New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-01
LrT THE MAJORITY RTE

at i>a revolution in modes of parliamentary
procedure" aid Mr.. Carlisle referring to
speaker Reed, formal and public recognition
Of member, rs present who We're NOT voting.
Very well. il is "a complete change from the
control of the minority to the control OF the
majority. why not? DO the people. when
thcv vote for mombcrs OF Congress. engage in
a Kentucky mulc race. in which 20 come i'm last
j, to win? liza, the minority ina.i"nabi" nights
20 control legislation in an American CongIc>,
which a majority can in no way defeat? II
,o. IL is an absurd mistake to cndclvor 20 eject
a majority az members of Congress. and th"
only r.ch, thing is 70 vote for . member OF
the minority if possible
Behind all the smoke and dust OF tho battle
m Washington the fact is apparent that ma
io.ity has leht, which il J., the duty OF the
speaker a, the organ OF The House. 20 assert
and 10 protect. The majority is charged hy
the people with responsibility for legislation.
with ,hc conduct Of tho Government. and with
the enforcement Of that policy ior vhirh 'he
people have decided so man will seriously
affirm tho right of "a minority oi the House ra
absolute control of it, procedure y majority
u tine case iu question wished 90 take mp an
election contest. \ minority ii-,"n'cd. and Do
order 10 make it, dissent ciiociual refused to
vote That refusal was in itself violation oi
"a fundamental law of the House. as of ai
parliamentary bodies. thai q member shall an-
svDr 10 hi, name when II is called. whoa 3D.
member move, that hc Dee excused. what is it
bur recognition Of this ~tandug laws that bee
ha, no Iich' 10 refuse his vote without excuse
BIT nearly half the member, obi thr House.
though sitting in their scat, Lci'l" th" eyes OF
the speaker di>roealdcd this fundamental law
IF all parliamentary bodies and refused To vote
ON either side. hoping that they could MOI then
be- rcckoucd as present The Speaker looked
at the House. witnessed the disregard of pltiia
mcntaIy law by certain OF the members pro,
cut. and refused - allow them 10 take adrau-
,agc Of their own wrong. He ruled that ii
certain Of the members were present in far'.
they must be present on tho record
There are revolutions. lci if be- said without
hesitation or reserve which are bcncccut
things Revolution is always necessary 10 cast
off any Kind Of tyranny. II wa, revolution
when the oppression Of British monarch WIS
terminated hy the action Of the people Of this
country. 4 good many people in those days
were greatly alarmed, and considered that the
country was on the brink Of Il yolcano.' Bar
a sclf-aoyclning Nation was then born aud ha,
mo,pcrcd eyer since. II is a sort Of rcyolu-
ton 20 declare that q laWbrcaling minority
cannot control the House Oi Representatives,
Lut il is revolution against the tyranny OF the
iIinmity, a revolution against contempt for and
rebellion against all parliamentary law ana il
!, high time that that revolution was in
auguatcd.
The root Of the matter is that the majority
Of the House has a right to transact business.
The people will sustain whatever measure, may
be shown - be necessary 10 that end Hence
the greatest service that the Democrat; could
render TO the Republican party they are now
rendering in the demonstration Of their own
purpose 70 ruin unless they can rule, to block
the wheels Of legislation unlc>, q majority can
dictate what measures shall be considered. The
turbulent scene, IN the House demonstrate be
fore all the world that the power of the Demo
cratic minori. ha, been and would be used
to defeat the will of the people Is expressed
in the last Congressional elections.