New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-03
THE FILfBUSTERING THREAT.


TIE FILTBUSTERING THREAT
1t is given ont from Washington by some
Of the free coinage Congressman that they VIII
resort TO iilibu.terlng to defeat the passage OF
a bill repeating the Silver Purchase act. This
seems quite logical and perfectly consistent with
their attitude and conduct on this question from
the beginning of the agitation. The history of
politics furnishes no parallel for the cold gail
the bazen audaciiy and monumental assurance
of the comparatively insignificant number OF
persons who in the interest Of the mine owners
have undertaken to draw both parties and the
whole country into the adoption OF financial
policy which the vast majority OF practical
business men and students of finance pronounce
not only unsound in principle, but ruinous in
results. For several years these men have used
in both parties with greater or less effect the
relation-rsually so mischievous and always so
dangerous in the hands of INSCRIPTIONS dema-
eoeucs-of a balance of power to carry ont
their purposes They have aternated promises
and threats in THEN eiToltS to gain over one or
the other or both parties. With foothold in
both they have made the most of the Oppor-
tunitics afforded them by the eyigcncics OF po-
lical campaigns 10 allure or coerce the ma
iority OF each into the support of policy be-
lcved in by neither The fact that in 4 cam
paign in which both parties were tempted to
stain doubtful points to gain the support OF
even small groups of voters the silver men got
nothing from either is clear proof that their
views are not only those Of minority in both
parties, but that they are So rcpugnant to the
ideas of the great majority of the people that
sagacious politicians. looking only for the main
chance did net dare give them any countenancc
for fear of being overwhelmed by popular
disapproval
The artion now proposed is 10 cocrce the
American people into the adoption Of the views
Of minority by dog thc-ranger policy.
With law on the statute books which the
course of events since lis passage has shown
TO be both mischevouS in operation and utterly
futile for its intended purpose, law which
both parties agree ought Ia be repealed, and
which the silver men themselves condemn aS
useless and Ineffective, the latter propose 10
olstruc, any remedial action by Congress by
resort to ilibu>cring and the extreme meas
ures of parliamentary tactics. BY this it il
meant that small minority, il may be half
dozen or it may be Il score Of members. will
avail themselves Of the weak points IN badly
devised system of rules 10 prevent Two or three
hundred representatives. of the people from
doing the buSines, which tho people sent them
there t. d.. 1t is not strange. perhaps, that
mcn who have - high an estimate of their
own intelligence IL u set up their opinions
against the deliberately formed judgments Of
the vast majority of their fcllowmcn. and en-
deavor by such means Is have been referred
TO to force the majority into acqniosccnce--it
is not strange that they should determine TO
cil the whole Nation 10 L halt until their de-
mands are complied with. But the fact that
they can d. il under the rules of the House
now in operation deserves serious considcra-
ton. When any two or three or haf-dozen
men can make their beasts or their threats
that no bill shall pass Congress, however much
the people may desire i; or however great the
majority in is favor il is time u stop and
consider whether we have government by a
Polish Dict or 4 constitutional majority.
II might seem invidious 10 alude TO the fac;
that under the rules adopted by tho last Re-
publican Congress, or which Mr.. Reed was
Speaker the majority transacted business and
was nOt AT tho mercy OF any two or three
truculcnt fellows who might take IA notion TO
block the wheels and stop everything ut their
own sweet will That Congress had much
larger and mole important minority to dca!
with than the one which threatens 10 ham
string the present Congress on the iepea! Of
the Silver Purchase act. There was much
gIumbIing at the way in which it exercised its
power; but it went ahead and did business all
the same, and did not permit itself TO he either
crippled or made ridiculous by factions minor
ity. 1t furnishes an example in that regard for
the body now in session, which has TO choose
whether so TO amend its rules as TO enable it
TO do business or leave it in the power Of an
insignificant faction 10 make il ridiculous and
It's proceedings farce.