The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-13
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. ocE ~.
THE DEM0CRATIC PATTY RE-
sPONsIBLE FOX DELAY.

sPONsIBLE FOX DELAY.
There are forty-five Democratic senators
In the United States senate, a majority OF
Eve. and they are committed By their
party platform 10 repeal Of the silver plr-
chase law. There are but seven Reprbli-
can silver senator's. while there are
twenty eight Democratic senators who
favor free coinage; who oppose repeal.
defy their own administration and refuse
20 execute the pledge of their own party
platform. Twenty-seyen Republican SEN
atcrs stand ready TO vote At any moment
for the passage OF the Wilson bill: that is,
thrse-fourths Of the Republicans in the
senate are willing to vote for the Demo-
cratic Administrations bill.
With Democratic president in the
White House; with five Democratic ma
jority In the senate and eighty-f0ur major
fty In the house. the Democratic party
cannot shirk the responsibility for its fail
ure to pass the repeal bill. even when
more than three-fourths of the Republi-
cans have supported il in the house and
stand ready TO support IL In the senate.
The cry for compromise today comes from
the Democracy. 1t was Democratic SEN
stor. Butler Of South Carolina. who. after
defying the majority Of the senate and de-
nying its right TO rule, begged for compro-
mise. He forgets that there can be no
compounds on the question of tin right of
the majority, after fair debate, Ito rule.
Until that question Is settled the move
ment Of the United States senate as gov
crning. legislative body is paralyzed and
In state Of anarchy.
The New York Epeaing Post says:
Suppose no vote can be taken on the
silver question because a minority will
not allow 1t. Then suppose that the ma
tority or another minority refuse to allow
any other business 20 be done until vote
Is taken on the silver question. This
would be very likely TO happen, because
the country would sustain such policy
with overwhelming force. Logically, then,
the government which now exists must
come to an end and something else must
be substituted for 1t"
This states the situation with absolute
accuracy. There can be no "compromise"
until the United States senate has settled
this question of the right of the majority
to rule. and United States Senator Voor-
hees has planted himself upon impreg-
nable ground when he declares:
I'VE have reached question of free
government; we have reached A question
Of constitutional government: We have
reached the question whether or not We
have government that can administer
itself The question comes whether We
have government at all stand here
tonight not talking compromise. | stand
here tonight for the rule of the majority
There Is a mighty principle involved In
this, and IL SO down | will 20 down with
my Nag nailed 10 the masthead Ii COM
promise Is TO take place on the principle
that the minority has right TO dictate, it
will be by others. not by me-"
The responsibility for the present shame
full situation does not lie simply with the
silver state senators; IL lies with the Demo.
cratic members Of the repeal majority in
the senate. who have acted without wis
dom, parliamentary skin, earnessness or
devotion to the cause of repeal from the
start. For more than six weeks the senate
has debated the repeal. and the repeal
majority have treated these silver state iill.
busters as II they were honorable oppo-
nents seeking legitimate debate, while thew
have simply been the opponents of purely
obstructive tactics and parliamentary
triekery. Afier tive or three weeks OF this
kind Of discussion. had made this purpose
clear the Democratic repeal senators unit
ing with tho Republicans should have
forced vote aud won victory. This
stupid policy OF respecting rights which
the fltbustering minority had forfeited has
created the present situation.
The repeal majority, II Vice President
Stevenson was of the same kind of stun
ss the late Samuel J. Randall, could force
vote aud pass the bill. The Democratic
leaders of the repeal majority are respon.
sthlc for the delay and the danger. they
have lacked energy. courage, earnest
ness and skiu from the start.
and the Democratic party will
he held responsible tor the failure az The
Democratic party In tie senste 90 DO ,ts
.dnty. The Democratic party woaid do
vel 90 remember that Il = on tria. hefar.
the country. ana thus Tar il has ore.entsB
ssrec,sese Of cotnplete lmbeeigisv. so far
As manifesi.ng any capacity TO govern.
This ineapscity 70 govern has already COS;
the country millions, and Is lfkely % ca.t
u many millions moTe
When the people come 30 The poll. a.
the next congressional election no tic. If
party allegiance will keep thousand. ~
Democrats from voting dswn party that
naytgaiss the ship 81 stats Ike land,
man who eeald neither reef no- steer; IKE
aSassaWay blown So sea in a boat who's,
oars are useless because he does not knox
boa - roW
--~-~--------~--------~---~-
The womea of New Io4k state next
month vil be lawfully entitled g ross f,r