and not for the
protection OF the minority; bat IL did mark the
many days, and which is certain to be histori.
cal in the annals of the Government.
The ruling OF the chairman of the Committee
OF the Whole, Mr.. Springer, said to have been
prepared by Speaker Randall, was weak, as
any decision so manifestly against the spirit
and intent of the rule must have necessarilv
have been. The object of Rule 12O has Io32
been understood. 1t was to cure this yery evil
OF putting important legislation on approprjs-
tion bills, except when the object of such leeis-
latlon was to reduce the expenditures of the
Government. The Speaker and different chair
men of the Committee of the Whole have re-
peatedly ruled that new legislation on appro-
pristion bills to be in order under the rule
must on its face reduce expenditures To show
that the repeating clause now under considera-
tion in the House might possibly reduce ex.
pendltures great many contingencies have to-
be assumed. If an occasion should arise for
the use of troops to keep the peace at the polls,
and If the President should move troops for
that purpose, expense would be incurred, while
II the power of using troops for this purpose
should De taken away from him, the expense
quires no argument to show that an amend.
ment which has to be defended in this way
does not ION its face" reduce Expenditures.
But the skirmish over the point of order was
to follow.
There is no man in Congress who is mora
thoroughly equipped for the leadership in sach
a struggle than General Garfield who opeped
it yesterday General Garfield is a growing
man. Every session that he serves in Con-
gress be establishes himself more firmly in the
confidence of bis party associates as an honora.
BILE and sagacious leader. On every great occa-
sioD, when the Republicans need a champion
in debate, he is always equal to the occasion
For years be has never disappointed bis friends
in any speech he has delivered; and the almost
universal verdict is that his last speech is ths
best of his life.
The one fact that ought not to be lost sight
ho Nnrfe
House is not for the repeal of q harmless proyi-
sion OF law In regard to the use of troops to
keep the peace at the polls. If that was the
only question involved an understanding might
very soon be reached. But the Democrats
have accompanied their sttemp, to repeal this
clause with an effort to coerce, first, the Senate
which possesses the right of Independent ac-
ton, and secondly, the President, who has
powers and duties conferred upon him by the
CONSTITUTION that are TO be guarded as sacredly
as those possessed by the House of Represents
tives. Nor do the Democrats stop here. They
even threaten to DESTROY the Government by
starving it to death. The President does not
surrender his constitutional right and duty to
act in accordance with his best judgment upon
measures that may be sent to hun for his sp-
pr0val or dlsapproval. This was the point that
General Garfield brought out SO eloquently, and
with such telling effect upon the Democratic
position, IN his speech yesterday, the full text
of which no one interested in National affairs
will fail to read.
The House was never more attentive than
while General Garfield held the floor yesterday.
Senators who were watching the progress OF
the debate in the House with unwonted inter-
est. members Of the Cabinet, foreign Ministers,
and distinguished citizens in civil lifs were
among those who listened with almost breath
less silence. When the orator made his telling
points and reached the climax of Lis speech.
the applause upon the floor and in the galleries
was loud and prolonged. The history of the
law which tits proposed to repeal was an especi-
ally bitter pill for the Democrats, and one that
they we're unable to swallow without many
WY faces. They had forgotten, If some Of
them ever knew, that it was a Democratic
measure. The most telling passage in Gener-
al Gsrheld's speech was that in which he COM
pared the last act of the Democracy when in
power In the Senate in 1861 with the first of its
return to power in Congress In 1879 and
showed how the same spirit of hostility to the
Government marked them both. The earnest.
mes and forcs with which the following words
were spoken will not be forgotten by any who
heard them:
Then the Democratic party said: "If you elect your
man as President of the United States we will shoot
your Union to death' and the people of this coun-
try not willing to oe coerced but believing they ha
right to vote for Abraham Lincoln if they chose,
did elect him lawfully as President; and then your
leaders In control OF the majority Of the other wing
OF this Capitol did the heroic thing Of Withdrawing
from their seats and Representatives withdrew
from their seats and flung down TO us the gage OF
mortal battle. Aud to-day, after eighteen years.
the book Of your domination Is opened where you
turned down your leaves in 1860, and you signal
izng your return to power, by reading the second
chapter nOt this time heroic one that declares that
five do not let you dash statute out Of the book YOU
will not shoot the Union to death in the first chap
ter, but starve it to death by refusing the necessary
appropriations. lApplause on the Republican sice
You gentlemen have it in your power TO kill this
Government. You have it in your power by refusing
these two bills to smite the nerve-centres Of Que
Constitution to the stiffness Of DEATH and you have
declared your purpose to do it IL you cannot break
down the elements Of free consent that up to this
me have always ruled in the Government.