Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-11-01
THE MAJORITY SHALL RULE.

In week before lasts issue we pointed
out the unparalleled condition of leg
islative business in the Senate. In
view of the fact that the rule of the
majority had been practically over
thrown or paralyzed, we asked: "Are
we in the midst of a revolution ?"
The scenes OF the past two weeks
have been dramatic, and will remain
in the history of parties among the
most exciting episodes that have eyer
occurred. The deadlock continues, but
it disclosed at the end of the calendar
week, a glimpse of daylight, a glimpse
Of what we all knew must come. The
majority shall rule, unless the country
has changed its whole nature.
To recount some of the points of in
terest will be a profitable exercise, and
ought to be remembered. The i'll be-
havior of the Senate was 80 badly dis
played that it can only be explained by
the fact that its courtesy" was in the
keeping of the Democratic party. Men
credited with common sense not only
had %viciously stopped legislation, but
rallied at each other like beer saloon
~braggarts. From the physical test Of
seeing who could sit up longest, they
advanced to the utterance of personal
tiles, which silenced all logic, and
threatened fsticuffs. Incapacity for
the simplest kind of craftsmanship held
the Senate in its grasp:
After an acrid spat between Senators
Dolph and Harris over the adoption of
the journal, the air grew thick with
angry denunciations. Senator Morgan,
of Alabama, came to the front. His
first target was Senator Washburn, and
an appeal to the code, at one time,
seemed lowering in the air. Then Mr..
Morgan selected Mr.. Hill, and spoke of
him most contemptuously. Hill grew
intensely personal as he replied to the
structures of Morgan, who sat under him
all the while, silent, as the stream of
fire poured on his head: ut does not
lie in the mouth of the Senator from
Alabama, -" said Hill, with the record of
the election case of Mr.. Kolb before
him, to reflect upon the honesty of cleo
tions in the State of New York. The
Senator has spoken of his life long de-
votion to the Constitution, l had sup
posed that for a brief period, he was
supporting another Constitution" Hill
swung his angry fist through the air.
When he talks about dying at his post,
let me tell HIM now that l have heard
other men say that they were going to
die in the last ditch, and they are all
alive yet
Then he made the Senate roar with
laughter, as he said: "Ths Senator
from Alabama has taken occasion to
speak Unexpectedly of the decision of
the Supreme Court. Let me tell him a
story. A lawyer pleading before a
country justice, read a page of Black
stone, notfor the purpose of convincing
the justice, but of showing what a fool
Blackstone was. l cite the decision of
the Supreme Court, not to SHOW that
the Senator is wrong, but to show what
a fool the Court has made of itself"
and 80 he proceeded with biting sarcasm
that would have cut through steel.
But the calm, temperate speech of
John Sherman showed to great advan-
tage in contrast to these angry Demo
cratic utterances as they threw right
and left their fierce dununciations. Mr..
Sherman said:
IF the Democrats could not repeal
the purchase clause of the bill under
consideration, Internationally, as Mr..
Cleveland recommended, it was their
duty to do something" Whenever a
minority pressed its means of obstruc-
ton unduly, it acted in the nature of a
Revolution; it sought to break down
the rules of the Senate, and to use them
as the means to deprive the Senate of
it's power to make laws for the people
Of the United States.
"The President of the United States"
he said, has expressed his opinion. We
on this side have not INSTRUCTED the
opinion of the President. We do not
believe in his policy; we are under no
obligations to him. And yet we furnish
nearly two thirds of the vote to pass the
pending bill, while the party which the
President represents stands here unable
to formulate a policy and to say what
it desires. If they do not agree with
the President on this bill, let them say
SO. Let them formulate something
else."
There are three or four important