The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-27
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENAT G.

WASHINGTON, April 70.
W. c. Whitthorne, appointed by the Governor
of Tennessee to be U. S. Senator to fill the yacan-
cy caused by the resignation of Senator jackson,
was sworn in today.
Mr.. Hoar reported bill extending the time for
completion of the work Of the Commissioners OF
Alabama Claims. Passed.
Mr. Blair according to previous notice, address
ed the Senate on his proposed constitutional
amendment prohibiting the manufacture or sale
of alcoholic liquors as beverages.
The truths upon which Mr.. Blair relied in the
discussion of the subject were, he said, set forth
in the following propositions; That it was the
duty OF society, through the agency OF the gov
erninent which is the creation OF society," to enact
and enforce all laws which, while protecting an
individual in the possession and enjoyment OF his
inahenable rights would tend to promote the gen
eral welfare: and whenever that welfare was I'M
paired or threatened by any existing OF lmpend,
ing evil it was the duty OF society TO enact ana
enforce laws to restrict or destroy that evil. NO
law could promote the general welfare that de-
priyed an individual of an inalienabe right when
that right was properly defined, but society had
inaienable rights as well as individuals. While
of an article by an individual for beneficial pur-
poses only yet if thai use, benetclal to some was
found by experience to be naturally and lneYlta-
bly, greatly Injurious in its effects upon others and
upon society in general, then it became the duty
OF society in the exercise of its inalenable right
to promote the general welfare and III de1ence OF
article just as an individual might defend his nat
ural life.
Mr. Blair said the movement for local option
amendment to a State constitution was OF great
Importance as a means OF creating an enlightened
public opinion in the States but nothing short OF
"a movement based on national idea presented t,
clear prospect of complete success. 1t was time
for the prohibition idea to assume control OF the
national parties, at least of the Republican party
That party could not permanently remain three
fourts for prohibition and one-fourth against 1t
that was less possible than it once was for a ma
tion to remain permanently onehaH slave and
one-half free. Ideas never compromised
At the conclusion OF Mr. BARS Speecn, tne
Interstate commerce bill was presented, and Mr.:
Van Wyek addressed the. Senate, He spoke OF
the conflict between capital and labor, and de-
clared that crisis was coming: II industries
were only required to pay falr dividends on tne
real cost of the railroads the nation would be
prosperous. The Senate could take example from
Jay Gould. The Senate committee on education
and labor had industriously obtained from that
worthy complete history Of MS ll1e proDaDy Ior
the youth of America to initiate. The committee
had tremblingly and beseechlngly lmplored MN
to give a minute account OF ms daring eXPi9its
when hard pressed tor dinner, he adopted ms
sisters method, and went behind blacksmith
shop to pray and the blessing came in great
measure. In a few years, the tannery business,
i'll which he was engaged, was in financial stress
50 overwhelming that his partner was driven to
suicide, while he himself bought a rallroad Inc
wrong partner had committed suicide. The com
mitlee was doubtless dazed as much by Gould's
recital as by reaGg the the eaPs N Msdesy Saek e me
duced Gould to refrain from telling one feature of
the history of his time At Kansas City he was
once oyertaken with another religious SpaSm, and
Wrestled second time in prayer, telling the peo-
pie how happy he was and that he wanted no
more money. He had purchased the Missouri Pa
cifc only for the good of mankind, and should use
it only for the glory of God and the ben of the
people As he was contemplating another raid,
he felt the necessity of another installment of d
yme grace, so went 'Short'' on his promise by pre-
tending he would not benefit himself by the bless
ing 1t was TO be hoped he would not indulge in
the third prayer on earth. Should he, in the end,
secure All entrance into the New Jerusalem, he
would soon be conspiring there from force OF
habit to buy a railroad, and when he should have
torn up the shining avenues the angels could not
restrain him from stealing the golden pavement
(Laughter).
had always protected the nation in the day OF
peril There need be no fear to the republic from
The organization of labor. The ranks OF the
Union army had been recruited from men VINO
had been delving in the mines.
Mr.. Stamford then addressed the Senate on the
bill.
Mr. Frye gave notice that as early as possible
next week he would move to take up the Staten
Island bridge bill.
Mr. Plumb, from the appropriations commit.
tee reported the post office appropriation bill
with amendment. 1t was placed on the calendar.
The question of detail involved in Mr. Camden's
pending amendment to the Interstate commerce
bill as to long and short haul were then taken
up and discussed by Messrs Camden, Harris,
Platt Brown, Wilson of Iowa and Cullom, after
which, at 8 o'clock, Mr.. Allison moved an ad-
journment. The Senate then adjourned.