The herald., 1893-10-12


bility for what is to follow must rest on
you, as we'll as its physical effects on
the Individual senator's"
VOORHEES, ACCEPTS THE Def.
Voorhees, replied at great length
1--WE will see who fails in this tra1sac-
tion before we are DONE" said ne, and
asked the aenator from Idaho whether
he would fix day to take vote.
Dubois said there were distinguished
senators who had not talked on the SUBJ
j6ct, and be could not nor could anyone
else cay when the debate would prob
ably close.
81 understand the situation perfect
ly,' said Voorhees,, and added that this
episode in the history Of the senate
would result in reforming the rules. l
believe" said he, ''this body should
have rules by which to conclude discus
sion and reach vote, higher, more rea-
eonable, more sensible and more decent
than the rule on which we are entering
now. The opponents of this bill will
not name any day for vote. They will
resort to dilatory measures to prevent
action being taken at all. Who is
to quit? Sir, / would rather be
carried from this desk feet foremost and
put to sleep at my home in Terre Haute
forever, than to yield the principle that
the majority has right to govern. |
stand here for the highest principle Of
free government known to history. We
started in here some weeks ago to dis
cuse the repeal OF q bad measure of
financial legislation. We have reached
the question of free government. We
have reached the question OF constltu-
tional government. We have reached
the question whether or not we have a
government that can administer itself.
Idle, vapid talk takes place in the papers
in regard to abolishing the senate OF the
United States. The senate no more can
be abolished than can the constitution,
for it is great part thereof, but it can
be governed by rules of it's own making
90 as to make it self acting and proper
and reasonable body of legislators.
THE RIGHTS OF MINoRrrIEs.
81 am tender of minorities," continued
Voorhees,; ''I would not iniure the
minority, but shall the minority govern :?
Answer me. Shall the minority govern :?
Somebody has to rule; somebody has to
control this government. Shall it be the
minority or the majority? Tine senator
from Idaho signifed the possibility that
they had majority. Then let us ascer-
tain that by a vote, and we will submit
to it gladly, willingly, if we are in the
minority. Will you not? Then the
question comes whether we have gov
eminent at all. l stand here tonight,
not talking compromise | etand for the
rule of the majority. There is mighty
principle involved in this, and if l go
down will 60 dow n with my flag nailed
to the masthead. If compromise is to
take place on the principle that the
minority has the right to dictate, it will
be by others, not by me-"
Harris (Dem.) of Tennessee and Jones
Oem.) of Arkansas said they voiced the
sentiment of several senators when they
declared they would never vote for un-
conditional repeal, and that Voorhees,
could have as long session rs he liked.
STEP BEYOND THE ISSUE.
Butler (Dem.) of South Carolina, said
Voorhees, had gone step beyond the
issue when he said the question was
now confronting the senate whether the
government should stop, whether the
senate was capable of self-governmene.
sis the country to be impressed with
the conviction, because repeal cannot
pass the senate" said Butler, "that
there is revolution in the country and
the senate cannot government itself? l
submit, in common fairness to those
who are opposing it, that the conclusion
is neither legitimate, logical nor fair.
This bill is not pivot upon the gov
eminent hangs, but an edict has gone
forth, and the country's government
must stop unlil the bill does pass, and
we must, perhaps, obey. For one will
not obey 30 long as | have power under
the constitution to express my disobe-
dience."
THERE MUST BE QUORUM.
Dolph OF Oregon read from the Con-
gressional Record extracts from the
debate on the federal elections bill some
years ago. to show that those on the
Democratic side were not always willing
for the majority to rule. The majority
did moi rule on that occasion. ''I will
etay as long aa the senator from Indiana
DESIRES" said Dolph, "but if their fails
to be quorum am going home."
THE PoPULIsT BIG GUN.
From O'Clock until IL O'Clock the
debate continued without any unusual
features, Allen still retaining the floor.
The crowd in the galleries did not di-
minish until IL O'Clock. Gradually the
senators commenced vanishing, and as
midnight approached less than a dozen
were in their seats. But the thunderous
vsslee of the big Populist from Nebraska
showed no signs OF weakening. OF 29
books which he had stacked upon his
desk, only three had been opened. The
remaining 26 represented go much
stored up ability TO talk against time.
Exactly at IL O'Clock Dubois arose and
remarked, as he looked about the cham
ber: "Mr. President, believe ouor-
um is not present." The vice president
directed the clerk to call the roll From
the cloak rooms and entrances senators
crowded into the chamber. When the
roll call was completed, Stevenson an
noanced that 55 senators were present.
q quorum, and directed Senator Allen to
proceed. The Nebrasksn promptly took
the floor and the quorum as promptly
began disappearing through the cloak
room doors.
ANOTHER ROLL CALL.
At y: AS Senator dubois again called
attention to the fact that no quorum
was present, and the occupants of the
cloak rooms again filed hastily into the
chamber and the vice-president an
nounced 53 senators, quorum, present,
After several sarcastic passages between
Palmer OF Illinois, White OF Louisiana,