The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-22
shall the Majority Ruler

Shall the Majority Rule?
The Republicans in Congress can
well afford to fight it out on the line
they are pursuing on the Federal Elec-
ton bill, even should they not pass the
bill, and farther even at the risk OF not
passing all the needed appropriation
bills. The question now is shall Con-
gress lie body where the majority
can legislate to transact business, or
body to transact only such business as
the minority may permit? The Elec-
tions bill is no doubtvery Objectionable
to the Democratic party In general but
that is no reason why that party In
Congress in minority in both houses
should by all manner of delays, and
distractions bordering ON violence,
prevent the majority from passing
whatever bill it may soc proper. II
such thing as this Is to be permitted
then there is an end TO legislation.
That closes the days of the Republic.
The Constitution and the laws of the
land are not worth the paper they are
written upon.
This might as well lie acknowledged
at once and the nation prepare to start
out on some other kind of q govern
rneht. A Republican form of govern
ment does not suit because the ma
jority is not allowed to rule, The days
of Democracy will be over, though
something dubbed Democratic party
will rule. The situation is serious
one indeed. The majority in the
Senate have been mindful of the eour-
tesies of that body. They have per-
mitted almost unlimited debate until
debate has become a farce. They
have done every thing in their power
even to the Injury OF themselves, to
bring this bill to vote, but without
avail, and now when the last resort
has to be made by closing of the end
less and senseless debate, they are mel
with studied determination of the
minority TO even resort to force before
the majority shall pass the bill.
What do the people think about this
Is IL right or is it wrong? After a calm
view OF the situation, is there an hon.
est, fair-mintled Democrat who will
say that 1t is right to obstruct legisla.
ton In this manner? 60 into the Houst
OF Representatives, and there the stu
alton is worse still. The Democrats
have become bowling mob. and led
by number of eS-rebels, who are still
secesslonists at heart, they are pre-,
venting any kind of legislation, even
while the Election bill is not before
that body. Some little technical oh
lection is raised to the minutes, and
this Is made the object OF a whole days
wrangling, IL wonld not he far wrong
to say rioting. Who are the leaders ir
this revolutionary scheme to defeat
Legislation? Mills and a number o.
other ex-rebels, who. falling to brenl
up the Union by force of arms, ar
now doing it by obstructing leglsla
ton.
The mere defeat of the Election
bill will not he a cause for dissolution
but it will weaken the Union by weak
ening the influence of Congress. /
Congress, by majority, is not pei
mitted to pass laws except those tina
please the minority, then what is tn.
use OF a Congress? If n minority car
obstruct and prevent the passage u
the Elections bill it can obstruct an,
prevent the passage OF any other Iii
ltdoes not like. We say again the situt
ton is a serious one and We're 1t No
that the Republic had gone through
one bloody ciYil war, the actions of Iii
minority in Congress for some day
past, would have plunged it into al
other.
The Elections bill is not the questio
before the people now. The questio
Is shall the majority or the minorit
rule? .