New-York tribune., 1882-03-11
CONGRESS AND ITS RULES.

1t is the especial function of disloyal mir
nority to block the public business as far 1t
can. The Democratic is essentially dlsloyal
minority. The word disloyal applies in its
broadest sense. Historically, the Democratic
party tried to destroy the Union practically
and in the present, it is ever trying to get
power for itself at the expense of violation of
the Constitution, contempt for law and great
disregard for the public welfare. That sort of
minority the Republican party must always be
prepared to confront. and the particular func-
tion of that minority is to block the wheels OF
government when it cannot have its own way.
The rules framed by the Democrats, when
in control Of the House, have been curse to
the country 1t makes not the slightest differ
ence at present, whether they favor unduly the
majority or the minority; that is question
of cheap partisanship, which the Democrats
may discuss if they will. The important fact
is that these rules do not favor the public in
terests, do not promote the public welfare, and
tend, in surprising degree, to prevent Con-
gress from doing anything or saying anything
worth doing or saying.
The Republicans, returning to responsibility
with instructions fresh from the people, find
these rules in the way. Not of partisan legis-
lation there is not line of such legislation
for which the Republican party has any need
or desire, The rules of the House tend to
produce stupid, stolid, incapable, dO-nOthing
Congress, like the latest Democratic concern.
Republicans are aware that the country ex-
poets them TO get some business done. III they
are to be unlike Democratic members in that
respect, it is necessary to get free hands with
which TO work. With its ancient fOndness for
shackles, the Democratic party defends rules
which arc in effect set of handouts, and the
Republicans of the House wish to break these,
as the party has broken other fetters.
In this brief statement we have the pith OF
the controversy which has now begun in
the House. The Democrats reason that Con-
gress which docs even less than the last Dem
Ocratic Congress will be condemned by the
people, and they are not far wrong. But this
idea leads them to block legislation by every
possible means. They forget that the people
have intelligence, and will hold them respon
sible for votes, and speeches, and all other
acts, calculated to delay the public business.
At this notion the average Democratic mem-
ber laughs cOntemptuously. The voters he
thinks, do not know enough TO get the mean
ing of Congressional dOings. But they knew
enough to trample the life out of Democratic
majority, very recently, because it tried to re-
neal or nullify the election laws.
The Democrats would act more wisely if
they would cease all resistance to a modifca-
ton of the rules, and join with Republicans in
such changes as to get rid of the crying evil
of the times, the incapacity of Legislative
Int hoo of
ocratic party, of course, want to get it into an
other partisan wrangle. 1t is strange that some
political managers cannot be made TO under
stand that the people are not fools.
The object of the rules reported is to break
tho fetters OF the House. Ii adopted, they en-
able the majority to decide at any time what
business shall next be taken up. The CON-
mittees 1t is true, have tho Dower to move the