The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-11
THE RIGHT or TIE MAJORITY.

The deadlock In the House Of Representatives,
caused by the fllbusicrinp on the direct tax re.
funding bill, has taken the country quite ~ much
by surprise as the sudden attack Of "1ts' % the
Senate respecting silver II Is plain To everybody
that the direct tax bill was not demanded by any
considerable public sentiment In the North Tho
direct tax on the States was one Of the costs Of the
war, and ono Of the very smallest OF them. II
amounted 10 about sl7,0oO,C0o while the Income
tax alone reached Sol 900 900 IN single year The
attempt to return II 20 the rich States OF the North,
while deicnslble on strict legal aud constltu
tionh grounds, In unbecomlng, 10 say the
least, and N well calculated to excite n feel
Ing OF evaporation among the States which
gct no part Of the money. Yet the practice Of MI
clustering 10 defeat t,e win OF the lionsc is I'M
manncrly, and In some sort revolutionary. and is
quito as exGspcmting 10 the majority ~ the bill
itself is 10 the minority. Tho Mtuatlon Is Ger.
ainy one OF much completely. but We sec no way
out Of IL except by enforcing the right OF the ma
jority TO govern. At the same time we think II
would have been much better II the dircct.tax
bill had never been introduced. iork Etn.
ing Post
We are sorry TO find our esteemed con-
temporary taking even 30 guarded posi-
ton as this in regard TO ''ihe right Of the
majority TO rule" We believe in the
Democratic rule Of the majority, and so
did Jefferson, whose manual is still en-.
forced among the rules oi the House. But
we also believe In the right OF the minority
TO exact from the majority in every legiti-
mate way fair and just and right rule
The rules Of the House which permit the
fllibustcring the majority now complains
Of were adopted with this end In view, and
ON more than one occasion their enforce
ment has resulted ia great benefit to the
country. MIR. Samuel J. Randall ilrst camo
fairly into national notice as the heroic
leader OF minority OF only thirty-soycn
which for many hours prolonged a session
at great risk 10 the health and lives OF
members in order TO save the country from
an unconsltutionally oppressive measure.
The minority under the lead vi Oates, of
Alabama, IL in the present instance en-
gagged In an equally good work-that Of
preventing the wholesale robbery Of the
trcasury-a work In the help of which The
Fosi has hitherto been among tho most
conspicuous journals at the North. Il has
II We mistake not, very earnestly opposed
the rciuDding Of the cotton tax 10
the South, most iniquitously conceived
tax, and still moro iniquitously enforced.
II was unconstitutional because partial,
and the result Of an envenomcd hate that
searched the homes Of the South for the
place where the last dollar Of n people
crushed by overwhelming defeat and dis.
as,cr could be found. This moncy-somc
$50, 10000 or $4,000 900 was covered
into tho Treasury after the decision OF the
Supreme Court that condemned the tax
had been delivered, and Il lies there wait.
ing day when Congress may get away
from the moral cowardicc that still cowcs
that body where tho South is concerned
and do this section simple justice. But
the direct tax case Is Northern claim, and
that makes not only distinction bu,
difference.