The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-27
THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIEs.

1t ought to be pretty well understood by
this time, if it is not, that raw recruits
have a small chance in a conflict with
veterans. 1t matters but little whether
the conflict be civil or military one, the
rule holds just the same. And it has had
great many exemplifcatiops in our day,
of which we can take notice by observa-
ton, as well as the innumerable host of
examples which have descended to US from
history antique and recent, and which we
only comprehend through intellectual as
sociation.
Never, perhaps, was there more strik-
ing example of this condition of things
at least in recent times-than is afforded
by the present House of Representatives
at Washington. The speaker is a man
whose skill in tactics relates more to the
floor than to the chair, and he finds him
self confronted by the best organized
minority that ever appeared in that body.
OF course he is an extreme partisan and
thus disposed to construe all doubtful
points, and all other points where the thing
can be done without an absolutely indecent
display of partisanship, in favor of his DO
litical friends; bat as soon as he eros ses
the line he gets into deep water and is re-
minded Of the foundation and limitation of
his authority by an abrupt call to consid-
Grafton of the rules by the already jubilant
Democrats of the House.
Says recent number of the Philadel-
phia Times:
Mr.. REED, the former Republican leader Of
the House at Washington, has been made
speaker, and Mr.. CARLISLE, the speaker of the
Democratic leader. This for the time being
leaves the Republicans without an experienced
parliamentary leader, while the Democrats are
marshaled by one who is equipped at all points
Under these circumstances the advantage
possessed by the Republicans with their narrow
majority, is more apparent than real This was
made very manifest yesterday, when Speaker
REED undertook to help his party friends from
the chair by recognizing Republicans only for
the introduction Of bills. The Democrats ont
generated the Republicans and secured an ad
journment before the latter realized what was
going on.
There are two ways open to the Republicans
under the circumstances. One is for Speaker
REED to coach MCKINLEY or some other Re-
publican member every morning before the SEES
sion begins, so that he may cooperate with the
chair in all attempts to secure partisan advan-
tage. A better way will be for Speaker REED To
recognize Republicans and Democrats alike.
III SOOd LAo PiOAiilSC 10 Ne impartial
presiding officer.
1t is no wonder that Mr.. KEED and his
party have consuming desire to so amend
the rules that the effect of points of order
will be blunted, if not altogether set aside.
Being unable to cope with the adversary in
accordance with all-along rules of conduct.
nothing is more natural than that he should
plead the baby act and seek to gain by adj
ventitious assistance what he cannot ac-
complish through the instrumentality of
parliamentary tactics and the cohesiveness
Of political numbers
The position of REED'and his cohorts is
so strikiugly remindful of the action of the
Utah Liberals. They long since abandoned
legitimate methods of controversy in order
to gain supremacy in local contests. gave
up appeals to the reason and the Judgment
of men in order to transfer themselves
from the minority to the majority. and re-
lied upon the assistance of Congress and
the courts to cut down opposition and
make themselves correspondingly strong.
They are desperate. So are the Republi-
cans in the House Of Representatives. The
best wish we have for either of them is
that they may long continue So