The Wilmingtonian., 1885-03-07
Invasion OfPrivilege.

ton describing marked lack of cordialit
between The two Houses of Congress. Tn
assertions in reference to It made by Col
A. X. Mcclure indicate the growth OF a feel
ing somewhat analogous to that that existe,
in England some years ago between the TIVE
Houses of Parliament which eliminated fl
nally in the subordination Of the Lords tc
the Commons.
Its claimed that these are not mere idle
surface rumors. They reflect what is much
more profoundly felt than is expressed in
the House, and the probability is that the
estrangement of the two Houses is likely to
culminate in an obstinate conflict at an
early date.
1t is alleged that the Senate has persisted
in a system of encroachment upon the pre-.
negatives ofsne iiouse. This the Represen-
tatves have tolerated, although repeated
instances of discourtesy have bean exhibited
by the Senate. But it appears the estrange-
ment is increasing, and the leaders of the
Senate decline to make use of their opportu-
mites to ameliorate that strained condition.
1t is asserted that what opposition to the
new Cabinet that exists in the House of
Representatives originated, or simply ac
companied those Senators who had already
made themselves obnoxious to the popular
branch of Congress, from their former posi-
tion to the new one in Cleveland's Cabinet.
II is thus explained that the new President
has already made himself unpopular in the
House through the accident of his choice of
certain leading Senators for portfolios. The
recent outbreak of Mr. Mills in the House
with resolution asking that the members
decline attending the Inauguration, was not
intended as any personal discourtesy to Mr.
Cleveland but resentment at the treatment
received from the Senate Committee in de-
ciniDg to give the Representatives their
proper place at the inaugural ceremonies.
The incident was probably an effort made
by the Senate to demonstrate to the House
the Senator'S opinion of the inferior impor-
tance of the Lower House. At any rate it
las been accepted in that sense
Meanwhile members of the House freely
assert that the Senate is rapidly becoming
the distinct representative body of the great
fortune and monopoly interests of the coun-
try. The Senate is accused of steadily and
surely drifting from the interests of the peo-
pie to the exclusive interests of wealth, So
eial status, Specalation and lnonopbly, and
that Senators now assume to dominate not
only in the policy of the government, but
also in the social surroundings of national
authority. 1t is claimed that the distinct
i've class that now controls the Senate, re-
CARDS the peculiar interests it represents as
paramount to party and that Republicans
and Democrats cease to be party men, and
act in unity when their speculative or social
interests are threatened, regardless of party
connections or obligations.
1t is asserted that the Senate is not in |
with the new President, that its
devotion to the interests of wealth is in CON
lct with his Democratic leanings, and that
the leading Senators called to the Cabinet
while admittedly of Democratic faith, are
not in sympathy With the popular elements
of the party or the country. In short the
charged that the combination of wealth and
social power in the Senate is above party
faith and party obligations and that it is
steadily drifting into antagonism to the pop
ular features of Democratic administration |
and to Senatorial contempt for the popular
will.