Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-11
WEDNESDAY. .....SEPT. II. 1889.
The Rrles-The Maiorltv.

The Democratic mcmbcrs of the next
national House of Representatives. cannot
TOO soon LET .hcRcpullican members know
that no man ought 90 be- elected Speaker,
andn they can prevent 10 no man viii be
elected Speaker. who is unwilling 10 con-
tinue in operation the rules Of the House
which have always heretofore answered
the purpose for which they were framed.
Tho Philadelphia Telegraph states that
some of the Democratic leaders and or
gans soy that the Democrats IN the House
would not oppose a revision of the rules II
IL were not understood 70 be the purpose
of thc Republicans 20 alter them chiefly
for the purpose Of using them after their
alteration to prevent the defeat Of radl-
cal partisan scheme they nave afoot to con-
troll the elections IN the southern States
under tie excuse that the elections there
are So far controlled 10y frauds Of one kind
and another as 20 reverse thewill Of the ma
ioritv as il would be- if permitted 10 cx-
press itself at the polls. The Telegraph
says that in Virginia tins charge is not
true. II then adds:
After the South Carolina experiment,
under Governor Moses during rcconstruc-
tion days, hc VIII Dee q strong partisan m
deed who shall vote 10 place the blacks IN
supreme control Of the governments OF The
southern States. To that there could only
be one cudng-the utter lmpoycrlshment
Of the whites without the corresponding
growth Of the prosperity OF the blacks.
II the Republicans We're o. abandon
their scheme 10 restore the bavOnet
- the southern poll7-tor that Is
one Of its easy possibilities they
would DO a wise thing for themselves,
and they would encounter no Sc
Tious trouble in securing Democratic ac-
quioscence in Their purpose to revise the
rules of the House in such q way as would,
while conserving the rights of the minor-
". secure 20 the majority ITS natural right
t. effect promptly, aud IN q decent, or
dorly manner, desirable legislation. ii
they persist IL their schemes Dcmocrauc
opposition 10 revision of the rules Will
not be- likely 20 receive the general con-
domination of the country
The above paragraph sets forth in forci-
bic language the reasons why 1t would be
suicidal for the Democrats TO allow the
House of Representatives. 10 be organized
Is majority bent upon enacting ma
tional election-law. Better keep the House
unorganilcd for ycars-its whole life
than allow the whites of the southern
States To be- utterly impoverished" II IS
indeed passing strange that the northern
people should Doe willing twenty-five years
after the war between the States ended 90
bring upon their brethren of the South
such condition of things as that de-
fcribcd Joy our Philadelphia contemporary.
NJ southron desires TO ohsiruct the pro-
ceediuss Of the House Of Representatives,,
but if by hlibustcr.ue be can ward of ne
FRO rUlc IN his section and thus prevent
the utter pauperi1ing If hs people, he
would be- traitor To his race and to his
section if he did not 1hbuster.
The Republicans will probably elect four
0ut of the five congressman t. be chosen
next month in the four proposed new
States. They VIII then have l67 members
four moro than "a bare majority. The ma
jority Is so small that il will be next to i'm
possible for the Republicans to keep a
quorum Of Republicans present in the
House. Out of l67 mon such "a constitute
the House Of Representatives there are
almost always some half dozen too uuwell
T. attend the sessions, or necessarily alb
sent for other reasons. The fact is, how
ever, that the Clerk of the House Of Repre-
seutativcs ought not TO put the names Of the
new members from the four imperfect
States upon the roll Of the House. Con-
Frcss has no power TO delegate its right to
admit new States to any man or body Of
men. The President Will issue a proclama-
ton declaring the results OF the elections,
and then the new States, SO says the act of
Congress. "shall be deemed to be adj
m:ttod" by Congress. 1t is time that this
Sort of legislation were stopped. 1t is de
ftructive OF the Constitution and Of the
constitutional rights Of the old States-the
real States.