The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-01

witness to an extraordinary ignorance Of
the Constitution and OF American history
on the part of some self-constltuted teach
ers OF tho people.
Since revolution Is practically impossi-
BILE. we may say that only the Senate itself
can muzzle or can discipline Senator. It
Is satisfactory to find this admitted In the
two latest criticisms of the course pursued
by the Senate In relation to the VOORHEES,
bill, criticisms which wo find published In
the new number OF the Forum. Tho au-
thor OF one OF these, Prof. II. Won Hoist.
not only acknowledges that no constltu-
tionnl amendment. but only a revolution
could abolish tho Senate, or alter tho equal
representation Of tho States, but he goes
further and declares that a revolution for
such a purpose would be glaringly inexpe-
dent. and, therefore. out OF the question.
THE historical evolution OF the United
States" he says. "renders its perpetual
conservation indispensable. To abolish the
Senate would be virtually the abandonment
OF tho federal principle; and republic OF
the size Of the United States that Is not
constructed upon the federal principle.
must inevitably drift into anarchy or abso-
lutism. or a combination Of both"
The other contribution to the F0r1m-this.
by the way. Is anonymous--does not APP
prove Of even the minor methods OF disci-
pline which the Evening Postwould apply to
Senators. That newspaper suggested that
members OF the Senate might be made more
amenable to public opinion. IL their terms
were shortened. and IL they were elected
directly by the people OF their respective
States. The anonymous contributor to the
Forum does not think that the election
Of Senators by popular vote would i'm
prove the Senate: "for." he asks. "are the
Governors OF the States ADLER or more
dignfed men than the Senators The or
ganization Of the Senate. and even the
method OF the election OF Senators. vindi-
cate the wisdom OF the fathers" We may
add that. when the Evening Post speaks OF
public opinion" it is pertinent to inquire
what public opinion The only public
opinion that Senator need care about Is
that OF his own State. Now. OF the thirty
two Senator'S who, on Monday evening,
voted against a repeal Of the purchasing
clause of the SHERMAN act. there is not one.
except Mr.. CAMERON. who would not be re-
turned tomorrow by the people of his State
on the silver issue. Moreover. the fact
q majority OF eleven shows that the inno-
walton proposed by the Evening Post could
not be effected. The consent OF the num-
Der Of States requisite for a constitutional
amendment could not be obtained.
We said from the outset that the Senate
alone could define the limits within which
it's members could exercise the powers OF
discussion and obstruction. To those who
know anything about the history Of their
own country. a debate in the Senate so pro-
tracted as to be termed by an impatient
majority obstructive. is by no means nov
city. Over and over again such obstruction
has been offered in that body. which the
Constitution made the stronghold of the
smaller States and the refuge of minorities.
Over and over again has such obstruction
resulted in compromise. and it came
within hairs breadth Of comprising a
like result in the present instance. OF
course. such obstruction has been offered
il the past, and can be offered to-day.
only in pursuance Of the rules Of the Sem
ate. and no man in his senses doubts that
the body which makes rules for its own
guidance can uImake them II it choose.
Tho history. however. OF the Senate shows
that. upon the whole, its rules work we'll;
and the inexpediency of changing them
seems clear even from the case before us.
Sooner than change tho rules which guar
antee to every Senator the utmost freedom
of debate; sooner. even. than enter on the
discussion OF the subject challenged by
Senator HILL. the minority decided to op-
pose the will of the majority no longer. and
suffered the VOORHEES, bill to pass.
yup,,ll ba fo anil ha on
of the Senate in this century dozen cases
where more prolonged obstruction has been
offered. and with less reason. to the will
of a majority than has been encountered
in the present instance. 1t is unquestion-
ably true that the Senators representing
the silver-producing States have been con-
scientiously defending the vital interests
OF their constituents. 1t should be impos-
sible for any man who deserves the name
OF American citizen not to feel a profound
for the privations and the
sufferings to which the prostration OF the
silver industry will condemn largo bodies
OF our countrymen in the winter now close
at hand. We regard the repeal of the pur-
chasing clause Of the SHERMAN act as not
only reasonable but Indispensable. We
it impossible for any country,
to avert the decentralization
of silver. But we have no words of rebuke |
to utter because on question OF this mag
nitude the Senate Of the United States saw |
fit to expend some sixty days and we have |
only respect and sympathy for those rep
of the silver States who strove |
to postpone or palliate an inevi- |
table calamity, and who. it will be uni |
yerSally apreed did their whole duty tn
their constituents.