The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-10-25
Senatorial Tits.

The senate during the past week has
been the scene of gladiatorial interest,
and the fact that democratic gladiators
have now aud then stretched brother
democrats ION the bloody sands"
and the applauding galleries, with
thumbs turned down, have spurred the
heroes to carry their cOnquests to the
EXTREMIST limit, has given rare interest
and excitement to scenes. Senator
Morgan of Alabama had charged that
there was a coalition between republi-
cans and democrats to repeal the pur-
chase clause of the Sherm IN act, aud
launched out into a somewhat elaborate
refutation, when Senator Washburn OF
Minnesota denied the charge. There
upon the following colloquy was
evolved from that musty tradition called
senatorial courtesy:
Mr. Morgan Gmpatiently)-Now stop.
did not yield the floor absolutely.
Mr.. Washburn-I beg pardon.
Mr.. Morgan-Sit down then
Mr. Washburu-I want to defend myself.
Mr.. Morgan-You are getting yourself
into controversy in which you are not
concerned. l had not you in mind at all.
| never thought of your being leader in
the republican party. CLaughter)
Mr. WaShburn-No, sir; but desire not
to be stampeded or insulted.
Mr.. Morgan-I stand here responsible for
every word speak responsible here and
outside either. Now you understand that.
Perfectly responsible.
Mr.. Morgan referred 10 Mr.. Sherman
as one Of the leaders of the coalition on
the republican side, and said that he
never had followed and never could
follow the lead of that senator on any
subject, political or financial. He also
connected with the coalition what he
called, disdainiully, the Juveniles from
Massachusetts, aud New York." mean
ing Senators Lodge and Hill. AS 10
the establishment Of a closure rule, he
said:
defy you to pass a closure rule here.
You cannot alarm me into subordnation to
your scheme by anything of that kind.
am not going to follow the lead of any man
or set of men, or to surrender my constitu-
tional rights, in response to bowling, ram
pant demands of concessions to the national
banks. If | must die here, will die like
an honorable man, at my post"
In this burst of defiant heroism Mr..
Morgan's vaulting rhetoric o'erleaped
itself. 1t brought Senator Hill, the
"juvenile " from New York, into the
ring, and the doughty confederate Nor
gan was placed hOrs du combat in a
twinkling. By way of whetting his
lance, Senator Hill said:
Let me state what my proposition is.
According to the ordinary principle of par
liamentary proceedings claim first that it
is within the power of the presiding officer
lin the absence of express rules to the con-
trary) to determine the presence of quo.
rum. My second proposal is that there is
no rule of the senate which expressly, or
even implicitly, forbids the action"
He then proceeded to pay his re.
spects to Mr.. Morgan as having spoken
CONTEMPORARY ofthe politicians of Now
York.
81 admit that there are politicians there,
but they are politicians in the highest and
best sense of the term. OF course ironically
there are no politicians down in Alabama
They are all statesmen down in that coun-
try. Laughter 1t does not lie in the
mouth of that senator to reflect on the demo.
cratic party of the great Empire state
Elections there are as honest as elections in
Alabama. The senator has spoken of his
lifelong devotion to the constitution. 1t
may be so. / had supposed that for a brief
period my friend had been supporting an.
other constitution, but | may be mistaken
Laughter and applausel AS to talk about
dying at his post, the senators heard like
statements by men who were going to die
in the last ditch but there are many Of
them left" Renewed laughter.