Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-30
The Rnles-Fillbustering.

SIGNIFICANT articles have recently appeared In
m. editorial columns OF the New YORK Tribune ana
the Cincinnati COMMERCIAL Gaz>tn-boih OF them
Y,aaing organs Of the Republican party, ana
both 81 them edited by men 20 whom Mr.. HAhRl-
eoy recently rendered foreign missions Tie
suoiects OF the two articles are oetensibly d'i-
ferept: but the object Of the two writer's Is the
sarne One Of the articles advocates federai
control Of all congressional elections anu even
the cisrietlnE OF at least the southern Stser lot
the election Of congressman. by persons actiug
under Federal law. The other article lnunla'es
that inAsmuch a. there are no rules oil proceeu-
ing which will be In force whom the new HOUSE,
of Representatives meets, the Republicans VIII
have the matter entirely under their own con-
srol. and can WORK their own sweet will upon the
Democrats
rniess the rules OF tho next House shall be
very different from those OF the last House, tho
Democrats OF the former body will have Il within
their power at all times 80 to houster as 70 pre-
vent the passage of any Objectionable partisan
measures by the Republicans.
But can tho Democrats prevent the Republi-
csns from changing the rules OF the Housef la
sn probability they can by refusing to vote on
any proposition 70 change them. and thus leaving
tho House without quorum. The roll OF the new
House shows that there are lS4 Republicans
elected 10 that body and 16i Democrats IL the
Republlcans elect all Eve Of the members who
are 70 come IN from the new States OF North Da-
Sota South Dakota, Montana. and Washington,
the Republicans will have only 1863 members out
Of s3l OF these It will require l5G-s bare
uuorum-to pass any measure. Three OF the
Republican members are In coaditlon oil heaIih
that renders IL highly improbable that they VIII
be able % take any part in the ORGANIZATION OF
the House OF Representatives OF tho Fifty-nrst
Congress In the last House OF Reprosen-
tatiyes the Democrats had 40 out OF
So members or seven over quo
rum, and yet 1t has been repestedly
stated, and never denied that We know OF, that
the Demo rats were not once able 20 muster
quorum Of their own members when the kepuo-
liclns were engaged in ilibustering. The pro-
liability Is that the Republicans of The next
House will have no better luck. Out OF lbJ meIn-
bers many Of whom are past middls life. and
good many OF whom are old men and others
men in bad health, II will be next 10 impossible
sfor the Republicans to get together loo
II is shameful that tne Republicans should
thus dare 10 threaten 10 srre the voice oil the
minority. Their object Is 10 psrpetuate the
power Of the Republican party by first changing
the rules. and then passing Jaws requiring all
elections for congressman TO be held under tho
supervision Of partisan Republican officials.
We quote the Ifibfns as follows:
"ftis probsble that fraudulent elections In
certain southern states. the fraudulent arrange
rnents Of congressional districts in these ana IN
Indiana, and III attempt 10 carry through
similar robbery Of the people In New jersey may
lesd nj tho next session u serious consideration
of the right Of Congress TO prescribe congress
sional districts and the manner OF holding elec-
fions for representatives. in Congress"
III MAINLY las the power. anl
legislation on the subject has become impera-
lively necessary In order 80 TO prescribe the
manner OF elections as " preyeAt lrhuls' II wiz
I've considered with care whether the epporuoh-
meat into districts shalt not also be liked by
congressional enactment"
The nrst paragraph Ia In dubious strain. but
the second il a plain proposition that Congress
shall not only provide for districiing the States
for the election OF congr ,ssm N. but that these
elections shall DO under Federal control. In
decd, the Tribune says Il has DO 'ome "tmperf-
lively necessary" that Congress shall so pre-
scribe the manner OF congressional elections
as 10 prevent frauds that is, a. 10 prevent the
election OF Democrats. But whilst the Ian pro-
viding for Federal control Of the congressional
elections is q be national In its operation.
southern states are to be dlstricted under feio-
Ia authority and the northern states are
10 b, allowed 10 mako their own districts.
Nnys BccauSt tue 10 'ucIu cioscp may NV
yet be ready TO submit 10 such humilieting
exercise OF power by Congress The Tribune
explains that though "there seem TO be weighty
reasons, which may possibly be held conclusive,
Cor enactlng the division into districts In all the
Hates, yet In many the existing divisions may
80 accepted without change" That paper
argues as follows:
"The power is not Of such nstura as that
Congress Ia obliged % exercise It with regard 10
all the states # IL does with regard TO any TN
the contrary Congress would have ample power
simply 70 alter by law t1e districting In Few
States In which the present apportionment is pc
cularly unjust"
In other words, Congress may rsdistrict the
southern States and leave the northern people
30 district their own States
II In view Of these threats the Democrats oil
the next House Of Representatives fail TO fill
buster against change Of the rules. and against
every sectional measure, they will merit the
condemnation OF oil the friends OF free govern
ment Despotie viii be our Government as soon
as the TribuH<s unpstriotic propositions arc made
into lava