St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-31

fer this bill or not depended upon the
vote, and he wanted an opportunity to
vote for amendments. He was not out
of sympathy with the purport of the
bill. At another time Qf the rule would
allow HIM he expected to submit his
views upon the bill in extensQ, He
submitted to the senator from Massa-
chusetts that before he offered his
closure rule, he should bring the senate
in such position that senators could
determine whether they were in favor
of the bill or not. He. himself, could
amend the bill so that he would gladly
vote for it; but so far he had
no opportunity to offer an amend
ment and 1t now looked as
if there would be no opportunity
to do so. He did not believe that the
people of the United States were pre-
pared for this proceeding, and for one
he was prepared to resist by ali proper
methods the adoption of the rule until
the senate had an opportunity to vote
upon all amendments. He understood
the rule was to come up for action on
Tuesday next. There were more I'M
portant bills pending before the senate
than the election bill. The country
stood in the face of great financial
convulSion. The great minds of the
country asserted that we were on the
verge of financial panic. The bankers
of New York were saying, Everything
is lovely" Why? They dare not say
otherwise. If the people could
awake to the real condition, there
would be danger of financial
ruin to 10000 men absolutely
solvent to-day. He believed that it was
hn Attfxr Of lao 70 70
ton promptly. 1t the friends of the bill
were in earnest, they could pass it with
out rule. They could pass it as bills
had been pasSad-as bills had been
passed in the days of reconstruction, as
they had been passed before and during
the war. This side is charged with the
passage of the bill, if it is to be passed.
The minority has the right to come and
object, to come and debate, to come and
amend; and it would be sorry time for
the American people when the majority
shall say that debate must close,
whether the representatives of indie
pendent states are ready to close it or
not.
Mr.. President. am in favor of the major
lty ruling. l know that no government can
be maintained where the majority does not
rule. But know that there Is nothing more
despotic. nothing more arbitrary, nothing
lnaV approaches nearer 10 mOnarcnlcal III
stitutons than the tyrannical action of a
majority. A minority is absolutely indis-
pensable to the preservation of liberty in
any country. If there was not a minority
party in this country there would be little
prospect of the maintenance of American
liberty The minority has a right TO resist
by all proper measures-by debate, by dila-
tory motions so as to get an opportunity to
be heard. 1t is Its right to be heard; and
when it has been heard, when it has pre-
sented every objection that it can present,
then it is its duty to yIeld-unless it be on
some extraordinary occasion. L have seen
the entire Republican side of the senate re-
tire from the chamber with the exception
OF one or two mem when there was a Demo-
cratic majority, because we were resisting
what we believed to be an Improper measure
on their part. That was the right of the mi
nority then: and it will be the right of the
minority now if the pending bill be of such
a character as would justify its opponents in
resorting to it. do not believe that it is,
and If were an opponent of it / would be
inclined to let it pass. But can conceive of
measures as to which, rather than see them
pass would retire from the chamber.
After a short executive session the
senate adjourned