The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-01-30
Another Blow to the Force Bill.

Another BLOW 10 the Force Bill.
The patriotic sentiment of the country
will be grati6ed at the discontinue, on Mon
day, of the bold and INSCRIPTIONS men in
Congress who persist in endeavorings to
place upon the statute books the Force law,
which deprives States of the right TO select
their representatives in Congress and pro-
vides for horde of federal officials, appoint
ed for life, to take charge of State elections
to oversee the registration, the voting, the
counting of the ballots and to certify the re-
turns. Not only this, but they are authoriz-
ed by this infamous law to make house to
house canvass and enquire into the politics
of every householder.
1t has been the rule in the Senate, since
the foundation of the government, that there
should be no restriction upon debate. Each
Senator, representinga sovereign State, was,
on behalf Of that State, entitled to present
argument for or against any pending measure
as long as he had the inclination or the ply
steal ability to do SO. This right has never
been questioned in the Senate, nor, indeed,
in the House, until the will of Speaker Reed
became the rule of that body. 1t is valued
right and Senator Hoar, in newspaper arti-
Gle written before the present troubles began,
spoke approvingly of it as safeguard of the
liberties of the people.
Now the Force Bill, it was evident, could
not be passed while Senators opposed to it
could propose amendments, debate them as
long as they chose, or speak against the bill
ITSELF Therefore the Republican majority in
the Senate, acting upon the example set in
the House, proposed to change the long-ex-
listing rules of the body and add cloture or
closure feature, which is nothing more nor
less than a gag-law, under the operations of
which debate could at any moment be stifled,
amendments to bill prevented and any
measure, however little understood or much
opposed by the mass of the people, passed
without comment or explanation.
Such rule was adopted in the British
House of Commons in order that Irish men,
bers might be gagged when they attempted,
as Senator Gray said, to assert the freedom of
speech that belongs to them as representa-
tives of their nation. It is sought to apply
the same gag-law to Democratic States, en-.
titled to be heard, through their representa-
tives, on every question coming before the
Senate.
To Senator Aldrich was committed the
task of getting the gag-law through the Sem
ate. 1t was not deemed expedient to try a
contest of physical strength. Poor old Mr..
Hoar was too feeble to stand the loss of rest
and general discomfort of an all-night ses
sion. 1t was found that Vice President Nor
ton would lend his aid to the conspirators by
choking off debate at given signal and put
ting the gag-rule on its passage. Tuesday
was the day fixed for the performance and it
was arranged that the Democrats might
amuse themselves. if they pleased, until that
time, by speaking against the Force Bill.
1t was thought that sufficient number of
willing Republicans would be ON hand at
that time to vote down all opposition.
On Monday morning, however, mine was
sprung by the Democrats, the effect of which
showed the sagacity and generalship of
Maryland's Senator, Hon. Arthur P German.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, was making
set speech against the Force Bill when Sena-
tor Wolcott, brilliant young Republican
from Colorado, asked leave to interrupt him.
Consent was granted by Mr.. Morgan, when
Mr.. Wolcott, in loud, clear voice, moved
that the closure rule be laid aside and the ap-
portionment bill be taken up. The few Re-
publican Senators who were in the chamber
were for moment paralyzed, but Senator
Dolph recovered and moved that Mr.. VOL
colts motion be laid on the table.
The Vice President was not in the chair at
the time. Republican Senators hurried in,
vote was taken and Dolph's motion was re-
jected by 35 to "a. Then the vote came on
Senator Wolcott's motion to lay the closure
resolution aside, and it was also carried by
the same vote.
The Republican Senators who voted for 1t
and showed their patriotism and desire for
fair play were Cameron, Jones, of Nevada,
Stewart, Teller, Washburn and Wolcott.
This vote relegates the gag-law to back
seat for awhile, at least. Senator Stanford,
Republican, was in New York when the ca
tastrophe took place. The telegraph lines
were not working and he could not be heard
from. Accordingly Senators Stewart and
Aldrich went post-haste to New York to in
terview him. If he should be in favor of the
gag Flaw, there would be tie and Vice Pre-
sident Morton would give the casting vote
for 1t. This was the last hope of the unseru-
pulous men who were willing to sacrifice
their party and their country out of pure ma
lice and revenge.
Senator Stanford was found at the Wind.
sor Hotel, but carriage accident prevented
him from seeing his brother Senators, whose
bitter words to each other concerning himself
had estranged them. They were referred to
Senator Stanford's private secretary, who
blandly informed them that his chief had
sent telegram authorizing him to be paired
against the gag-rule Senator Aldrich's face
fell when he heard this announcement, while
Senator Stewart felt repaid for his journey to
New York.
1t does not follow that all of the Senators
who are opposed to gag-law are opposed to
the Force Bill, and the Democratic Senators
will remain upon the alert during the remain
der of the session in order to circumvent any
movement looking to the passage of either
the gag-law or the Force Bill.
Force Bill or Worlds Fair.
The Legislatures of several of the Southern
States have quietly declared that if the Force
Bill is passed they will appropriate no money
and take no part in the Chicago Worlds
Fair. Their action is founded upon the be-
lief that the Force Bill will restrain immi-