New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-14
sTaNDSTTLL GOVFRNMBNT.

Really, is the Nation quite hit for selt-goV-
eminent? In seven weeks the session Of Con-
gress will end. and the House has spent week
in surrendering to Mr.. Weaver. If the best
government is that which governs least, no
matter how, then this ought to be well-gov-
erned country
Perhaps it is inevitable that the session
should be wasted, the House being controlled
by men who are unwilling to bow or bend to
the will of the people as declared in the recent
election. If there were common sense and
patriotism at the helm in both houses, would
there not be a general endeavor to settle things
on the basis of the recent popular verdict
All profess to respect the will Of the people,
but how is it possible to show respect for that
will but by acting in accord with itP To de-
feat it, If possible, is the Democratic policy, as
every day makes clearer, and one hardly sees
how anything can be accomplished in House
over which, as now organized, one man can
tyranni9e at pleasure.
One of the chief objects Of dilatory policy,
no doubt. is to prevent the admission OF new
States at this session. A few additional mem
bers would lessen the power of minority TO
make or prolong deadlock at the next session
Part of the Democratic members refuse any
longer to disfranchise the settlers in the Iern-
tories for any such partisan reason, ana tnere-
fore the only resort of those who resist the
verdict of the people is to block the wheels OIL
legislation, so that there can be no vote on
the admission of Territories. There is sort
Of shrewdness in this, but only OF the class thai
generally defeats itself in the end.
The continued exclusion OF the larger Terri
tories is simply political crime. Fully one
million settlers In these Territories are as trthy
robbed as if the thing wrongfplly taken from
them were money and not their nghtful share
in self-government. In accordance with the
Constitution and the customs prevailing for
many years, these settlers had the right TO be-
lieve that if they undertook the task Of build
ing new States they would not be deprived OF
self-government any longer than might be
required to gather in each Territory a sufficient
population to be represented by one member
If Congress. But they suffer not in political
rights exclusively, nor do they suffer alone.
Their industries are retarded, the development
Of resources which would help the whole coun-
try is retarded, the investments Of many thou
sand citizens In the older States, who have
purchased property in these Territories, are
rendered less valuable by the partisan dishon-
esty of Democratic House.
Is it out of place to suggest that this might
well be fixed upon as the one topic on which the
Republican majority in the next House will
take action first? Some time is usually re-
quired by the Speaker In the selection Of COM
mittees, and that time is lost for legislation.
But might not the Speaker be prepared to name
one committee as soon as the House has organ
lied? Might not that committee introduce at
once bill to admit one or more Of the Terri
tories whose right to admission is clearest, and
to demand immediate action thereon? Then
If the minority chooses to flibuster and to sit
up nights while the Speaker is preparing his
list Of committees the time will not be wholly
n4al