Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-04
SUNDAY JANUARY 4, 1891.
Is Il Blaine?

In noticing Mr.. HALEs singularspeech OF
Tuesday last in the United States Senate,
we suggested that he appeared to be in
"muddle.r II Is now rumored or believed
that Mr.. BLAINE was behind that utter
sncc. and that il has influenced the Repub-
licans in the Senate to try the old method
of forcing vote before resorting TO the
new closure rule reported by Mr.. ALDMcH.
Mr.. BLAISr rendered great assis lance to
NJ. RANDALL in the latters war upon the
force bill Of 1875. and deserves no little
credit for having done 80. If he has again
interposed in behalf of his country, he has
proved himself 10 be a true patriot, and
the southern people should not be slow to
recognize the fact. Let his motives not be
questioned.
ia pcs said that Mr.. BLAME is opposed
toclosing debate on the force bill, but that
he Is opposed TO o resort to the previous
question or closure resolution. He asks
his Republican friends in the Senate not to
pass eag-law without having first tired
the old. timo-honored plan of sitting out"
the opponents of the force bill. Under
this plan the Republican senators would
have to fix day upon which there was to
be no adjournment until vote on the bill
was reached. That is, the opponents OF
the bill are expected to become exhausted
before its advocates break down. OF
course the latter would make no speeches,
nor do anything else to diminish their
ability 10 "sit out" the Democratic sena-
tors, who would not only have to DO all the
speaking, but would have TO occupy the
floor all the time--that is, one or another
of them.
If Mr.. HoAR and his hackers consent TO
try the "old plan" once more, it will only
be for the purpose of placing the anti
closure Republican senators under obliga-
tons to support the ALDRIcH resolution.
- this little III Of strategy succeeds, that
resolution will be stronger in the Senate
than ithas shown itself to be hitherto.
We do not expect the "sittiug-out 1"
plan to succeed; because the Republican
majority in the Senate is hardly large
enough to enable the Republicans to have
"relay" of Republican senators always
ready to take the places of exhausted Re-
publican senator's Again: The Democrats
need not have quorum of their own
members present so long rs there are
enough Of them present to continue the
debate. But the Republicans ought to
have q quorum of their own members
present all the time in order to be ready
TO take tho vote whenever an opportunity
TO do so presents itself, and also to prevent
the question of quorum beingraised.
IT will not take long to test the sitting
out" plan. The Republican senators will
SEQ TO it that no time shall be lost in ex-
perimenting in that way except so much
as it will be absolutely necessary to lose.
Having shown that the old plan is failure
the other Republican senators will bring
all the pressure possible TO bear upon the
snti-closure Republican senators. Then
we shall see what we shall sec.
Mr.. HoAR has again expressed his high
opinion Of the southern people. What
shall be said Of such man? Do his preju-
dices take possession of him like an evil
spirit on one day and his senses return to
him the next? Is he the same man all the
timer He is not a drinking man, or we
might think there were two PHILLIPS in
tho case. We trust that his colleagues in
tho United States Senate will vote on the
force bill as Mr.. HoAR would vote when he
sees in the southern people community
Of princes of the blood.