The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-12-25
REPUBLICANS MEAN MISCHIEF.
Representative. i, Ii, 0uiiinc- !;c:' s''"'''
..b:e Cour>:. 10 ihe :.um-r.

Representative. !, lis Outlines Hr:' '''"-
..b;e Gour>:. ia ,hc :""-".
In the last number OF tar North
Amer: can Review the Hon. lsng'r =
Mills has published an Interesting
paper on what mas been given out "a
the probable course of the Republican
majority, not only with respect TO the
proposed change in the rules OF pro.
cedure, but in other matters designed
to perpetuate Republican control OF
the government. MIR. Mills starts out
bv pointing to the well-krcwn fact
that GAS soon as it was known that
the electious had given the present
House to the Republican party the
leaders Of the party began asyslematic
crusade against the rules Of procedure.
These rules are intended primarily to
facilitate the dispatch Of business, Tut
they are also intended to protect the
weak against the strong" Mr.. Mills
does not deny the right of the majority
to govern, nor the right to make rules
to promote the business of the House.
But "the demand for the removal OF
limitations in the rules (Which were
intended to secure tae rights of frees
men against the abuse Of power),
means,V says Sir. Mills, "that the
party in power are fatally'bent on mis-
chief; that they have some desperate
enterprise on foot their prophetic
souls tell them is beyond the boundary
of rightful Jurisdiction, and that IN
carving if out they will meet wit n
stubborn opposition: 1t is not believed
that they desire to create an establish
ment of religion, or to abrldge the
freedom of speech or of the press; but
there is good ground TO believe that
the waptonness of power has suggested
to them the necessity Of doing some
things that are as palpable Violations
of the constitution as those would be,
though they may not be 30 pernlclous.
The excesses which they will attempt
will be such as are dictated by d con-
victiou of party necessity. The meas,
ures tor which the way must he cleared
are such as will, in their Judgment,
secure party asceudency. Ii II can be
done, the rules will be so framed that
all opposition will be si,enced when
thew are ready to vacate Democratic
seat and give it to a Republican con-
testant, regardless of the constituency
And there will be DO "scandalous
scenes" when they are trying to pass
bills to create returning boards 10 give
certificates of election to defeated Re
publican candidates for electors and
members of Congress. It's 10 prepare
the way for the advent of this higher
civilization that the rules have been
indicted and "arraigned before the bar
of public opinion" The objection now
raised to the existing rules is tina:
they permit G!ibustering," but Mr.
Mills shows that this resort to parlla.
mertarv fnction for the purpose OF de-
feating acts of gross injustice IS the
only course except one other that
minority can take, and ne cites an IN
stance wherein an attempt was made
by the Republican majority to unseai
three Democrats undoubtedly elected, /,
which was in two cases successful,
and in the third was only prevented
by persistent fiibustering until the
cad of the session. In 1854 the minor
itv resoGted to the same parliamentary
!, tactics to defeat the kansas-Nebrasks
! bill, and in the Forty-third Congress.
the Democrats resisted the passage o.
the civil.rights bill until ''the gag
, was adopted and the bill passed, only
|, , to be declared b. the Supreme Courl
' to be unconstitutional. In 1871,
saws Mr.. Mills, there was another
notable struggle by the Democratic
!. mi, .oritv to prevent the theft of the
Presidency. 1t was un3uc-
cessful, buv when Mr.. Hayes was de,
, clared President and inaugurstei. he
. sustained the Democratic remonstrance ce
= by deciding that Louisiana had gone
Democratic for all the officers from the
!. Governor down, though the same re-
turning board that declared a majority
for him declared it for all the Republi
can candidates." Mr.. Mills goes on to
say "The Republicans again have &
> majority in the House, but not large
enough to insure the success OF thell
schemes. They have again extraordl'
narS measures 10 be carried through
: and the rules must again be SUBJECTED
, to their manipulaIions. They have
, gotten up seventeen contests for Dem
ocratic seats. These vacated anc
given to Republicans would give then
a working majority large enough tt
place beyond the domain of doubt the
passage OF such laws as will materially
aid in preserving and perpeluating
, their party ascendency." He admit;
that there will be no difficulty in max
ing rule to prevent dilatory motions
and that the Speaker will refuse te
put such motions to the vote. The
only defense then remaing tor the
minority will be toprevent the quorum
whi~h the constitution requires to dc
business. In the present House a
quorum will consist of one hundred
and sixty five members. This rule, .
saws Mr.. Mills, cannot be changed