The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-28
THE SITUATION IN THE SENATE.

and consistency of the Republican states
man.
THE SITUATION IN THE SENATE.
The present situation in the United
| States Senate is worth more than pass
ing notice. There is in that body sub
stantial Democratic majority, which I'M
der ordinary circumstances might be ex-
| pected to be united in support of the
recommendations of Democratic Pres
ident. But they are not. A large por-
ton of them, probably a majority, in the
matter of the repeal of the Sherman law
are directly and violently opposed to the
President Turning to the Republican
side, the great majority of the Senators
| favor the repeal of the Sherman law;
but there is minority, formidable for
abilities and vigor, who are violently
against repeal. The leader of the Demo-
cratic party in the Senate is Arthur Pue
German of Maryland. He has been for
free coinage when he has thought that
he could damage the Republicans by SO
QOluS3 Duu uO 10 1OW III 1CPCol VI tllC
Sherman law, and will lead his party
with that end in view. Senator Hill has
lately become his bitter rival, and while
the New York Senator is publicly for re-
peal, he may be counted on to exercise
quietly an influence obstructive of Cor
mans efforts. There is still another
condition to be taken into account, and
that is the most important of ALL Sena-
tor German won his spurs as leader of
his party in the Senate during the con-
test over the Federal election bill. The
whole Democratic party was vehemently
opposed to that bill. There were also a
few Republican Senators of small calibre
who were opposed to it for reasons more
or less personal or petty. And although
none OF them dared to vote against it,
they managed to assist German materi-
ally by indirect acts of treachery. There
was another more important band of
Republicans, led by Teller, Walcott and
Stewart, who openly opposed the cleo
tons bill in order to gain Democratic
good will fol the cause of silver. Max
ing use of the tradition of senatorial
courtesy, which presumes that every Sen
ator shall speak as often and as long as
he wishes, German aided directly by the
silver Republicans, and indirectly by the
few who sympathized with him, defeated
the election bill. To pay for the support
of the silver Republicans, German and
most of the Democratic senators espous
ed the theory of free coinage and assist
ed in passing free coinage bill in the
Senate. Mr.. Germans skill was lauded
to the skies, and he stepped forward as
the Democratic leader in the Senate, a
body very jealous of the leadership of
any man, however eminent.
Three years have passed away and Mr..
German is again called on to measure his
qualities of leadership. Then his role
was to prevent action by the Senate; now
He must play now the same role that Mr..
Hoar and his associates tried to play
then. He must apply the gag in order to
stop the eternal talk. And who are the
men he must gag? First and foremost
there are the members of that little band
of silver senators, Teller, Wolcott, Stew
art, Jones, his very efficient allies of
three years ago, in consideration of whose
help he voted for free coinage. Then
there are the members of the large and
generally dominant wing of his own
party, the senators from the Democratic
southern and southwestern states. He
must gag them also, for they are not only
opposed to the passage of repeal bill,
but are also bitterly opposed to any mea-
theory of unlimited debate has once saved
for them their peculiar institution of
Justification of elections; and they may
need it again for similar purpose. 1t
is not to be expected that they will sit
supinely by while Senator German in
serts the gags into their mouths.
This, then. is the situation in the Sen
ate and the position of Senator German.
His task is not an enyiable one. He must
go back on his own professions and prac-
tees; and, more than that, he must raise
the sword against old friends who in
times past have assisted him to enforce
the principles he has now abandoned. But
we sincerely hope that he will succeed
in the ungrateful task; for his success
will bring two very desirable results; the
repeal of the Sherman law, and the de-
struction of the stupid and pernicious
precedent that talk in the United States
Senate shall be illimitable.