National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-16


sons in the elementary principles Of re-
publican government. We are aware that,
in giving such course Of instruction, the
somewhat remarkable spectacle is pre-
scented Of Republican newspaper teaching
true democracy to the Democratic Presi-
dent and Cabinet and the Democratic ma
iority in the popular branch Of the national
legislature
But so long rs q necessity for such teach
ing is apparent, and no Democratic instruc-
tor comes forward to relieve the NATIONAL
REpupLiCiN Of the duty and Responsibilities
of this weghty task, the teaching must 90
on in these columns, for the reason that we
cannot consent to keep silent while the
most fragrant and dangerous heresles and
the most revolutionary practices are taught
and sanctioned in the official conduct Of
Democratic statesmen.
The President, in his annual message TO
Congress, made some excellent remarks
touching the relations of the executive and
legislative departments. In what he said
then, and in some subsequent unofficial
talks attributed to him, there appears to be
a correct understanding of the independence
Of those departments and the Importance Of
each attending TO ITS own affairs without
attempting encroachment on the domain OF
the other. But long before his message had
been officially considered by the House Of
Representatives his Cabinet, for the acts
Of which he is responsible, began to inter
fere with legislation in a manner directly
calculated to reverse the plan on which our
form of government is established-to make
the House Of Representatives, which is the
only direct agency Of the people in our en-
tire system, the mere mouthpiece and tool
ns INC executive department.
Mr.. Curtin was "turued DOWN. and
Perry Belmont was put OF the head Of the
| foreign relations committee. In explana-
ton of his views on such action by the
speaker, Mr.. Curtin said;
! have no complaint to make Of the speaker,
| nor have any feelings toward him than one
of kindness and respect. But because this de-
parturc from the custom OF the speaker in.
wolves, as think, principle OF great impor.
tnncc in the relation OF the departments Of
this government to each other, protest
against the interference of the head of an ex.
eCutive department in the organization ofcom.
mittees OF Congress, and regret that such inter
ference has been made, and, as l believe sue.
cCssmlly in my case. Why the Secretary Of
State should have deemed 1t necessary or be.
coming to interposc the weight of his Official
position to influence the selection Of "a chair.
man Of the foreign relations committee do
not know. But whatever his motives, can
only regard such actionas an unwarrantcd In.
fringment Of the rights of Congress- and as a
violation ofthe proprleties ofpubltc service.
Mr. Curtin does well to protest against
such an infringement Of the rights of Con-
gress-such a dangerous invasion OF the
rights Of the people, whose immediate agent
the House Of Representatives is. Topermit
this TO pass unnoticed and unrebuked would
be to give consent to n revolutionary prac-
tice--a practice that would reduce the peo-
ple's branch Of the national legislature to q
mere registrar Of executive DEGREES.
But the strangest words that have APP
pearCd in print in connection with this sub
lcct have come from Mr.. Willis, Demo.
cratic representatives. from Kentucky, and an
intimate personal" friend of Mr.. Carlisle
We quote from the Washington Post of las
Thursday:
"Hr Curtin would hardly have been trans
Representative Willis, of Kentucky, chad moi
the influence of Secretary Bayard been inter
posed. The Belmont family have long beer
very friendly to Mr.. Bayard He has been theil
candidate for the presidency right along, while
on the other hand, Gov. Curtin, at Chicago
last year, destroyed Mr.. Bayards chances as
presidential aspirant by swinging the Pennsyl
yania delegation as q unit against him Mr.
Bayard, of course, has good reasons TO be NOR
, friendly to Mr.. Perry Belmont than Mr.. Curtin
, But he had n right to interfere, and the speako
was naturally influenced by his recommends
ton. The speaker of this Democratic Hous
is politically affiliated with the Democrats
administration. It Is the duty of the admins
tration 10 carry out the policy Of the nationn
convention and the duty Of the House to assis
1t. The committee on foreign affairs is init
| matcly related to the State Department. aut
1t is the duty of the speaker to form u commit
tee which will not be TepuGnant or hostile h
, the department as part OF the administration
OF course the speaker would be influenced b.
such considerations. II is his duty"
If that is Democracy we hope the part
will stand by 1t in the three hundred aut
twenty-five congressional elections of thi
year! Let Mr.. Willis and his Democrat
brethren go to the country on that expo
sition of the Democratic creed. Let then
tell the people that 1t is the proper thin
for Cabinet minister's on personal grounds
} to dictate the membership of the Hous
: committees, and that 1t is right for tn
Y speaker and the House to submit to sue
= dctation. Let them do this, and their part
: will be buried out of sight; for the peopl
1 do know, II they do not, that such talk
In, hnrapt a ans, dor I,
the speaker and the House is shameful
betrayal of most solemn trust. The ma
= who can talk as Mr.. Willis does, who ca
% put himself in print as he has done, is II
y capable of being democrat, and has II
= knowledge of constitutional government
! If IL be the duty of the speaker of tn
House TO make a foreign relations con
mittee to order for the Department of Stat
= IL is equally his duty to make the ways an
means, banking and currency, and tn
coinage committees to suit the head OF tn
treasury, the naval committee TO suit th
head of the Navy Department, the posti
, committee TO please the Postmaster Ger
: er0l, and so on through the list, thus 81,
ing the executive department control {
legislation and virtually destroying tt
D.. structure which the fathers erected!
I IT is high time to take steps looking
= the restoration Of the government TO col
stitutIonal principles and methods, and u
Z first step should be the election OF I'll
, House committees by the members of IL
' Housc-not by the executive department
: through the speaker,
/,