The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-02-25
PARTY MEASURES.
The Designs of Unscrupulous Republican
Lenders,

The six Republican Senators who
goted with the Democrats to abandon
the effort to abridge discussion SO that
the force bill might be passed were
wiser in their generation and for their
party than the thirty-three Republicans
who rallied around Mr.. Hoar AS one
of the six dissidents has pointed out to
the Senate, the effect Of the force bill
upon the opinion of the country has al
ready been decidedly unfavorable to
the Republican party, and the enact
ment of that measure would cost the
party still dearer in public disapproba-
ton. The hope of the advocates of the
measure is the faith in mechanical as
opposed to moral force in politics.
That is to say, it was expected by them
that the INSCRIPTIONS use of the FEEDER
al power in behalf of the Republican
party would gain more seats in Con-
gress than would be lost by the revolt
of intelligent voters. The expectation
is familiar enough. 1t is one in which
professional politicians are especially
apt to indulge because the machinery
of politics is before their eyes, whereas
the springs of political action in the
minds of the voters are hidden from
them. In quiet times and when the
popular interest in politics is not great,
organization and habit prevail. 1t is
when measure really excites public in
terest that the politicians are at loss
and that the people are apt to take
things into their own hands. Such an
occasion was presented in Pennsylvania
last autumn when Quay thought that
his undisputed control of the party
machinery, together with the great and
usually trustworthy Republican major
ity in the State, would justify him in
putting in nomination a candidate who
was known only as "Quay's man" The
result was distinct notification that
the good Republicans of Pennsylvan-
ia were not good enough Republicans
to stand Quay OF. his. warks. His can
didate was defeated and he himself so
deeply d;scredited that his cunning and
his boldness are by no means an equiva-
lent to his party for the damage done
to 1t by retaining such a man as the
chairman of it's National committee.
Perhaps the Force bin would have
gone for an ordinary party measure but
Tor the discussion that has already been
had upon it both in the Senate and in
the press. This discussion has had the
effect of leading the people to consider
the measure, and the result of their
consideration has been such that the
enac tment of the force bill would pro-
duce revolt against the party only
less than that produced by the enact
ment OF the Mckinley bill 1t would
be less because the Mckinley bill
"comes home to business and
bosoms of men," and also of women,
more directly than any piece of
legislation that has been enacted for a
quarter of century. The enactment
of the Mckinley bill was its enforce
ment, and it's disastrous effect could not
be stopped or checked by any pow :
after it had received the Presidents sig
nature. In this the force bill differs
from it widely, since the effect of the
force bill would depend very largely
upon the spirit in which it might be exc
cuted. If it were executed in the spirit
in which it was conceived, if the Pres
ident made an unscrupulous use of the
power with which it clothed him, it
and calamity than the Mckinley blu
itself There is no reason to! doubt
that if Mr.. HarrisonSeould compass a
denomination heewoHfd use these pow
ers with entire unscrupulousness.
Whether he would or not, the American
people are by no means disposed to hold
their individual ghts and liberties at the
pleasure of any man, or to allow bill
to go upon the statute books that con-
fers upon any man powers so liable tc
abuse and powers that were granted fol
thesexpress purpose of being abused.
Probably it may be assumed that this
second postponement of the force bill
for, of course, the attempt at closure is
merely an adjunct to the force bills
the end of that measure. Its postpone
ment to the silver bill, which was dis
I posed of with unexpected rapidity, was
by no means so conclusive. The appor
tionment bill must necessarily give
rise to protracted debate, and it is ;
party measure of the first Importance
Nobody imagines that the next Con
gress will pass any such measure of re
apportionment as is before the present
Congress- The bill may be expected tx
occupy nearly all the remainder of thu
session. In any case, tits not to b.
supposed that the six Republican Sen
ators by whose votes the closure reso,u
ton was postponed to the apportion
ment bill would vote either for tina
resolution or for the force bill, the pas
sage of which it is intended to facili
tate. Some of them are distinctly com
mitted against both measures, and tn
votes of the others amount to a com
initial. It may be worth while for tn
revivers of the sectional issue to not
that these votes, excepting that O
Quay's colleague, Mr.. Cameron, wer
cast by Senators from the extrem
West and Northwest. This is one O
many indications that the people Q
those sections have grown very wear
of the present policy and of the presen
leaders of the Republican party.-N
Y. Times.
DEFEAT OF THE FORCE BILL