Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-09-29
AGREATER QUESTION.

Four weeks ago, by the unexpectedly
large majority of 100, the House of Repre-.
sentatives, the members Of which are d.
rectly chosen by the people, passed the bill
providing for the repeal of the Sherman
silver law. BY 80 doing the House showed
its recognition Of the indisputable fact that
II was the will of the people that that act,
which had 30 injuriously affected their most
vital interest, should be repealed, and that
II was the duty Of their representatives In
Congress to make their will the law.
In view of the magnitude Of the majority
reached for repeal In the popular branch Of
the National Legislature, 1t was generally
and confidently believed that the Senate
would promptly confirm the action of the
House, and by so doing suspend the com.
pulsory purchase of silver by the Treasury.
For an entire month the Senate has been
what It is pleased TO call discussing the
question of repeal-a question extensively
discussed before 1t reached that body by the
House. After month of indefensible de.
10y the repeal Of the Sherman law is not
only not accomplished, but 1t is apparently
no nearer accomplishment than when, in
June, the President called Congress TO meet
in extraordinary session for the sole pur-
pose of repeating the silver act Of 1890.
This condition Of affairs is the more re-
markable and intolerable for the reason that
1t lisa well .known fact, admitted to be 30 by
the opponents Of the Voorhees, bill, that
there is decisive majority Of Senators who
have been at all times ready to vote for re-
peal whenever the opportunity TO do so
should be given them. Senator Teller said
on the Goth instant to the Senate, 81 am in
the minority. My political party, the Re-
publican party, is in the minority. have
reason to believe that will be In the mi
nority on great many questions during the
next four years, and do not intend to sub
nit, if can help 1t, to any change of the
rules which should in any degree limit the
power of the minority for obstruction"
This admission by one of the most promi
nent leaders Of the opposition is frank, reck
ltes anu uuoCiuputouo.
Senator Voorhees, said on the same day
that the minority represented by Senator
Teller was, by Its obstructive tactics, "defy-
ing the great law underlying the proper
government Of the world-the principle that
the will Of the majority should rule Is and
must be the law Of ALL"
On the 23rd Senator Turpe, one Of the
minority leaders, replied to Senator Voor.
heess foregoing statement, when he In effect
served notice on the majority that, so long
as physical resistance could avail 10 effect
that object, the repeal Of the Sherman law
should not be accomplished. He said: at
had been stated that the majority In this
country ruled, and that, therefore, the ma.
jority in the Senate should rule. That state.
ment was much too broad when applied to
the whole country or 10 the Senate" and
having thus denied the heretofore undis.
puted first principle of our form of govern.
ment, he declared at was impossible and
inconcelvable that debate In the Senate
should ever cease, or q vote ever be taken,
as long as their was dissenting voice in
the chamber, assisted by one flfth of the
number to ask for roll call"
Senator Turpie has simply been the last
of the opponents Of repeal to serve notice
upon the majority that the Sherman law
shall not be repealed by the Senate, that the
minority will not allow 1t 10 be repealed.
This raises greater, a much more i'm.
portant question than that Of repeal itself
IL is that Of the right of the majority of the
people, and Of their representatives In Con.
gress TO make laws for their government
The opponents Of repeal deny this right and
insolently declare that 1t shall not be exer.
cised.
Senator Voorhees, is the recognized leader
Of his party and of the majority In the Sen.
ate. He is leading the combined Demo.
cratic and Republican forces in support of
the bill Of repeal. Thus far he has appar.
entity done little beside talk 10 secure a vote
upon the measure for which he Is the Sena.
torial sponsor. Respect for "the traditions
of the Senate" for Senatorial courtesy.n
and for party harmony" has induced him
to parley with the minority when be should
have aggressively moved against 1t. The
minority leaders have one AFTER another
served notice upon him that they will ex. |
haust all physical means to prevent the re.
peal Of the Sherman law, and they have
similarly challenged him to q test Of physi.
cal endurance.
The country is not less indignant than 1t
is disappointed that no really serious effort
has been made by the majority to maintain
the fundamental principle upon which our
government is founded, by securing the re.
peal Of the purchasing clause Of the silver
act Senator voorhees, has been again and
again told that the minority will yield only
TO superior force, and we hope be will drive
them 10 this point. There has been too
much delay, too much trifiing In respect to
this question, and the country expects the
Senate 10 act, and at once.
Mrs. Leland Stanfords family allowance
y. L.. |