New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-28
REVOLUTIONARY THREAT

Mr. Randall comes to the front again, natu-
rally. When his party is in power it kicks him
ont ne n deserter. When it is in defeat and
| disgrace it needs Mr.. Randall, and he gets
prominence by helping men whose principles he
/ despses. So the disgrace is necessarily mutual
the party turns in defeat to one whom it pro-
nounces traitor and deseTter, and Mr.. Randall
| fights for partisan victories which always mean
the defeat of his own beliefs. But the party is
so constituted that it welCO any humiliation
that gives it a chance Of office, and Mr.. Ran
dali is so constituted that his convictions trouble
him only when he ia not offered the leadership.
Mr.. Randall is reported as saying, in recent
interview that all Democrats are going to be
united at the coming session Of Congress, with
better chances of success than ever; that tho
Republicans will find it hard to organize the
House, and impossible to change the rules so
that a majority can make laws. 1t is assumed
by others, and apparently by him, that an extra
session must be called to meet not later than
October /, so that the time which must be-
spent in overcoming fictitious and revolution
airy minority may yet leave enough for the
passage Of necessary measures But Mr.. Kan
dali says the Democrats are ready to hold the
House in deadlock for year in order TO retain
the power to defeat any measure which the
minority does not like. Well, Mr.. Randall IL
perfectly aware that this is in the stncteSt
sense revolutionary. 1t substitutes government
Of siXty-fve members for government OF the
majority-for, according to Mr.. RandalIs no.
tons of parliamentary possibilities, minority
of only 60 out of 50 3 members can indefinitely
defeat any measure Let the people rule"
used to be cardinal principle Of Democracy
when there was a Democracy of principles and
when :" the people, did not include cOlored
persons. II is now cardinal principle of the
Republican party that the will Of the people,
as expressed by the choice Of a majority Of
electors or of representatives, must be obeyed
Mr.. RandalPs doctrine, IL he IS correctly re-
ported, is that government by the people shall
cease, and government by minority shall be
substituted Has it occurred TO Mr.. Randall
that, in following out his theory logically, he
may one day find himself a lawless obStructor
of the Government The rule-or- ruin Demo
Gratis of 1861 were merely resisting the con-
stitutionally declared will Of the people Ameri-
can temper has no fOndneSS for rcvolutonists
who try 10 Mexicanize the country, and TO block
or destroy Government that they cannot rule.
In view Of the challenge thus issued by Mr..
Randall, il may appear wise to Republicans to
have Congress called together at an early date.
II it meets at the usual time tho month OF De
cember will be wasted in organizing and in
the selection Of committees, even il tho or
gsnization consumes but few days. But II
the Democrats have any mode, as they profess
to believe, Of enabling a minority to defeat
majority in the election of a Speaker, the sooner
that is known the better. Without claiming
Mr.. Randalrs gift of prophecy, it may be said
that some Democratic members want changes
of the Internal Revenue law and other things
even more than they want an empty partisan
| triumph in gloriously doing nothing, and some
Of them may possibly be in tho next House.
At all events, the country needs legislation, and
if il is going to take several months to pass
single bill which a majority desires, the work
had better be begun in season. When tho
House assemblies it will not be governed by the
rules Of the last House until they have been
adopted. The powers Of a majority, under tho
general rules Of parliamentary practice which
govern in that event, have never been exactly
determined, but the Constitution settles ono
thing, that leach House" that is, majority
Of each House, " may determine the rules Of
it's proceedings" Under that power the ma
jority becomes responsible for the framing and
adoption Of such rules as shall render the trans
action Of business possible. Until rules have
been adopted its power is not easily restricted.
If there is TO be a revolutionary deadlock, such
as Mr. Randall threatens, the majority may as
we'll meet it and deal with it at the very
threshold of the session.