New-York tribune., 1880-02-18
TIE CASE OF MR. WEAYER.

The Weaver incident is rapidly taking on
tbe proporfions of political sensation. Inc
Iowa member has q portentous bill IN MS
poctet. intended to destroy :" the devil fish OF
tbe Money Power" as Mr.. De La Matyr
might say, and he he's consumed weary anu
anvious month in futile efforts to get 1t be-
fore the House of Representatives. Some OPP
nrpssiye rule, which Mr.. Weaver seems not
Gni,e 10 understand, Is always IN the way
Whenever Mr. Weaver springs to ms ieet tue
sneaker recognizes somebody else. There are
dijatory motions. rOll-calls, and all the other
parliamentary devices for suppression; the
privileged hours slip away; and tnus regu-
larly every Monday the adversary OF the
Money Power is, so to speak, hustled Out Vi
the House. with his bill crammcd into MS
mouth. Day before yesterday he had tuSSe
with the Speaker before he would submit 10
be removed, and he was at last carried on
breathing threats and protests and declaring
that he would never be quiet untll the House
consented to vote on his bill.
We do not doubt that M. Weaver will be
"a good as his word, for the gentlemen OF the
little faction to which he belongs are very
beadstrong and persevering, and never quite
banpy except when they are making somebody
uncomfortable. So, unless an understanding
il reached. we may expect to be edlhed once
a week by the spectacle OF the Speaker ana
the Democratic majority Oi the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. sitting on the PROSTATE body
Of the struggling and shouting Weaver. This
is hardly the proper way TO carry on the
Government OF the United States. 1t 's an
undignified proceeding; it is an inconvenlent
disturbance of business and we cannot for
get that it may turn out To- be dangerous
precedent. If Mr.. Weaver may he thrown
down and sat upon whenever he takes the
foor the same treatment may be applied to
anv other person whom the Speaker OF the
majority desires 10 suppress IL Ia true that
the National Democrats, Under whose stand
ard MIR. Weaver has enrolled himself are not
largely represented in the House; they make
nice compact little party of seven but 1t is
generally understood that great many OF the
regular Democrats are ready to vote with
them. though they were elected under another
name and at any rate. they are entitled to
be heard. A month ago Mr.. Weaver was only
n very ridiculous person. with wild Ideas about
debts and dollars suppression is converting
him into a great constitutional principle.
Mr.. Weaver asks for vote, and he ought
to have it. To make "a martyr OF this poor
man. in order that the Democratic ma
iority may be spared the embarrassment
of going upon the record. is both
cruel and cowardly. 1t will no doubt
be unpleasant for many of our Demo
cratic friends to submit to a call of the
yeas and nays on the Weaver bill. Some of
them have opinions at home which they do
not wish to declare at Washington, and some
of them have opinions at Washington which
are kept profound secret at home ; and in a
general way it may be said that the S-s-s-h
policy is tho only thing upon which they are
agreed. But besides being safer for the
countrv 10 let the whole truth be known, il
will really be ever so much more comfortable
for them. They haze suffered enough from
the cankering tooth of concealment Better
have IL ont.