Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-15
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY IL. 1890
the Revolut,onary Programme.


II may be assumed rs settled that the Ke-
publicans in Congress have determined TO
control the next House OF Representa-
tiyes. If they cannot do it otherwise,
they will do il by fraud or force, or
usurpation. II their proceedings correctly
Indicate their intentions, they are bentupon
fesorting to whatever measures may DO
necessary to the accomplishment of their
uefarious purposes. They seem to have
udopted rs their rule of action JOHN SHER-
MANS famous or infamous declaration that
ANYTHING is justifable in law or morals that
IS necessary to the defeat of the Demo-
cratic party. In q word. the Republicans
have become revoiutionists. They would
rather see the Government destroyed than
10 see IL in the hands of the Democrats.
Let us write out the Republican pro-
vramme. They first undertook to scat be-
fore adopting any rules number OF Re
publican contestants OF seats in the
House of Representatives sufficient TO
make up working majority in that body.
The Speaker Joined in this revolutionary
plot and made it success so far as the
seating OF the first contestant was con-
oerned. Without REEDS active coopera-
ton the scheme would have failed. But
the manner in which the seating Of Mr..
SmrH, of West Virginia, was received by
the country warned the Republican con-
spirators in Washington that they would
do well to.make haste slowly in deciding
contested election cases on par tisan
grounds.
The next scheme was TO make. lawful
rules out of all of REEDS arbitrary rulings,
aud then proceed according to the rules !"
TO increase the Republican majority in the
House. Surely the people would not object
TO that. But under these rules 1t will be
possible for the Republicans toturn out all
the Democrats whose seats are contested.
What then2 Then law will DO enacted
placing all elections to the national House
of Representatives under the control of
Federal officials. Finally the GROWING in
fanny is to be law forbidding the State
legislatures to redistrict the several States
for the election of congressman, thus IN
Ohio. for example, insuring sixteen con-
pressmen to the Republican minority and
allowing only FIVE to the Democratic ma
fority. and in New York, Iowa. and other
States. perpetuating system OF gerryman-
dering which is mockery of our free
institutions. In word, the Democrats
have no rights which the Republicans are
bound to respect.
Such is the programme. 1t has been
faithfully carried out up to this point.
As 10 the Speakers right to count as
present members of the House of Repre-
sentatives who declined to vote when
their names were called. Mr.. HOOKER. of
Mississippi, made the other day the follow
ing .unanswerable point. The Constitu-
ton provides that when bill is vetoed by
the President the vote upon its reconsid-
GRAFTON shall be by yeas and nays and the
names of the persons voting for aud
against the bill shall be entered on the
journal of each house respectively. A
two-thirds vote is necessary TO the passage
of any bill over the Presidents veto. Now,
would Mr.. REED dare to enter upon the re-
cord any members name who had not
voted? Would he venture to make
up two-thirds vote by causing
60 be entered upon the Journal
The names of members who had not voted
Every vote 80 entered in the negative
would be equivalent to striking off two
from the Affirmative side. If the members
voting lacked only few of being quo
rum-say 10 to 50-the Speaker could
Secord six votes as present and not voting
and thus pas, the bill So if the Speaker
counted the six as present and not voting
the result would be the same as if he had
counted them as voting against the bill.
IN other words, he could cast six votes.
Will any reasonable man maintain that the
Speaker has that power?