The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-21

No American who respects his coun.
try and its institutions can view with
out indignation the spectacle presented by
the Democratic minority in Congress at
the present time. At the outset, SO soon
~ they had discovered that their party
was to be in a minority in the present Con.
gress, their leaders boldly announced that
they would resort to every device of par
liamentary tactics To prevent any legisla-
ton of which they mi-ht not approve. In
other words, it was their purpose by those
tactics to defeat the will of the people and
give the minority control In q country
which claims to be q republic.
For full month and more at the begin
ming of the session, by an audacious abuse
Of their parliamentary privileges, and
questionable display of federation on the
part of the majority, they were enabled to
prevent that branch of the highest legis-
iative tribunal in the world. which also
should be the most orderly and dignified,
from adopting any rules for its govern.
ment. And at the end of that time they
showed no more disposition than at first to
assist in correcting this anarehic condition
of affairs. or to permit correction if they
could prevent it.
But fortunately the Republicans had
placed a man of brain, and will ard nerve
in the speakers chair. When liberation
and endurance had ceased to be a virtue,
and when it became a simple question
whether the minority should rule through.
out the session and convert congress into
q mere negation, under the masterful lead.
ership of Reed. the Republicans adopted q
set of rules which confined within reason.
able limits the parliamentary privilege of
the minority 20 oostruct and prevent legis.
lstion.
The central and controlling principle of
these rules was that it is the duty of con.
gress TO legslate; 10 do business; that the
majority shall rule, and that it is the duty
OF the minority no less than of the ma.
jority of those who are elected to congress
and paid as congressman. to take part in
the business of that boiy. Against this
just principle, which thoughtful citizens
throughout the country have emphatically
Endorsed. the Democrats in congress were
wildly clamorous. and no epiihet was too
vile for them to apply to the nervy man
under whose leadership the change was
effected.
Among these rules was one which
allowed the speaker, If members were
present and declined to vote. to recognize
the fac, OF their presence aa6 have it re-
corded. This was necessary to meet the
requirement that 1.-The presence"-not the
participation-of a quorum is essential to
the transaction of business. And when a
quorum was present. OF members whose
sworn duty it was to transact business.
and who were accepting pa for the per.
Torrance of that duty. this rule simply
authorized the speaker to note the fac,
that they were present.
This rule and its operation have been
denounced BY the Democrats a. especially
monstrous. On that point the speaker has
and the party can well afford to appeal to
intelligent public opinion. Under its
operation q number Of vital measures
have been adopted, which the people at
the polls had demanded. which, but for
the operation Of this rule, the minority