Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-02
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 2. 1889.
Two Opinions.

Two Opinions.
Ovcr-sanguine Democrats do not fear the
passage by the next Congress of a national
election-law. We suppose they are such
good Democrats that they are unwilling TO
believe the Republican leaders 10 be IN
patriotic mischief-makers. But all such
Democrats will find when Congress meets
that the Republicans in that body are just
such Republicans as those who originated
and passed DEMONSTRATION bills, framed
the new amendments 10 the Federal Con-
efitution and caused them 20 be ratified
by force and passed theeXsting laws pro-
viding for the appointment Of Federal SUI
pcryisors and deputy marshnls 90 supervise
the elections Of congressman.
Hon. G. Il. BETCEERIrcE, of Arkansas IS
not one Of the Ovcr-sangunc Democrats 20
whom wc have alluded. On The contrary,
hc takes view If his own. goes go far and
saws tina. I'VE (of the South don't care
any more about the effects of such q law
than the men who propose % pass It, and
then adds that these latter VIII have " cor
dial support" from Tire South II Is time
for the Oycr-sanguine Democrats to change
their tune when such n man rs Mr.. BEEcE-
IygrpGr Of Arkansas, believes that the Re
puhhcans viii next winter pass national
elcction-aw. and declares that they will
have the help of southern Democratic re-
preseutatiyos IN doing that nefarious
work
Hon. JAyrs b. NcCrFARY. IF Kentucky,
isnota man after Mn BHEcKiSBIDGE's heart.
When interviewed last Monday 10y re-
porter for the Washington Post, Mr. Mo
CaIAEY said that if tie Republicans at
tempt 10 commit arbitrary, unjust, and
oppressive acts the Democrats should fight
them ~ TIE Httermost and oppose every
parliamentary obstacle to their attempts.
He would go SD far AS To prevent the con-
sideration of appropriation bills and other
important legislation rather than submit
and allow the majority 10 ride rOugh-shod
over the minority. What Mr. McCEEARY
would consider oppressive acts he told the
reporter. We quote:
An attempt o. revise the rules Of the
lost House and impose on the minority an
arbitrary and tyranuical code. II IT. Gus
tomary for member Of the majority TO
move that tine rules of the preceding
House Dee adopted until otherwise ordered
ly tie House. have looked the matter mp
for nineteen years and find that the prece-
dent has not been broken. II the ma,
joritv fails 10 present Tins resolution and
proceeds under general parliamentary
rules, or limits the rules If the preceding
House TO q fNed date II viii be proof that
they intend TO revise the rules do not
object e. certain rcvIsions, but DO object
t. any revision which VIII give the Rcpub-
lcan majority power u Cypress the Demo
cratic minority. The minority has nights,
and / repeat. if the majority attempts TO
uuseat Democrats who were fairly and le-
gallv elected We Will fight them with every
parliamentary weapon
Mr.. McCuFAuT says he knows after care
fully eamnin. It that the SHERMAN or
CHANDMB election bill is designed to dis
turb the peaceful relations which now
exist in the South.
Congressman YoDER was interviewed by
the same reporter Mr.. BRECKNRIDGE is
southern man, and therefore does not
know the northern Republicans so well as
Mr.. YoDER does who comes from the State
of SHERMAN and FORAKER. Mr.. YoDER says
he did not think 50 untilrecently, but now
believes an attempt will be made to pass a
Federal election laws We quote from the
Posts interview:
REPoRTFR: what will the Democrats
do If the Republicans try 10 give the seats
in the contested cases to Republicans"
Mr. YoDER; "Well, If they attempt 10
Keiferize the House very little business
will be transacted outside of passing the
appropriation bills. The Democrats will
stand out for their rights 60 the last"
To Keiferize the House would be for the
Republican Speaker of the next House TO
follow the precedent set some years ago by
Speaker KEIFER, of Ohio, who took the re.
sponsibility of deciding by inspecting the
House that there was quorum present.
MIR. REED says in the Forum that the Demo
Gratis did not appeal from the decision. Oh
course they did not. They claimed that
they were not present in contemplation OF
law, seeing that the roll-call did not dis
close their presence, and seeing also that
TO vote upon an appeal would be TO make
an unmistakable quorum.
Mr.. YoDER is a northern man, but he
speaks for the South as Mr.. BBEcKINRIDGI
does not. He says of the proposed cleo
ton law:
Il think il would be subversion of the
principles OF the Government to pass t.
The first attempt in this direction will b,
made when Congress meets in an effort to
change the rules so that the Republicans
will be enabled to turn out eighteen De
mocrats and do business with quorum
present"
Mr.. YoDER and Mr.. McCREARY are right
Mr.. BREoKNRIDGE is entirely wrong. His
election is likely to be contested. though
his opponent (CLAYToS) is dead. It woul(
not at all surprise us if Mr.. BREcKrSRIDGI
himself should be unseated. Anyhow h
must be set Alright. 1t will never do t.
have a southern Democrat rendering ai(
and comfort 10 the Republicans. Hector
must not be found with the Greeks.