The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-06
norities who have their share of respon-
Sihilitv

sibility.
Bands of highwaymen, organize for
the transaction of business, and are not
particular about the rights of their
victims, who may be in the minority.
They get through with their business
in the most expeditions and summary
manner, and are not troubled by con-
stitutional restraints. They see spoils
in reach, and they take and divide
them among themselves.
Brigands might have valuable lessons
from recent precedents in high par
liamentary body of select representa-
tives, and "count" their victims, the
minority, who are present, to make a
quorum for the transaction Of busl-
ness" and the adoption of measures
abhorrent to their sense of right and
to which they are unalterably opposed.
By sucn parliamentary performance
these same brigands could transact
their business with, at least, the color
of justification. They might 60 further
and keep a roll, and not only "count"
but record the opposing minority,
whether present or absent, and after
wards appeal to the record, about which
uOluluS
that the majority was within the Ia"
and had transacted business"
This very thing was done in the last
House ofRepresentatives, under the plea
above set forth, that the House ''ought
to be organized for the transaction OF
the public business" and that the ma
jority ought to be permitted to ruie-the
Constitution and laws, right, justice,
honesty, and public decency to the
contrary Notwithstanding. Was there
ever such a travesty upon constitution
al government? Under the authority
Of such precedents, reckless revolu-
tionist in the Speakers chair would re-
quire only one man to "count," and
another to "record, to pass sany measure
thai might meet bis approval, or trans
act any public business that he might
think needful or desirable? Was there
| ever such a pitiable spectacle, such a
confession of the weakness of the brutal
doctrine that the majority ought to
rule according to it's own will, and
transact the public business according
to its own pleasure, as when the !oudest
advocates of this monstrous and unre-
publican proposition are compelled to
invoke the aid Of those who oppose it,
by resorting to arithmetic, and count
| ing the opposition, before they can
pas pass a measure? Why call on the mi
nority? Why with majority Of mem
bers make false record if the majority
should rule? Where was the quorum
charged with and held responsible for
| the transaction of public business? 1t
was found not to be large or tractable
enough to enforce this newborn doc
trine of majority rule" Its weakness
and fallacy was further demonstrated
by resorting to the outrage Of unseating
members Of the minority, almost by
brute force, in utt r disregard of the
right, justice and law of the case.
| This additional act of naked usur-
patton was found necessary in the
progress of this parliamentary revolu-
ton to reinforce and strengthen the
hitherto imperfect fabric of tyranny.
More representatives of a free constlt-
uency must be driven and expelled
from the body to purge it of opposition.
And even then, the majority did not
rule without the aid of ''count" of
the minority. What were some of the
results? One hundred millions of dol
lars of surplus revenues were in the
public treasury, and the majority
wanted it and they took it under cover
of "majority ~ule." One hundred mil
lions, the hard earned money of the
sovereign people collected by taxation
] under the specious guise of majority
rule! One thousand eighty odd millions
of dollars were taken from the peoples
treasury by one Congress One billion
eighty odd million
Thissame majority, by these methods,
passed a measure, the Force Bill, more
iniquitous in its provisions, revolution
ary in its terms, for reaching in its as
saults on popular rights, than any ever
presented TO the Congress of the United
States. In the transaction of such
"public business" the majority trans
cended even the untenable proposition
that the majority should rule and by a
| usurpation unparalleled, l repeat,
counted" the opposition, the minority,
counted and recorded members, as
aiding in the passage OF meas
ures to which they were opposed, to
give validity to their acts ofusurpation
and outrage. They cut off debate by
the adoption of a cloture rule, stifed
discussion, by gagging the opposition.
Why? Because they wanted power and
spoils and they said the minority "filli-
bustered," ''obstructed legislation,"
| prevented the transaction of public
business" that the majority was re-
sponsible, and should be permitted to
rule"
These are matters and facts Of public
; history, and are legitimate subjects Of
| public criticism. desire to repeat. /
do not animadvert upon them for party
effect or advantage, but to give point to
the dangers of the theories from
which the flow, and the promptness
with which those theories are put in
practice, when personal greed and party
eXigency may seem to require 1t. l
would denounce them without regard
to the political party from which they
emanate or may put them in practice.
I denounce them now, because they
violate the spirit and letter of the Con-
stitution and laws. and are inimical to
the principles Of our free institutions.
denounce them, to give warning to
the people, whose rights and liberties
are menaced by them. Up to recent
date l did not like the word "fillibus-
ter" It was coined out of conditions
of invasion of the territory ofa friendly
people obnoxious to our republican
ideas of justice and fair play and to the
policy OF our government. AS now ap-
piled to parliamentary proceedings, it
has ceased to have any terrors for me,
and / rather like it.
1t is not used, has never been used in
this country at least, to obstruct or pre-
vent the orderly administration of the
government. No man or minority nor
party under our system of representa-
tive responsibility would dare resort to
"fllibusterlng" except to prevent or
defer great wrong, to postpone action
until the people can pass upon the
question at issue. In that view 1t is a
valuable and proper weapon ofdefense:
1t is frequently the only method of
bringing important issues to the atten-
ton of the people, and securing a popu-
lar verdict. I have seen it stand like a
yeritahle stone wall for hours, dayS,