Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1881-05-04
The Action of the Senate.

TOT nearly TWO lHOllIHS Ine DcllOCGaJS
of the United States Senate have been en-
gagged in wantOn career OF filibustering
to defeat the rule of the majority. Their
course is unwarranted and indefensible
In essence and principle it is the same
thing as an open reputation of law or a
revolutionary defiance of the authority of
government.
The clear constitutional ajority of the
Senate named the committees. It's right
to do SO was undisputed. The same ma
jority then attempted to name the officers
and determine the order Of business. It's
right to do this was precisely the same as
in the other; but at this stage the Demo
Gratis, who did not challenge the right of
the majority to appoint the Committees,
set out to resist the right of the majority
to appoint the officers. Their own course
in the first instance condemned their
course in the second. In both cases the
principle which justified the Republicans
was that which lies at the foundation of
free government. Without the rule of
the majority there is no law and no or
ganized liberty.
The majority was legitimately and hon
orably made. 1t represented the COM
mon interest Of Republicanism and of In
dependent Democracy against the South
ern Bourbons. The Republicans found
General Malone fighting the Bourbons in
Virginia, refusing to act with them in
the Senate, enforcing fail ballot and ar
honest count and leading liberal and
progressive South. The logic of the Sit
uation produced the alliance, and made
the majority, and when made it embod-
led two ideas-frst, the policy of encour-
aging independence in the South; and,
second, the title of the majority to rule
without regard to the policy and princi-
pie behind it. The Republicans took
their stand upon these two ideas-upon
the second as right, and upon the first
as the motive-and they were entirely
justified in making a battle for this po-
Sition.
But through their factious and obstruc-
tive course the Democrats have been able
to defeat any action. Meanwhile the
whole executive business for which the
session was called is at halt; the Presi-
dents nominations are untouched; and
the question presents itself whether the
tnjuStifable Democratic filibustering
shall be allowed to arrest all the work of
the session. The Republicans have prac-
tically decided that it shall not, and that
they will proceed to consider the PreSi-
dents Nominations. They can do this
without surrendering their position as to
the right of the majority to rule. They
will continue to assert it and to attempt
to exercise it precisely as before. If the
Democrats resist, the responsibility will
be theirs. The Republicans are RESPONSE
BILE for the rectitude Of their position, and
not for results; and when they maintain
their undoubted right and at the same
time couple with it action upon the Pres
ident's nominations their attitude will be
unaSsailable.
They are coming to this position with
entire unanimity. The nominations over
which there is no dispute will be speedi-
ly confirmed. The one which has been
the chief cause Of division will be allow
ed to rest for the present Aud the de-
lay thus far will have had the effect of
cooling passions, repressing conflict and
possibly of pointing the way to a salts
factory djustment.-PreSS.
1t is said that five hundred employees in
ho