Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-15
4 DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME.


The next house OF representatives
will be organized by the republicans.
Whether they will be able to accom-
plish the hardly less important work Of
reforming the rules is not so certain.
There are intimations that the demo-
Gratis will be solidly arrayed against all
efforts to revise the rules OF the house
so that majorities shall not be at the
mercy OF minorities. The urgent ne
cessity that exists for revision, in the
interest OF the public business and in
order that an obstreperous minority
shall not be enabled TO defeat the will
OF the majority, was very clearly pointed
out by Representative Reed in recent
magazine article. The republicans are
in accord with this view, and there is n
tacit agreement between them that the
rules must be revised. Were the pres
ent rules TO be continued the democrats
would be able by filibustering to pre-
vent the settlement OF contested cleo
tion cases and OF other matters Of legis-
lation which they might desire to de-
feat.
Knowing the advantage they would
possess with the present rules in force,
and the republicans having only n mar
row majority, democratic representa-
tivcs are reported as declaring that the
rules can not be changed and shall not
be. The situation presents something OF n
dilemma. The new house will convene
with the democratic clerk OF the last
house as the presiding officer, with all
the functions belonging to that position.
The precedent has been to adopt the
old rules until new rules might be
framed. II this should be followed by
the next house the democrats would be
given the vantage ground they desire,
and it is said to be the plan OF the re-
publicans to break away from the prece-
don't by proposing that the preliminary
session shall be conducted under the
common parliamentary code, on the
ground that the new house meets as an
unorganized body untrammeled in its
powers and rights by any congress that
preceded it. But it is in the power of
the clerk of the last house, in his ca
pacity as the presiding officer of the
sition, and it is not doubted he would do
so. In that event it is easy to under
| stand that conflict might be precipi-
| tated between the majority and minor
ity which might have very serious con-
sequences.
The great principle underlying our
| system of government is that the ma jor-
oh oil I'D tnt no
with or obstruction Of this principle is a
| menace to the security of republi-
can institutions in this country. II
| the democratic representatives in con-
| gress pursue the course which they are
| said to contemplate, the majority, in
the assertion Of its rights, may be COM
PEELED to adopt extraordinary measures
which only the necessity OF maintain
ing most vital principle could justify.
1t is to be hoped that no such exigency
will arise. There are several mon tbs
yet before congress will convene, and
thoughtful and dispassionate democrats
will have ample time to reflect upon
what might be the serious consequences
of conspiracy to thwart the will of o
| ma1otlty Ol inc representatives Ol Gne
people. Not only would such policy
inevitably injure their party to an ex-
tent greatly oyerbalancing any imme
diate advantage to be gained, but it
might result in creating dangerou:
precedents which they would profoundl!
regret. But at whatever cost the prin-
clple that the majority shall rule mus
be maintained.