Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-03-13

upon the action Of the 5lst Congress in
achieving a victory for parliamentary gov
ernment and the right Of the majority to
rule. Mr. Roosevelt said
"In the 5oth Congress the last Congress over
which Mr. Carlisle presided. we saw a. humiltat-
ing a spectacle rs American eyes could hook upon
We saw one man. Mr. Weaver. keeping the whole
Congress stationary for two weeks. blocking the
wheels Of the government for that period I've
cause the majority declined tn take M some
measure he wished; and that nerve ess, helpless.
unwipldy majority looked at Mr. Weaver and
shook its head and scolded him. and remained
imputent. Mr. Reeds rulings. sustained as they
have been bv the House, have rendered II impus.
sible in the future for any obstructonists Of the
Weaver type TO bring the wheels Of government
10 a standstill Applause. The talk about free.
dom Of debate having been interfered with is all
baseless As matter Of fact there was more de
bate in the 5lst Congress than in the 5Oth. and
three times the debate that there was in any Con
gress held during the time Of the civil war.
"Fiibustering is like the lynch law; II is some
thing which In extreme and exceptional instances
may be defensbe hut when followed systemat
ica1y produces nothing hut anarchy and outrage
and the paralysis of all the governmental func
tions Of the body in which II takes place When
followed ont automatically it should receive the
severest censure. To protest against the tyranny
of speaker aud majority in the House for put
ting down flibustering and riding rough shod
over hlibusterers Is like protesting against the
tyranny uf policeman who arrests thief; aud
to hold the speaker in any wise responsible for
the inevitable friction and disorder produced by
the suppre essiOn Of fhbustering is a good deal
like holding sheriff to account because in cap
turing a dangerous and brutal criminal u is some
times impossible to avoid hght. Laughter ana
applause.
ed with the procedure Of the New York legisla
ture the outcry against the tyranny of the ma
iurity In Congress seems SIMPLY farccal No rule
against filibusternR or dilatorN legislation thai
has been adopted IN Congress and no practice uh-
der a rule in Congress begins to approach in Sc
verify the rules and practice OF the New ork leg
islature on the same subject. The mildest speak
er Of the assembly at Albany, backed by the
NEE kest ma iorty. would be considered hopeless
~ inefficient IL teufold more rgor in putting
down obstruction not displayed than has
been displayed by Mr. Reed and the Republicans
in the last Congress. Applause
Mr. Roosevelt next alluded to the copy
right law as a measure Of the first import
ance, and one which gives every American
citizen a right to lift his head little high
er and feel a little prouder of his country.
It is a lasting shame that this law was not
enacted fifty years ago, and it is a credit to
members of the House like SimOnds of
Connecticut, Adams of Illinois and Lodge
of Massachusetts, assisted manfully by Sen
ators Edmunds Aldrich, llawley and His
cock, that it has now been carried triumph
antly through and placed upon our statute
| book. Yet another man is entitled more
than any other to the credit of its passage
and that man is ex-Speaker Thomas b
Reed of Maine. The bill was passed by a
Republican Congress 1t is a Republican
triumph, and its passage reflects honor up
on the Republican party as well as upon the
whole American people
Gen. Woodford spoke of the Republican
party as the friend of an honest dollar and
of an honest market where honest men
may earn this honest dollar by honest la
| bor. Hence we are protectionists. Hav
ing labor we must be able TO transport the
products of labor, and we therefore give
government aid to establish Commercial
fleet. We go further than this We would
build up a navy guarded by American guns
and manned by American citizens, to carry
the American flag and protect the American
honor on every sea.
This occasion, it need not be said. was g
notable one for the strong, hopeful anC
courageous sentiments thus uttered by Re
publicans who represent the earnest, pro
gressive element of their party. Ther'
was in the speaking no element of de
spondency or regret, but a steadfast an
hopeful looking toward the future, and
determination constantly emphasized t.
hold the party true TO its principles, and ol
This basis to win renewed victories. lie
the faltering and the faint-hearted, if an!
such there be, catch the spirit of the Occa
sion and turn their faces toward the worl
! which lies before