The Springdale news., 1890-02-14


 majority of the members present and participating in the business of the House" |" It is not the visible presence, but their judgement and votes, which the Constitution calls for.
 Gen. Garfield, Mr. Blame, Mr. Conger, Mir. Robeson and other cm- lnent Republicans have taken the same position, and the1r arguments have never been answered. Ii any legal or pohucal question can be settled m thls country by the acqui. essence of jurlsts and statesmen of all parties, certainly this question has passed beyond the domain ot discussion.
 When, therefore, the present Speaker rrepndiatcd thas settled con struction or the Constitution and decided that when the official rec ord which the Constitution requires the House to keep, shows, on call of the yeas and nays, that q quorum has not voted, he can count mem. bers present and not voting, and thus, by his own act, outside of the recorded vote, determine that measure has passed, We considered It our duty, as Il part of the repre-. sentatiyes of the people, to enter our protests m every fort0 ayalla- bIe to IS under the circumstances.
 We are not contcnding for the right of the minority 10 govern, as the supporters of the Speaker have endeuvorei to make the country be heve. On the contrary, we are de- nying the right of minority to eject members from their seats, or to rass laws for the government Of the people. Under the Consttu ton majority of the members of the House constitute q quorum 10 do business, and We Gre simply n sisting that less than | majority shall not do business. We are con tending that the majority shall take the responsibility which properly belongs to them, and shall come in the House of Representatives and vote If they desire to control It's proceedings. And we are protest. Ing aeafnst their right to carry their measure by counting Us whom we do not vote.
 MAJoRlTIEs AND MINoRITIEs.
 The clam of the majortIes that they have q rIght to govern the House without attending its session and taking part in the conduct of its business is too preposterous to require retuatIon. It must be evi- dent t0 anyone who understands the position taken by the Demo- cratic minority Tn the House, that it cannot possibly result ill any ln- jury to the country, or Tn any in- justice to the ma lorlty. Its only effect will be 10 compel the Repub- lican majority elected by the peo- pie, to assume the responsibility i'm posed upon them.
 On the other hand no one can fore6ea the evils that may result from the inauguration of thls prae tico of counting votes not cast in or. der to make quorum. Under Il a minority of the members ele ct to the House and Senate may pass the most tyranioal laws for the op- presslon of the people, and the most corrupt laws for the spoliation ot tho public treasury. Whether so intended or not It's direct tendency IS to break down the barriers here tofore existing for the protection of tue citizens against the encroach mcnts of power and tho spoliatlon of the treasury by destroying the limitation of which the Constltu- ton has wisely Inposed upon the Legislative department, Constitu- tions are made to rcstraln majoriues and protect ninoritIes. A majority ruling without Limitations or re straint upon It's power is pure des potism, and is consistent with our. system of government
 The First Symptoms of Death.