Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-19
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10, 1889.
What Mahono's Allies Propose to Do.

possession of the next House OF Bcprescn-
tativos, unsoat a number of Democratic
members. change the rules so rs to enable
the Republican majority 10 do what it
plcasos. and then pass a national election
Inv which shall render it impossible for
the Democrats ever again 10 obtain con-
, troll Of the House Of Representatives.
We quoted a day or two ago what had
been said on this subject by Mr.. OATES, of
Alabama in recent interview with q re-
porter for the Washington Post Mr..
OArEss uttcrances have called forth from
the New York TribVnc one of those chaIac-
tcristic partisan articles which that paper
T. always ready TO furnishto it's malignant
readers. Our New York contemporary of
course sruIs treason in the air. Mr..
OATEs's determination 70 fight tho unscru-
pulous enemies Of his section is declared
to be of piece with the rebellion" of
1851. The Tribune admits that a minority
can at any time make il necessary for the
majority TO have present a quorum Of the
body, and thus TO prove that representa-
tives of a majority of the people. upon
their responsibility as such, decide that
measure shall be taken up or shall be
passed. but il seriously aftrms that beyond
that point the Democrats have no more
right to resist majority than they had to
resist the election Of ABRAHAM LINCOLN in
1860, and that they have no right to resist
such modification Of the rules as that a
majority shall be able TO discharge the
duties intrustod TO it by the people.
This is all fine talk. Eut it will not scare
the Democrats. They arc much better
posted as to the rights Of a minority under
the Constitution than are the Republican
members. The Democrats do not ask for
any change in the rules. They are willing
20 stand SUPER astiPtGs uias. They are
ready TO yield obedience to the rules Of
the Of House of Representatives as these
have stood for years and years They as
the minority ask for nothing at the hands
of the majority which they when they were
the majority did not cOncede to the
minority. Upon this single fact they can
safely go before the people. All sense of
fair dealing and honorable contention can
not have been lost by the northern people.
The ghost of the rebellion" surely can
not at this late day brighten them from
their propriety.
The measures proposed 20 be resorted TO
by the Republicans arc sounjustifable and
would prove SO destructive TO all that the
southern people hold dear that the mem
bcrs Of Congress from this section without
distinction of party ought with all their
might to oppose the adoption of those
measures. The South cannot possibly lose
anything by such q course on the part of
her true sons, for 60 allow such measures
to be successful would be for them to be-
come parties to her utter degradation and
ruin. God help me, l could not do
otherwise" will be the sufficient response
of every true southron who may be called
- account for flibustering in behalf of his
peoples rights. The Tribune says:
1.-The Republicans have been intrusted
with responsibility for legislation during
the next two years, and cannot meet that
responsibility honestly without claiming
and exercising the power of majority TO
take up such measures as 1t may DESIRE"
No, sir. The Republicans have been en-
trusted with no such power and therefore
with no such responsibility. They have
merely been intrusted with whatever
power a majority of three in the House of
Representatives may possess under the
rules of the House of Representatives as
these rules existed at the time Of the
election Of the members Of the next
House of Representatives. The people
knew in 1888 that those rules en-
abled the minority TO flibuster day
in and day out against small majority;
and knowing this fact. they elected 1874 Re
publicans and 1G1 Democrats TO the House
of Representatives that will meet III De
cembcr next. II is the Republicans who
wish TO disregard and set at naught the
customs Of the fathers. 1t is the Demo-
Gratis who wish 20 adopt for the govern
ment of the next House of Representatives
the same rules under which our country
has so long prospercd, and under which
the minority has again and again, and scs-
sion after session. exercisedall tbosepOwers
which the Republicans have AT this late day
discovered to DO powers that none but
"rebels" would try 20 exercise. The
Tribune admits this when it says that Mr..
OATES twas one of the most conspicuous
leaders in that Democratic flibusterlng IN
the last Congress by which the majority
was repeatedly deprived Of its right to
legislate." That democratic flibuster-
ing" was done in a Democratic House of
Representatives. IL il clear therefore that
there was nothing partisan in IL. The Tri-
bpne has "given itself away" II has ac-
knowledged that the Democrats ask for
no rights at the hands OF the next Republ-
can House which tho Republicans did not
possess in the last Democratic House. We
quote the Tribune again;
1.-The people have intrusted TO the ma
jOrity, however small. and not to the mi
norty the responsibility Of determining
what shall be done"
We have inst shown that the people in
trusted 10 the small majority only such
power as il could be claimed under the
rules Of the last House the majority was
entitled 20. The minority will defeat no
legislation which the people have demand
cd. But they will defeat, and II is their
duty 10 defeat, the diabolical schemes
which Republican malignity would en-
ploy for the destruction of the republic and
its conversion into grand consolidated
central despotism. We quote the Tribune
! once more,
" IL ~ still the Democratic theory, as II
was in 1860, that the decision of the poo-
pie may be nullifed by minority when
ever 1t pleases."
Unfortunate reference. In 1850 large
majority Of the voters cast their ballots
against LINCOLN. He was minority Presi-
dent. The other candidates for President
received million more votes than he did.
He went 10 war in defence of the rights Of
the minority. not the majority. lie stood
upon tho result as it Was declared by the
electoral colleges. The Democrats In the
next House of Representatives viii stand
upon the result as II was declared by the
election oficsrs-only three majority. and
no change In the rules.
Finally, recollect that MALONE Is the
ally OF the New York 7srbunei that Mr..
WmrxIAw REID, It's chief owner, was by
Mr. HAaElsos appointed Minister TO France;