Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-10-20
A Drifting, Rudderless Hulk.

A Drifting, Rudderiess Hulk.
The fight against the despotism OF
minority has ended. The majority mas
surrendered at discretion ard the ree-
booter reigns in the body which, having
once listened spellbound to the eloquence
of Webster, Calhoun and Clay, has de-
generated below the dignity Of WARD
caucus. In the Senate there is no god but
silver, and Stewart is its Chief prophet.
Shades of the immortal Senatorial fathers
If there be aught in the tales of spiritual
lists, if it be true that the invisible spirits
of the dead come back to haunt their &C
customed domiciles, if by any chance there
were present in the Senate on "Wednesday
the shades of departed statesmen they
must have wept for shame to note the
depth of ignominy to which that once
noble chamber had descended. In fancy
one can picture John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Albert
Gallatin, John G. Calhoun, Henry Clay,
Robert Hayne, Daniel Webster, Thomas
Benton, Zachariah Chambers, Stephen A.
Douglas, Ben Wade, Charles Sumner,
Roscoe Conkhng, James G. Blaine. and
others of the great though often misguid-
ed men who have sat in the Senate, watch
ing with amazement the strangulation OF
public business by the stratsgems of an IT,
responsible minority. Could these spirits
of the dead have spoken there would have
gone up protest that would have shamed
the tree -booting minority to silence.
There would have been poured forth elo-
quence from tongues of fire which would
have blanched the cheeks and checked the
purpose of those bent on defeating the will
of the people by the the tricks of the char
latan.
1t is with shame that every true Ameri-
can citizen beholds the legislative branch
of our Federal government choked by
few sell fish and misguided men. There
may be those who do not see anything
serious in this. On the contrary, we have
come to crisis in our history from which
future events will be marked. Heretofore
the minority has often proved obstructive,
has gained important concessions, has Sc
cured delay, but never before has it assum-
cd to rule. Friends of the minority point
to various events in our history when the
debate lasted longer than this. True, but
there was never parallel case to the one
INLAND. Abstract questions and constitu-
tional theories have made topics for very
prolongated discussions. This session OF
Congress, however, was called together
for single purpose. The House respond
ed quick ly, but the Senate has been held
up by silver miners, and there is no propect
that the will Of the majority can be car
ried ont. Instead, we are told that We
must accept some beggarly compromise at
the dictation Of the silver minority, or else
the present law " i'll remain in force. To
this pass have we come, that the two SEN
stors from Nevada, State with far less
population then our own city of Reading
and about that of Harrisburg, can send two
men to the United States Senate who can
hold up that body for years. Jones and
Stewart, by dividing the time between
them, could talk and prevent vote on any
question so long as they were reelected
from the pocke borough they represent.
Never in the history Of this country has
there been such an exhibition Of unselfish
and non partisan conduct a. has character
lied the great mass of the Republican Sem
ators in standing by the administration to
which they were politically opposed. But
the administration is impotent. The DEM
ocratic party is split beyond redemption
and at the price of q temporary truce some
useless, ill-sdvised compromise is to be
offered. Away with it! We will none
ofitl The Republican party will not coun-
tenance it. Let them do their worst since
they have failed to accomplish their best,
and let the people Judge between the two
parties. The Republican party will moi
help the Democratic party out Of hole,
it will not help Mr.. Cleveland out of hi,
dilemma, it will do nothing except fight
for the right. Its face is set toward the
morning star. The day cometh and, in
deed, now is when the people will return
from their idolatcry of false gods to follow
the right ones. A year ago we were told
that all virtue reposed in the Democratic
party and Grover Cleveland was its only
prophet. The god Dagon has fallen,
crushed in pieces, the eyes Of the people
are opened and they see already the 70
suits of trusting in that party. Six months
of Democratic supremacy have brought the
nation to the verge of legislative anarchy
The despotism Of minority has wei
nigh murdered the Constitution. Mr.
voorhees,, the administration leader, sayi
in effect that the country is done for, but
declines to use the only means to saye
the nation. He would rather do murder
than force vote against the will of the
minority. Ye gods, is this the sort of Sen
atorial Leadership we are given in this day
There was o Senste once which would
have scorned to stoop to such ignominy
Throw Senatorial courtesy to the windi
and pass the Repeal bill. Any determined
leader of the administration could secur.
hat end; but there is no leader. The Sen
ate is rudderless hulk, drifting on tn,
seas, buffeted by every wave and at tn.
mercy of the pirate. The national flag hal
been dishonored, national pride has re
ceived terrible blow. The safety OF tn,
peoplei is no longer the highest law ant
the Constitution is no law at all. Senator
ial courtesy rules the land, while th'
nation groans and cries out in anguish 70
aid.
OF what avail
Are plow or sail,
Or life or land
If Freedom fails
Philadelphia Inquirer.