River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-10
PARTY DICTATiON.
The Shameless Way in Which the BrIga-
dIeis Boss Northern Democrats.
=. IL.

The Shameless Way in which the BrIga-
dies Toss Northern Democrats.
Those Democrats in the House who
for more than week contended. with
the united body of the Republicans,
for the bill to refund the direct tax
paid by some of the States under the
act of 1861 made q most shameless
| surrender. The caucus was employed
to accomplish the practical defeat of a
measure which was opposed at no
/ time by more than one-fourth Of the
membership of the House. which had
| been reported from a Democratic COM
mittce. and which was made up for
| consideration under rules unanimously
agreed upon by the Committee on
Rules and adopted by an overwhelm-
/ ing majority of the House.
As the matter stands at this moment
the DIrect-Tax Refunding bill is dead.
although we are told that an under
standing was reached in the Demo-
| cratic caucus that n date for its con-
/ sideratiOn next December should be
| fixed. If, however, those who have
been opposing it should renew their
/ opposition to any resolution TO fix
such date, it would be pretty certain to
meet with ultimate defeat Mr.. Randall
understood this when he sought to in
! troduce a resolution making the bill a
/ special order for December. Ii would
/ have been another way of breaking
the deadlock, but it would have left 4
substantial promise for the future
which does not now really exist The
obstructionists have gained complete
victory. and a handful Of Southern
members have been able to bring the
House to terms and defeat a measure
which every loyal state was in favor
Of
The hand of me Administration is
plainly exposed in the method of set
| Element. Tho obstructionists were
sustained from the beginning by the
| sympathy of the President and the
| Speaker With so many of the Demo
Gratis from the states formerly in re-
/ bellion opposed TO the bill and those in
general from the loya. States supporting
/ it, the President did not want the meas
ure to reach him foreither approval or
veto. 1t became evident that this could
not be prevented by the defeat of the
| bill in the ordinary way, because il
could not be defeated on a vote in the
House. Tho caucus was employed and
the Administration power was strong
enough TO drive the Northern Demo-
\ Gratis over TO the substantial assistance
of the Southern Democrats. and the
bill goes over at least until December
| BY which time the Presidential election
/ will be over.
This wrong is likely to have q dan
gerous and far-reaching influence. 1t
is noticed that no matter how unjusti-
fable their purpose in the present
/ House and under the present Admins
ton few Southern Democrats can ac-
! complish the defeat of any legislation,
and particularly such as may prove an
unpleasant reminder of the rebellion.
/ If the bill in question had been one to
| refund money to the rebelious States.
| instead of one to return money paid
| by loyal States to maintain the Gov
eminent, the South would have sup
/ ported it. What excuse are the North
ern Democrats who surrendered to the
| South going to give for their betrayal
| of their State -PhiiGdelDkin Press