The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-27
Senator Germans Leadership ana
its Invaluable Merits.
A Veteran in he New York Sun.


left on the Force bill and the gag resolution
would consign it to infamy in the history OF
legislative experience.
Now that the crisis which menaced the very
life of free institutions has passed away, little
serious thought is given to the perils that
confronted the country and the narrowness OF
escape from their blasting force, if success
had attended the desperate experiment.
When the Congress met, the Republicans
had majority of seven in the House, and
this was quickly increased to twenty-three by
nnseating legally elected Democrats. The
Republican majority in the Senate was eight,
and this was subsequently transformed into
fourteen by the rape in Montana, and the
admission of Idaho and Wyoming as States,
which combined would not have under the
apportonment act a population sufficient for
one member of the House.
These additions to the Republican column
were made deliberately with the intention of
forcing through the violent measures that had
been concocted for the retention of partisan
power in every branch of the Government
The Force bill was the engine by which
the main object was to be attained. 1t was
invented in New York by the author Of the
existing supervisors law, after twenty years
of experience in its administration. This
new scheme proposed to deprive the States
of their recognized authority over elections
for Congress, and substantially for President
when electors were TO be chosen at the same
time; to give supervisors and marshals that
power with an unlimited number of deputies
at the polls; to appropriate untold millions
for bribery fund beyond the reach or scru-
tiny of Congress by being made permanent
instead of annual, to pay an army OF merce-
naries; to put in the language of Senator
Frye, bayonet behind every ballot. and to
protect the corrupt agents of this atrocious
conspiracy for any crimes they might commit
in obeying the orders of their employers.
These were the naked figures of that wicked
project, though it contained many others
equally dangerous to public and personal
liberty. When the bill reached the Senate,
the Democrats naturally looked with alarm
at the prospect from the standpoint of seem
ingy hopeless minority. They conferred
together and wisely put the management OF
the opposition in the hands of Mr.. German,
who, as chairman of the caucus had gained
their confidence for ability, prudence and
sagacty.
But with all this faith in his fitness for the
trust, they did not realize the extent of the
great qualities which Mr.. German exhibited
throughout the mighty struggle then about to
begin, nor were they encouraged with the
hopes that his leadership soon inspired.
The Democrats had only two visible re-
sources, time and the rules of the Senate
permitting the freest debate, as weapons to
contend against majority possessing all the
other advantages in their hands. If the
rules were undisturbed the minority could
prevent the passage OF the bill. Mr.. Cor
man organized his forces looking to that
point. Every Democratic Senator was as.
signed to particular duty, and the debate
on the Force bill during both sessions furnishes
an example of moderation, calm argument,
and freedom from the least invective which
may be said to stand exceptional in any pre-,
vious discussion involving grave political
issues.
This course was well considered and wisely
pursued, so that the dissatisfied Republicans
should have no cause of complaint, and the
radicals could have no reason for partisan
hostility. The efforts of the latter to revoke
n departure from this policy by charges,
elimination and taunts utterly failed to break
the line of wise resistance.
After more than six months had been
wasted without any practical legislation, the
impatient friends Of the new tariff demanded
that all other pending or proposed measures
should be put aside to take up the Mckinley
bill. Mr.. Quay, as spokesman of that inter
est, offered the resolution, which was adopted
What part Mr.. German played in that
arrangement has not yet been revealed. Ger
tainly he was not taken by surprise at the
movement. That vote was "a great relief to
the Democrats, for they gained time and
with it encouragement. Mr.. Hoar resisted
this change with all the influence he could
command, protesting that postponement of
the Force bill to the short session would
insure its defeat for want of time, with the
pressure of other legislation to side track it..
The Ouav resolution. however. WAS carried
After making the declaration in regard to
the effect of postponement, Mr.. Hoar secretly
induced most of the Republicans to sign the
followino round robin.
Washington. d. c.. Aug. y, 1S9u.-We
will vote, first, to take up for consideration
on the first day of the next session the Federal
Elections Dill ana 10 keep II before the Sen
BUSINESS ~ rn,H II ~ d;s,osoJ of hv "o,a.
second, to make such provision as to the
time and manner of taking the vote as shall
be decided by majority OF the Republican
s"d Uo, 70 o;tbor bv aenara J' rnI te tbn,
proposed by Mr.. Hoar and now pepding
before the Committee on Rules or by special
rule OF the same purport applicable only to
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