St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-12
QUEER CRAFTSMANSHIP.

Senator WASHBURN is not an admira-
bic statesman, by any means, yet he has
the virtue OF being consistent in his I'M
PROJECTIONS. His opinions on the LODGE
force bill. as they are published in an
interview in his home organ. show the
quality of Mr.. WAsHBURN's statesman
ship to fine degree. He says emphat-
ically that the bill must not pass at this
session of congress. He asserts that
dozen or more Republican senators
agree with him on that proposition, and
that they can manage to keep it back,
in spite of the bloodthirsty element III
the senate who wish to force its passage.
So far so good for Mr.. WASHBURN.
But it is to ms reasons for suppress
ing the force bill at this time that
we wish to direct public attention. Gen.
WASHBURN doesn't seem to be bothered
particle about any principle that may
be involved in this measure. In fact,
he doesn't look at it in the light of
principle at all. He merely discusses it
as question Of party eXpediency; and.
taking that view of the situation, he is
fully impressed that it would be an aW-
fully bad stroke of policy for the Re-
publicans to pass such bill at this
time. He is afraid of the effect on the
conservative people of the North, and IS
assured in his own mind that its effect
at the South would be to increase the
number of Democratic congressman
from that section.
PROFESSIONALLY Mr.. WAsHBURN is
rirrht fotn IF ho
The passage of the force bill will I'M
doubtedly increase Democratic repre-
SentatiOn both from the North and from
the South. 1t will be the little bow and
arrow that will kill the Republican cock
robin IN all sections of the country. And
yet it is plain that Senator WASHBURN
is not in sympathy with that American
sentiment which rebels at the very
thought of force bills and other coercive
measures. He sees no wrong in the bill
itself. In fact, he says that he is in favor
of keeping the bill on the calendar for
consideration at the next session of con-
gresS. In other words, if the fall cleo
tions are favorable to the Republicans
and they obtain control of the next con-
gress, he thinks it would then be safe
for them to take up the LODGE bill and
pass it.
This is cold-blooded craftsmanship,
strictly in accord with Mr.. WAsHBURN's
reputation for taking materialiStic
view of things without the least regard
for the moral principles that may be in
volved. 1t has never occurred to Mr..
WAsHBURN that if the force bill is a
constitutional measure, and strictly in
harmony with the genius and spirit of
| American government, then it is wiser
to pass it now than to defer it. Nor
has il occurred to HIM, OH the other
hand, that il the force bill is an act of
usurpation and the exercise of ty
rann:cal power wholly inconsistent with
the principles of American freedom.
| then it ought to die in it's tracks. These
| phases of the pending measure appear
| never to have been considered by the
| Minnesota senator. His investigation
| of the bill has been confined strictly to
| an inquiry whether it would help or
hurt the Republican party. And being
of opinion that it will damage more
than benefit, he is opposed to its passage
at this stage of proceedings.
And that is about the way all legisla-
ton is viewed by the Republican lead
ers in congress. The constitution is lost
sight of, the interests of the country are
dismissed from consideration, while
! every thing is being shaped with an eye
single to Republican advantage.