New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-06
CONGRESSMAN PAUL UNSEATED.
TIE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY DIsFE iARD5 JUSTICE
FAIRNESS AND DLOtNNl'
Try TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.i


IRY TELEGRAPH To TIE ruBUNEi
WASHINGTON, May 5.-When it comes to ques-
tlon of political spos the Democratic majority III
the House is as sohd as Gibraltar factionai dller-
ences disappear in a twinkling and there is 10
need of an effort TO read any Democrat out OF the
party. Considerations of law and justice are laid
aside with an easy prompitude that ought TO excite
wonder. if not admiration. Despite the fact
that the leaders of the hostile Demo-
cratic factions were stralning every
nerve to-day to defeat each other on the tariff queS-
ton they stood together like band of brothers IN
support of the resolution to admit OFerrall, OF
Virginia, to a seat in the House. No unpreJudlced
man who will examine the testimony in the case
can reach a conclusion in favor OF OteraiI, VINO
was defeated by majority of several hundred
votes Not only did the majority override the testl-
onv in this case to-day but it treated the minority
of the House in manner that was neither talr nor
decent.
Several weeks ago Mr. Lowry, chairman of the
subcommittee, prepared and submitted report 10
the full committee in favor of OFerraIi The ab-
snrditv of the positions taken in that report was
exposed in The TRIBUNE at the time and several
Democratic members of the Elections CON-
mittee demurred to the document Judge
Lowry became convinced that he could not secure
its adoption, even by Democratic commit
tee. and he accordingly set himself to WORK,
and If is asserted. with outside assistance, pre-
pared new report, which adopted and sub
mittea 70 the House last week. II was not in prn
until Saturday. and at a meeting Of the Elections
Committee this morning, the members of the M
noritv requested that the be not called mp To-
dav. but postponed until Wednesday by which
time they promised to have the views OF The MI
nori ~ ready to submit to the House.
An OUTRAGEOUS PROCEEDING.
The committee agreed almost unanimously TO
the oostponement, bu, an hour later Judge Lowry
rose i'm his place IN the House and demanded inme-
date cons deratOn of the case. In VAN dd the ne
publican members of the committee protest against
tins unprecedented and outrageous course, although
the Democratic chairman rose and declared that, IN
his opinion. courtesy and fairness to the minority
required that the pOStpOnenent sh0uld he granted
Onlv fifteen Democrats voted with the Republicans
against consideration, and on the final vote that
slender minority had disappeared with one or two
exceptions. Democratic votes against the motion
10 beheal the Morrison bill will he in demand to-
morrow and O'FcTrail is expected to add one 10
that side.
RULES OF EVIDENCE VIOLATED.
The discussion which preceded the passage Of the
resolution to seat him spirited. Messrs Hep
bnrn and Miller made vigorous speeches against the
resolution and showed conclusively that
the ctIon of the majority had been IN violation OF
the plalnest rules Of evidence, and that no valid
testimony had been adduced 10 show that OFcTrall
received a majority OF the votes legally cast. John
$. Wise also spoke with great energy and hot elo-
ouence on the same side. His seat IS contested by
"Parson" Massey. the father of Virginia Tcpudla,
ton, whose claims rest on the same basis as dld
those of O'FerIa the only daercnce being that
TIE majority against O'FeTall was only
300 while Massey was defeated by
nearly 6,0O0 votes. Disregaldng the fact that
every sentence be spoke in denunclatiOn of the
Democrats and their methods wOnld be laid mp
against him and used in the consideration of hls
own ease Mr. Wise poured hot shot INTO their
ranks with a vigor and rapldity winch spoke well
for his courage. - -, ,,
His cousin, George ID. Wise, and Mr. Cabell who
was present at the Danyie massacre were unable
20 sit still during John 5. Wise's speech and as
soon as he had concluded they sprang to
their feet simultaneously and excitedly demanded
an opportunity TO reply. Judge Lowry, refused to
yield 10 them aud the excitement gradually sub
sided. Mr.. Cook, a Democratic member OF the
Elections Committee had the courage to oppose
the action Of Lis colleagues and hls arguments
against it were as cOgent as they were unaYalllng'