New-York tribune., 1879-03-31
GARFIELD on THE ARMY BILL.
A sprFCH WITCH WAS HsTENfD TO VIII BRtAIH-
LESS INTEREST IN THE HoUsE-A CROWD OF

LESS INTEREST IN THE HOCsE-A CROWD OF
EMINENT LISTENERS.
IBY TEJtGRArH TO THE TTIRUSEi
WAsHNGroN, March 3O.-Ycsterday's session OF
the House of Representatives. will long be remem-
bercd by those who witnessed ii as one OF the most
importaut IN the recent history of Congress There
were times two years ago during the controversy
over the counting Of the electoral vote when tie ex
citement Of Representatives and spectators was
higher and deeper than il was ycStcFdaY-timeS
when wise men trembed for the peace
OF the country and when public III
tcrcsts Of the greatest magnitude seemed to hang
1,pop the courage aud discretion Of few men
Now no Democrat offers to bring to the Capital
hundred thousand armed or unarIned men to over
awe the representatives of the people, but those
who represent the intelligence and patriotism OF
the great North believe that conspiracy has been
formed AGAINST the life Of the Government that
may befraught with greater dangers even than that
which failed in 1876 and 1877. And this IS why
the daily proceedings Of Congress are watched with
such absorbing interest
Yesterdays session was not especially important
for what was accomplished although ruling was
announced by the chair which, while it was eX-
pccted gave official proof that the rules are 10 be
construed in this Congress in the interests of the
majority and not for the protection Of the minority;
but it did mark the beginning of a debate which
viii continue for many days, and which is certain
to be historical in the annals of the Government
The ruling of the chairman of the Committee OF
the Whole Mr.. Springer. said to have been pre-
pared by Speaker Randall, weak, as any de-
cisiOn so manfestly against the spirit and intent OF
the rule must necessarily have been. The object of
Rule 100 has long been understood. 1t was TO cure
this very evil Of putting important legislation on
appropriation bills except when the object of such
legislation was to reduce the expenditures of
The Government. The Speaker and different
chairmen of the Committee of the Whole
have repeatedly ruled that new legislation
on appropriation bills to be in order under the rule
must on its face reduce expenditures. To show that
the repeating clause under consideration In the
House might possibly reduce expenditures a great
many contingencies have to be assumed. II an oc-
casion should for the of troops to keep the
peace at the polls, and If the President should move
troops for that purpose. expense would be incurred
while if the power of using troops for this purpose
should be taken away from hiu, the expense that
might be incurred might be saved. 1t requires no
argument to show that an amendment which has to
be defended in this way does not on ITS face re-
duce expenditures. But the skirmish over the
point of order was only preliminary to the great
contest that was to follow.
There is no man in Congress who IS moro
Thoroughly equipped for the leadership in such
struggle than General Garfield who opened 1t yes
terdav General Garfield is growing man. Every
session that he serves III Congress he establishes
himself more firmly in tho confidence of his party
associates as an honorable and sagaciOus leader
Ca every great occasion, when the Republicans
need champion in debate, he is always equal TO
the occasion. For years he has never disappointed
his friends in any speech he has dcliyered and the
almost universal verdict Is that his last speech Is
the best of his life.
The one fact that ought not to be lost sight Of is
that the contest now in progress IN the House is
not for the repeal of a harmless provision OF law
in regard to the 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 attempt
to repeal this clause with effort to cOerce, first,
the Senate which possesses the right ofindcpendent
action and secondly, the President who has powers
and duties conferred upon hun by the Constitution
that are TO be guarded sacredlya possessed
by the House of Representatives Nor do the Dem
ocrats stop here. They even threaten 10 destroy
the Government by starving It to DEATH
The President does not surrender lis con-
stitufonal right and duty to act in ac-
cordancc with bs best judgment unon
measures that may be sent to him for ms approval
or disapproyal. This was the point that General
Garfield brought cut so elOoucntly, and with such
telling ogcct upon the Democratic position IN his
speech Yesterday, the full text OF which 10 one in
terestod in National affairs Will fail to read.
The House was never more attentive than While
General Garfield held the floor yesterday. Senators
who are watching the progress Of the debate III the
House with unwontcd interest. members OF the
Cabinet foreign Ministers. and distinguished citl-
2cas In civil lie were among those who listened
with almost breathcss silence. When the
JratOr made his telling points and reached
the climax Of his speech, the applause upon the
floor and in the galleries was loud aud prOlOnged'
=. To- foi i t,rar cd IA
repeal was an especially bitter pill for the
Democrats and one that they We're m
able to swallow without many WY faces.
They had forgotten, If some of them ever
knew, that it was Democratic measure.
The most telling passage in General Gartolds
speech was that in which he compared the last act
of the Democracy when in power in the Senate in
1861 with the first of its return TO power in Con
grcss in 1870 and showed how the same spirit of
hostility 10 the Government marked them both. The
eamestncss and force with which the following
words were spoken will not be forgotten by any
who heard them:
Theu the Democratic party said "lf you elect your
President Of the United Sates' we VIII shoot
yOur Union TO death; and the people Of this country
not willing 10 be cOerced but believing thel bad iisht
10 for Abraham Lincoln they chose ana eject MN
lawfully President; and then your itadeis ~
cOutrCi Of the majority or Inc OIbei wing
Of tins Capitol did The heroic t4ing Oh WIN WIN
drawing from their seats and your ReITeseuiatINes
@noLem tI lDI ttW t 80 And today after eighteen
years the book Of Your domination IS opened where you
down your leaves IN 1860, aud you are signal
izug Your return to power by Ieadlng ne seCqn9 fal
ter this time le ole OnC that declares tat il We
do not let you dash a statute OGt OF lhe poOk you
but TO death by refusing The necessary apnro-
priauOns Applause on the Republican Sdel lOu
&EehteHeh & nave u IN your power, 10 All tiS i,id
Ing these two bills. TO smite the nerve-cen.
tres OF Constitution 10 the stiffness OF
Vou laV dpcla red