The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-09-05
MR.. REEDS SPEECH.

OF good cheer. Parties have periods when
then.do great work and periods when they
seem to have no other hUpe than the mere
preservation Of existence. Since 1874, when
the Republican party first faltered In Its
great duty of preserving liberty and equality
before the law for all citizens of the United
States. a Republican House Of Representa-
tives has been rare. This has not been be-
cause there is no longer Republican ma
jorlty. but because by frauds too apparent
20 be denied, by ballot-box stuffing too no
torious to be disputed. twenty-five seats in
the House have been wrested from US under
the open, defiant declaration that the South
ern Democratic white man shall not only
rule the black man OF the South, but the
white man of the North.
Two years ago, under the tremendous
stress caused by the battle set in array by
the free traders, the Republican party trl-
umphed so slgnally that even the cohorts OF
fraud were routed, and after few ineffectu-
al struggles to count us out, we had the
House by the small majority of five, instead
OF our real majority Of 25.
Long before Congress assembled the air
had been resonant with the hopes and threats
of the minority, with declarations that they
were to rule in utter disregard Of the will Of
the people of the United States. At the very
worst no measure should pass which did not
have the sanction of their high approval
IL any man here thinks they
reckoneC without their host, that they had
no foundation on which to build their hopes
and their threats, he knows little Of the deep
laid schemes of many years to render the Re
publicans powerless whenever they should
get control. For years rule has been piled
upon rule and decision upon decision to rem
der legislation dependent upon the suffer
ance Of the minority. FilibusterIng lurked
in every line. The power of obstruction
was without limit. You will naturally ask
why it was that those who most Of the time
had the majority should so strengthen the
minority. II you will consider the nature of
the two parties the cause cannot escape you.
The Democratic party wants no legislation.
1t is not charged with the progress Of the
world. All the Southern men who control
the party want or ask for, Is to be let alone.
When the Republican party comes into pow
er 1t has work to do. IT that action can be
prevented what more should the Southern
whether in power or out of power, are Gen.
tered In obstruction.
Now the House of Representatives is not a
body quick to do business under any set Of
rules. Its large numbers and the diverse
interests they represent will always make it
slow and cumbersome. But system which
enables one man to hold the whole House at
bay until the going down Of the sun and then
to hold it until physical exhaustion sets it
free, and one-fifth to hold 1t forever, was evil
dantIv a Gvctqm which randarad aiaati0r1r
useless and called halt to civilization itself.
Vi what use was 1t to summon into the held
an army OF orators to explain the questions
Of party policy? OF what use was
it that the great throng of journals set them
selves to explain to the people the needs of
the hour? OF what use was an election it
self, that grand elimination Of the power Of
the citizen, IL after all nothing could be done
without the sanction OF thetbeaten partyP
What statesman could there be so foolish as
he could have the same power without re-
sponsibillty? What kind OF fight Is that
to go into where the victim will be victor
i0us and the eonqueror powerless? Says the
Koran, "Dost thou think, O, man, that we
created the heavens and the earth In jestp'
Are elections farce, and Is government by
the people a juggle? DO we marshall our
tens of millions to the polls for sportP IL
there be anything In popular government Il
means that whenever the people have elected
one party to take control Of the House or the
Senate. that party shall have both the power
and the responsibility. IL that Is not the
effect, what 10 the use of the election? T.,
ea The FlIibusters' Defeat. s1
Itwas with far other ideas Of public duty
that the minority met us at the opening OF
the session. Not only were no measures to
pass which did not have their approval, but
no rules. even Of procedure, were to be per-
mitted except those which seemed suitable to
the beaten party.
So we began life without any rules. The
constitution says the House may determine
the rules of its procedure and does not say that
1t must. After two months time the Opp0si-
tion found that under the parliamentary law
which had been built up by the American
people In consonance with their institutions,
the public business was going on every
day without their consent. and they began
to elamOr for the very rules they had de-
nounced. | need not describe to you the
scenes Of disorder which were preliminary
| ciples In the House. 1t is enough TO say thai
| the good work was done and the House Of
| Representatives has taken a large stride
towards business and the performance OF
| duty. @
win you, my old friends and neighbors,
| permit me Just one word which IS purely
| personal, Any time these last eight
mouths have been the subject Of much in
discriminate praise and much lndlScrimlnate
blame. The one Is Just as mucn deserved as
| one man. The House OF Representatives
was ready and ripe for change and the peo-
| pie stood ready to approve. What all the
/ world wanted was easy to do. am not
| but am proud with all my heart to be one
| OF that magnificent majority OF the House OF
| Representatives Of the Fifty first Congress,
which for nine long months has never for
| one moment faitered in its duty. ~ Z
| When we cleared the deck fOraction there
| was plenty Of work to do, and we have done
| It to the full measure OF satisfaction, We
have achieved all that the Republican party
/ promised and more. Most platforms are bu
glittering generalities, good for the campalgI
but our last platform has been treated BY thu
House Of Representatives like a deed o
trust. III - ~. {" a. y" y.
We. promised the people that the TART
should have fair. and exhaustive treatment
that the principles Of protection should hav
full recognition; and in three fmportan
bills we have kept the promise to the hope
BY the administrative bill, a wise and dis
eliminating effort has been made to secur
to our manufacturers and merchants tn
complete benefit Of the rates Of duty I'm
posed by law. By virtue OF that oill we mop
we have bid farewell to those wicked under
valuations which cheated the honest lnpeIs sil !.
er out of his trade and The nunest manuIac
| tnrar aat ~ bIs business We nope that WI
have made valuations and duties alike In al
ports, SO that men may choose. without loss
freely where they will land their goods. u,
Two wears ago the Democracy In tn
House admitted that, owing to the change Il
the methods of manufacturers the who'll
woolen industry was tottering TO fall unles
woolens and worsteds were put upon afoot
ing of equality. Nevertheless. for the purposl
Of adding to the votes of the Mills bill Mlicl
could never pasS. they sacrificed the Woolel
industry, which needed Immediate attention
Without delay, and without waiting .
strengthen their own tariff bill by the sup
port Of the worsted men, Major McAln!.sS
and Governor Dingley pushed through tn'
measure Of Justice which has rescued 8
many Of our r'woolen mills from disaster sn'
ruin. .N.,. -rt .tH-..., .H. --
aa a Measure Wisely Planned. 2 p
But these bills. useful as they are. were
but the forernhners OF that tariff BILL oyei
which the Senate Is now pouring the muir
| tudJnons vvaves of oratorv The Mcklnle