Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-19
A Fight 10 the Death.

"A lkuL W ZIG btuSh'
Tho decision of the Republicans in their
senatorial caucus OF Wednesday night
last 20 take up and pass the force bill as
soon as possible shows that they are ready
10 defy the will of the people as expressed
in the recent elections.
There is, Of course, not half as much
danger 10 free institutions in rules framed
for the purpose of bringing discussion to
an end rs there is in such measures as the
force bill. The danger lies in the fact that
the adoption Of the former paves the way
10 the adoption of the latter The French
"cloture." the English closure" and the
American "previous question are all one
and the same thing so far as the reason.for
their existence is concerned, just as
the "scr7ain de dse" and the "scr7din
dorrondissemera" are nothing in effect
but our elections by districts" or our
ELECTIONS by general ticket" But, as we
have said. il is not so much the " closure"
or "Cag-law that we are opposed to as 1t
Is the vile bill which the malignant Repub-
licans purpose to force through the Senate
under the operation Of the new rule. In
deed. il seems to be doubtful whether the
proposed new rule. If rule" 1t may be
called. will he raised to the dignity of the
old rules of the Senate. When 1t shall
have enabled the Republican conspirators
10 pass the force bill they may dispense
with II until in like emergency they shall
again feel the need for it or one similar IN
character.
Nobody is surprised at the effrontery OF
the Republican senators in thus endeavor-
ing 10 render null aud void the adverse
judgment passed upon their legislation last
month by the people of the whole Union.
Such q party is ready to dare and defy
every threat. and to hold with MIR. SHER-
MAN, that anything is iustifiable in law OF
morals that will keep the Democrats out OF
Office and the hands of the Republicans IN
the national Treasury.
But will this wicked and INSCRIPTIONS
party be able to accomplish the objects
Il has in view? Will not the Democrats IN
the two houses of Congress be numerous
enough and skilful enough TO prevent in
some manner the passage of the force ball ?
We know not though we know that they
will fight the force bill to the bitter end.
We Judge from their outgiylngs that the
Republicans would like TO force that bill
through both houses before the Christmas
HOLIDAYS. This they will not be able to do
Very soon Congress will adjourn over the
holidays From this time until that all
3ournment it will be next to impossible for
the Republicans TO keep quorum OF their
own members present IN the House OF
Representatives. So many OF these
members were slain last month that a
quorum of belligerent Republicans cannot
often be found in the House hereafter.
After the Christmas holidays are over
there will remain not much more than fifty
working days or legislative days. The
Democrats in Congress ought to be able
"by hook or by crook" to keep the force
bill suspended between the two houses
until these days have expired. And yet.
with REED in the Speakers chair, and IN
a,1Is IN the Vice-President's chair, what
could not the INSCRIPTIONS Republicans
do in fifty days?
All we can do is to hope for the best.
We cannot pretend to foretell what the
Republicans will dare TO do in carrying out
their determination to rule the country or
ruin il, OF one thing We may now feel as
sured, and that is that they mean to pass
a law under the operation of which it will
BE impossible for the Democrats ever again
10 secure the control of the House OF Rep
resentatives. This is the sole purpose of the
force bill. 1t never was intended to be
anything else than law establishing in
all the southern States returning boards
such a. SHERMAN and CHANDLER, and their
associates in the crime of stealing the pre-
sidency found so handy" in 1877. The
Republican leaders are in aword bent upon
mischief. We await with solicitude fur
Their developments.