St. Paul daily globe., 1890-04-11
AN IMMINENT DANGER.


body they will have marched more than
half way toward the destruction of the
republic"
That was the solemn language of
Senator MORGAN when entering a pro-
test against the manifest disposition of
the Republican majority in the senate
to seat POWER and SANDERS as the
representatives from Montana. 1t was
forcible appeal to the conservatism
and better Judgment of the senators,
and perhaps there was not one in the
chamber but was impressed with the
solemnity and truthfulnesS of Mr. NOR
CAMS warning. Yet it is melancholy
fact that not a single Republican
senator has the moral courage to act ac-
cOrding to his convictions, but when the
opportunity is given will vote in obedi-
ence to the caucus mandate, and with
no other argument than might makes
rightwill seat two men as the represent
atives of Montana whom they know, as
all the world knows, were never
elected.
When the senate of the United States,
which was created to exert conserva-
tive influence upon national affairs, de-
liberately permits the plea of party ne
eessity to prevail over all sense of JUS
tice and patriotism, is it any wonder
that the popular faith in republican gov
ernment should waver? Are we to go
the way of all preceding republics, to
be wrecked ON the shoals of party
strife, personal ambition and corrupt
election practices?
The question is serious one and
should be elevated above partisan con-
sideration. The slight party advantage
the Republicans will derive from the
seating of POWER and SANDERS can in
no wise compensate for the violence
that will be done to the spirit of consti-
tutional government. The Montana
senatorial contest has had too much
notoriety for the merits Of the contro-
versy to be hid under buShel. There
is not reading man in America to-day
but is as we'll posted On the merits of
the controversy as are the members of
the senate election committee; and
there is not man who has Informed
himself on the subject but knows that
neither POWER or SANDERS has a
shadow of claim, legally or morally,
| to seat in the United States senate.
| 1t is equally we'll understood that the
purpose of seating these two fraudulent
claimants is to fortify the senate in the
| interests of the corporations. so as to
render that. body impregnable to the
constitutional methods for giving eX-
preston to the popular will. In other
words, it is to make breaStwork of the
senate against the probable invasion of
certain popular reforms. which, among
other things, are intended to reduce the
monopolies to the subsection of the soy
ereign people.
The Republican majority say that
this cannot and shall not be done. To
prevent it they will pack the senate
with the tools of monopoly, so as to
swell their number to figure that can.
not be overcome within the next twenty
years by the constitutional method of
electing senators.
| In short, the sole aim and purpose of
| the Republican majority in the senate
is to revolutionize our form of popular
government by making it impossible
for the people to accomplish their will.
! In view Of this fact the Democrats in
the senate are confronted with the
| gravest situation that has ever yet been
presented to the minority party in
either branch of the American congress.
They have recently seen the supreme
court render decision which prac-
tically makes the corporations independ-
ent of state control. They now witness
an attempt to pack the senate in the in
terest of these same corporations, so as
to render it impossible to bring them
under control of national legislation.
Under ordinary circumstances the
Democratic senators might be content
to record their votes against the pro-
posed infamy and trust to the Ameri-
can people for their vindication. But
to pursue that course now would be
ruinous to the public interests and, IN a
measure, destructive of popular gov
ernment. Before the people could be
appealed TO for vindication an infamy
with lasting stain would have been
perpetrated, and the senate would be
packed with corporation hirelings.
With the senate and the supreme court
on the side of the monopolies it would
avail the people nothing to have con-
troll of the lower house of congress and
of the executive departments.
The circumstances are peculiar. and
require peculiar action on the part OF
the Democrats in the senate. They
will be compelled to depart from the
established uSageS of senatorial de.
corum, and adopting the heroic attitude
of the Spartan band at Thermopylae,
throw themselves into the breach to die
rather than permit an invasion upon
popular government. Filibustering
would be novel scene in the senate,
but there are times III the history of all
governments when the most extraor-
dinary remedies must be resorted to in
order to preserve the spirit and form OF
the government. If it comes to the
| worst, revolution must be met with rev.
Olution.
The two Republican claimants for
Montana's senatorial representation
were not elected, and it is the duty OF
the Democratic minority to see that
they are not seated. 1t makes no diff.
ference how action on this contest is te
be STAYED off, it must be done. If neees-
sary the Democrats can consume the
balance of the session with windy talk,
OF by any other device prevent the
seating of POWER and SANDERS, in the
full assurance that the liberty loving
people of this country will sustain them.
BEER AND PROHIBITION.
There has been an impression that
the manufacture of beer had been eu-
tirely exterminated in Iowa, even if the
consumption had not materially de-