New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-23
CLOSURE IN THE SENATE.

Senator Platts resolution submitting to the
Senate the closure rule ought to be adopted.
We are at one with Senator Lodge in holding
that although a closure rule would be made
use of to pass acts immensely more hurtful to
the country than the Silver law has been or
could be- yet the principle that there ought TO
be some way of forcing an obvious minority
to come to a vote is SO sound as to compel the
support of all fair and rational minds. Action
is the end and object Of discussion. and to allow
discussion to defeat action is Supremely 1ldlcu-
lous The etiquette which passes under the
name of Senatorial courtesy is admirable so
long as it is true etiquette. But it is a kind
of etiquette which constantly runs into out
rage 1t is the obligation of every Senator to
listen so Aong as any associate has anything
to say on pending question, but he is net
saying anything when he is talking against
time. And Senators who will consent to en-
ploy the etiquette of the body OF which they
are members to abuse that very fairness that
gives them the opportunities TO talk at VIII
deserve no consideration. Demanding courtesy,
they are themselves most unmannery De-
manding fairness, they are themselves working
injury to others. Demanding rights. they are
infringing on the rights of everybody else.
There is nothing to do with them but to sup
press them
Applying this view 10 the situation at Wash
ington, however. the outlook for the adoption
of a closure rule is by no means fair. The
Democratic party. with a majority of five in The
Senate though distinctly pledged to repeal the
Sherman act. has an actual majority against
repel and has no intention Of taking any
action that will make repeal possible. 1t can
not overcome its essential character as party
of opposition and destruction. 1t is never in
favor of anything, except of getting itself in
Office. 1t has no views except that everything
the Republicans do is wrong. 1t has no rem
edies, no convictions. 1t is cratic and habby.
To expect it to adopt law because it Is right
rather than because it will obtain patronage
is to expect the impossible. IL avails nothing
TO remind Democrats Of their platform, for at
once they all set about explaining that IT
doesn't mean what its words mean, and that
if only means whatever any individual Demo
crat chooses TO have it mean at a particular
time and for his particular purpose. Words
never were put together the sense OF which
was more entirely clear than the words in
which the Democratic Convention at Chicago
told the people that if a Democratic Presiden
was elected and Democratic majority placed
in both houses of Congress the Sherman act
would be repealed. A Democratic President
was elected. and Democratic majority was
returned to both houses of Congress But the
| Sherman law is not repealed, and everybody
knows that if its repeal depended upon Demo-
cratic votes. it never would be. 1t is party
of destruction, of opposition, and it will never
give I'D the use Ct 50 effective tool for OPP
posing and destroyn as the right of unlimited
debate.
The country has obtained the measure Oh
this Congress pretty accurately. 1t is Con-
gress in which the business interests of the
people have no standing. receive no serious at
tenton and can secure no protection or sup
port. 1t is a Congress in which scheme OF
partisan advantage has the first place and re-
ceves the unanimous and hearty attention OF
the Democratic majority Nothing can be done
10 alay commercial panics, to restore conf
dence to the business world, to maintain the
financial credit Of the country to build M It's
business interests. bring ont its resources and
develop IFS industry. On those subjects Demo
Gratis will talk. but they will never progressively
act. But no limit is to be placed on their en-.
thusiasm or their fertility Of resource when q
scheme is proposed ont of which they can OBJ
tain partisan advantage. They can secure
closure for that readily enough Quarrel a
they NAV on matters relating 70 commerce ant
affairs. they are Of one mind. one eve. one
voice and one hand in schemes TO corrupt the
ballot and rob the people of their right TO rule
T.. /. Al, a. no,nncratir