St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-18
SENATOR VOORHEES, TEMID
ITY'

Senator OorheeS is an able ana an
honest mana man who wins admira-
ton and respect-but he is not fitted
for leader of the senate ia times like
the present. He is too timid. He ap-
pears to lack the courage of his conyie-
tons. He is anxious to avoid giving
offenSe. His whole career bears evil
dence to the fact that he would rather
suffer wrong himself than seem to IN
flict an injury or injustice upon others.
He would have made poor soldier. for
he revoits at the sight of suffering. He
makes a poor leader for party of ag-
erosion. because he is too fearful of
perpetrating wrong, and Jeopardize
his own cause in order to give his oppo
nents no excuse to claim that he has
been deficient in fairness or considera-
ton for their feelings.
A leader of a political party, like the
leader of an army, must be JudIclous,
but at the same time bold. fearless, and,
if necessary, cruel and arbitrary. 1t is
not necessary thai he should disregard
any of the amenities of debate or use
the power he Yields to Cypress the OPP
position. IL is not necessary that he
should be dictatorial in his own camp;
but he should be firm and unYielding IN
his discipline. holding the reinS Of con-
troll with an iron hand, and permit of
no struggling or wayering along the
line of battle. Leadership implies a
measure of despotiSm, and circum-
stances alone can determine to what eX-
tent it may be necessary to exercise the
power of coercion. No battle was ever
won in war, in diplomacy or in state
craft without the exercise of despotic
power. 1t need not be obnoxious in its
manifestation; it need not assume a
dictatorial front, but it must be eXer-
cised in some form. and. when the
emergency arises, it must be as I'M
yielding as adamant, as impiacable as
fate.
In his conduct Of the discussion on the
silver question Senator Voorhees, has
shown many signs of timdity. 1t does
not arise from his cowardice, for he has
demonstrated his courage and ability to
contend against oyerpowering odds too
frequently to admit of such an accusa-
ton. His disposition is too kindly, too
tolerant, too mercifui. He fails to dis
Germ that kindliness may sometimes be
mistakenly bestowed. The pending
controversy may serve as an illustra-
ton. He gave the advocates every ad-
vantage of the situation. Twice he has
set time for the close Of the debate,
and each time has extended it to satisfy
the demands Of the silyerlteS, who,
being given an inch, have taken an ell,
and many Of them. They have frittered
| away the time of the senate in bonn
5astic defamation; they have Weaued
the country with platitudinous oratory {:
they have pleaded and threatened, lied
and misrepresented, traversed the rocky
road of fact and invaded the realm of
| romance with the sole purpose of con-
Stunning the time of the senate and de-
| laying the contamination of legislation
| demanded by the vast majority of the
people and deereed by their nearest
| representatives. Amid all this Mr..
| Voorhees, has been suaye and tolerant
to the verge of cowardice. Perhaps he
| has thought to kill the opposition by
| kindness. He should understand by
| this time that it cannot be done.
| Mr.. Voorhees, must change his plan.
He must parley no longer. but use the
weapons with which the law and the
| rules of the senate have clothed him to
bring the pending question to an issue.
The country will brook no further delay.
An early vote is demanded, and MIR.
Voorhees, must secure it or surrender
| his leadership.