Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-10-27
THE SITUA TON IN THE .SENA TE

THE SITUATION IN THE SENATE
The situation In the Senate is both inter.
esting and hum'liating. From a Democrat
io standpoint, il is far from reassuring. One
FACT seems to have escaped remark 80 far,
namely, that those Democratic Senators who
are opposing the repeal bill, and those who
while prolessedly for II are striving for a
compromise, are for the most part those who
opposed Mr.. Cleveland's nomination. Popu.
lar sentiment, which was so pronounced in
favor of his nomination, is behind him now
in bis effort to redeem the first great pledge
OF his party. His message to Congress on
the 9Th of August met with praise from
every source except those which were known
TO be irreconcilable to any financial policy
except the free coinage of silver, and the
strange thing is that with such an expires.
sion Of opinion as 1t called forth any man
in his senses could hesitate what course 10
pursue. The first effort of Democratic lead
ership in the Senate was directed towards
making repeal a strict party measurable
work of caucus. Why this should have
been deemed necessary-except as the means
of lifting some individual into prominence
as the guiding genius Of the hour-we have
been, from the beginning, unable To see, be.
cause nothing could have more signslly EN-.
phasized the wisdom Of the Democratic DO.
sition than the admission OF every leading
Republican that the position was sound,
and the promptness with which they ten.
dered their support Of the repeal bill. 1t is
which was made campaign issue by one
party obtains the favor of the other, and one
would naturally suppose that such conii
ton would simplify the situation. 1t has
been very far from doing 80 in the present
Instance, however. Excess of party zeal |
has brought about very foolish state of |
things in the most digni6ed deliberative |
body III the world The effort To push
through as party measure bill which |
cannot get the party vote, was necessarily |
dismal failure, and ii produced just that con-
dition which was favorable To obstructionists. |
They seized it with avidity, and thus far
their defiance has triumphed and the dignl
ty Of the Senate has become by word and |
jeer. But perhaps this was the condition |
desired by those who consider party discip |
line as above the welfare Of the country,
since ii afforded the opportunity to concoct
a compromise which bartered away the
Democratic pledge and contemptuously
flung 10 the people stone In the place of
the bread that was promised.
AS the case now stands, something more
is at stake than the repeal Of the Sherman
act. II the contention of the opponents OF
repeal, that the Senate has no power TO pass
bill 50 long as II minority may see fit 10
oppose il, is true, parliamentary government
il failure or course ii is not true, and
the traditions" and "courtesies" which toll
crate il are quite as unlawful as the per.
formances of the obstructionists. They may
be but the cloak which hides the half heart
ednrss of some proiessed repealers, and the
buiiO0ncry OF the lillbuster and the chilean.
cry of the politician may have the same end
in view.
One thing is certain, and that is, the sen,
timent Of the country 10 favor of repeal If
the Senate needs any further proof of this,
Il was found in the almost universal and
emphatic denunclation Of the proposed com
promise, and the joy with which the people
hailed the news that the President was not
party to IT, y, with majority Of the
Senate in favor u II, the repeal bill should
fail now, the Democratic party would Justly
incur the responsibility for Its failure, and
II would be swept from power amid the dis.
asters wrought by It's faithlessness and i'm
potency. We do not believe that we will
be called upon TO witness It's shame We
rather believe, with Mr.. Rayner, whose
Straightforward and unwavering course
throughout the contest entities him 10 the
respect and gratitude Of the people of Mary.
and, that the "Roman firmness of Cleve
land" will triumph. The lesson Of Chicago
will be repeated, and right and the honor
Of the party will be vindcated.
Since the foregoing was written we have |
news that the opposition 10 unconditional |
repeal has weakened in the face Of the
Presidents stand and the peoples adher.
ence TO him. AS we predicted, the lesson
of Chicago has been repeated.
Judge Hugh L. Bond, Of the U. S. Circuit
Court of the fourth Circuit died In Ralii.