St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-05
MR. CARI,fsLE,s ADDRESS.

The address prepared by Mr.. CAR
Isle and issued by the Democratic
members of the lower house of congress
is an eminently fair statement of their
side of the case, and is likewise an able
defense of the obstruction proceedings
they found it necessary to adopt in order
to restrain the Republican majority
from perpetrating gross outrage upon
the minority. The GLOBE is no advo-
cate of filibustering, and has but little
patience with those who adopt it. We
wish the Democrats had seen their way
clear to have followed more dignitied
course, but it seems to have been an in
stance where the only successful way to
fight the devil was with fire. 1t is
clearly demonstrated in Mr.. CARLISLE
address that the Republicans were revo-
lutionistS first, and that they attempted
to run congress on plan that would
have been disgrace to an ordinary
ward meeting. More than that, Speaker
REED assumed an arbitrary power
that was totally at variance with
every precedent and former con-
struction of parliamentary law and pro-
ceedings, and his action was clearly
subyersiYe of good government, as well
! as calculated to uproot the fundamental
principles Of republican Institutions.
The Democrats had q very clear case
against Mr.. REED and against the Re-
publican majority; and if they had been
satisfied to have rested On their case
without permitting themselves to have
been betrayed into the disgraceful fill
clustering scenes of last week. they
would have made it tell fearfully
against the dominant party at the next
election. As it is, they will have to take
chances on it.
Still, all fair-minded citizens, withou
regard to their party predictions,
must be impressed with the soundness
of the CARLISLE address and with the
| force of the Indictment he draws
against the dominant party in congress.
In order to make sure of seating a few
Republicans who were contestIng the
seats of Democratic members they de-
liberately converted the house of repre-
sentatives into rabble, leaving it en-
tirely without rules except such as the
speaker should arbitrarily enact, and
upon which he refused to allow the
| members VINO were to be governed by
those to pass in Judgment. 1t was the
grossest exhibition of One-man power
that this country has ever witnessed,
and all lovers of constitutional govern
ment sincerely hope that its like may
never be seen again. OLIVER GROIN
WELL, entering parliament at the
head of an armed rabble. was
scarcely less defiant OF constitutional
authority than Tom REED when he I'M
dertook to make majority out of a
minority. The Soundness of the Demo-
cratic position on this point is very well
illustrated by the fact that the Re-
publicans did not dare to force vote on
the SsuTH-JACKsoN contest case until
they had secured the country over and
brought in all of their absentees, and
thus secured al actual instead of con-
structive quorum. They were afraid to
put their side of the case in such form
that it might have to undergo judicial
Investigation.
Now that the storm has measurably
subsidized, and congress is in position to
go ahead with legislative business. we
do hope that the first business will be
to adopt rules that will absolutely and
forever prevent the enactment of such
scenes as have been witnessed within
the last ten days. Let the new rules
clearly define what constitutes a
quorum aud what does not, and let them
furthermore place such limitations upon
the power of the speaker as to render
it impossible for him to ride rough
shod over the members. In the words
of Mr. CARLIsLE's address, ''let the new
rules follow the constitutional idea of
restraining the majority from an UNI
| just exercise of power and protect the
minority in such rights as are clearly
guaranteed by the constitution"