New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-08
"FREEDOM OF DEBATE"

II is not to be denied that the Senators who
arc opposing the repeal BILL and seeking by the
mere consumption of time in speeches that
each of them has delivered many times be-
fore 70 obtain an advantage that will hnaly
result in compromise Or in anything except
the defeat of the silver interest. have. in the
history of other great measures before the Sen
ate, an ample Justification of their course. 1t
is not remarkable that such men as MIR. Cor
man and Mr.. Faulkner, mindful OF the tactics
by which they succeeded in preventing vote
on the Elections bill, are now little wary IN
giving their support 10 propositions aimed at
preventing obstruction or at interfering WIN
the curiols etiquette that permits Senators to
talk one another into WEAKNESS and pend
ing measure to its death. 1t would be well II
some of our excellent Democratic contempo-
,alies now so harshly camorOus against OBJ
struction were similarly mindful of the past
But there will always he considerable body
of the population to whom the adage That
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander will
appeal. 1t is not to be forgotten that the pro-
ceeding which TO those Democrats favorlng
repeal is "gross waste OF time" an "Out-
rageOus obstruction" an attempt to defeat
by dishonOrable methods what they have not
the strength to defeat on test vote" when
employed two years ago to prevent the enact
ment of the Elections bill, was simply " freedom
of debate" If it was freedom of debate then,
it is freedom Of debate now. If 1t was proper
proceeding for German and Faulkner, it is a
proper proceeding for Stewart and Vest. If
it is ever right. 1t is always night. And those
who applauded it in one case are not the men
to condemn it in another.
The fact of the matter is that il is essen
italy wrong There is 40 plea by which it
can be justified. If one group can defend it
by saying that the pending measure was not
wanted by the public, and that the attempt to
enact it was piece Of tyranny Oh the part of
the majority. another group can as well make
the same defence. The Democrats sowed the
wind when by an endless chain Of talk they
prevented the Senate from taking vote on
the Elections BILL and now they reap the
whirlwind. They are fortunate in that they
are dealing with a Republican minority too
honorable and high-mnded TO take advantage
of the position they ale in, too anxious for the
welfare Of the country and too conscientious
in the discharge of their duty. IL is this rcl
ance that has tempted the Democrats OF the
House 10 be consistent at the sacrifice Of their
power to legislate, by the adoption of a code
of rul.s toleIating obstruction. They have
been consistent with themselves in rcasscrtng
what they know TO be a wrong position. be-
cause they are sure that the Republican Repre-
sentatives will not obstruct. and are DESTROYS
of nothing but fair opportunity to present
their views and then to record their votes.
But until. both in the House and in the Sen
att. rules have been adopted which make OBJ
struction impossible, the country must con-
time TO be offended and injured by such spec
tacles as it is now witnessing in the Senate
SO long as it is the right of Senator'S and Con-
gressmen to fight legislation they are anxious
to defeat by means Of articc and intcrminable
talk, .Ome will be found if not in Repub-
licm minority t, avail themselves of it,