Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-09-30
For County Surveyor,
CHARLES F. TOWNSEND.
ORGANIZATION OF #

ORGANIZATION OF THE SENAT
BY virtue of the Presidents proclama-
ton, the Senate of the United States will
convene in extra session at noon on Octo-
Der the 10th.
The installation of the Vice President to
the cares Of administration, rendered neces
sary by reason of the death of President
Garfield, will make it encumbent upon this
body, Immediately upon its re-assembling,
to choose presiding officer, who becomes
President of the Senate, and by virtue of
constitutional provision, will stand first in
the line of succession. This is duty which
it is entitled to perform by the uuconstrained
will of its majority. This majority is fairly
possessed by Representatives Of the Demo-
cratic party, and neither President Arthur
nor the Republican party Of which he is a
member, will have any just cause of CON-
plant, nor will the country have any reason
for alarm, If that majority shall determine
to advance one of its number to that honor
able position.
Already prominent Republican politicians,
as well as the Republican press generally, are
appealing to Democratic Senators, and un-
dertaking to direct public sentiment as to
the propriety of the Democratic party "re-
nouncing this advantage and put member
Of the minority into the chair from motives
of political generosity" This is indeed
nnfacf "A ,.,;Al
deal OF force as well as grace, when we
come TO consider, that the Republican party
has never been remarkable for conceding
any of its political rights privileges or favors.
The attempt TO fasten upon the mind OF the
people the idea that the country's prosperity
or even It's liberties would become imperiled
because of the election of Democrat as
President of the Senate, and his consequent
proximity TO the Presidency, is significant
of the jaundiced decentralization into which
the Republican party has fallen-"it is the
interest froth Of partisanship" and demon
strates that the leaders are as unpatriotic
as they are ignorant and careless of the
spirit of our institutions.
The responsibilities Of organizing the
Senate devolves upon the majority, that
majority is Democratic and they should not
only be ready but willing to meet the
emergency with party iealty and patriotic
ardor We have had quite enough of this
milk and water" policy, quite enough of
concessions; too much "oil thrown upon the
troubled waters" by nerveless and ginger
bread tigure-heads, too much of giving away
TO this or that shade ef popular sentiment.
An emergency has arrived in our national
affairs, and the Democratic party should
have moral and political stamina sufficient
TO meet it, There must be no backdowns,
no yielding of power, rights, privileges or
customs. The time for action has come,
and the representative man who has not
the courage to meet 1t is unworthy of the
confidence imposed and should at once give
way TO those who fear no barriers nor shrink
from any responsibility.
We have splendid timber in the ranks Of
our party in the Senate. Timber that has
felt the fury of the storm and come forth
proud and erect as ever. The old Ship of
State needs just such at this time, and there
should be no delay or hesitation on our part
in bracing her, in order that she may be the
better able TO stand the shock of passion,
error and prejudice.