Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-10-18
Never surrender,
louisville Cour'er-Journa'.

of the senate about o'clock FRIDAY
morning without a vote on the repeal
5ill was result which was not. in
the nature Of the case. unexpected.
As the Courier-Journal pointed out
before the beginning OF the session.
the minority in such 4 contest had
all the advantage, and it was only 4
matter of time and persistent defiance
OF the popular will on the part OF
that minorityswhen the majority. un-
der the slavish observance OF the
present outrageous rules OF the SEN
ate, would be compelled to acknowl-
edge their weakness.
The result, however. i not a de-
feat for repeal unless the majority
choose to make it such. 1t leaves the
issue Just where it was before the
trial of physical endurance began. and
has accomplished nothing Tor either
side except to confirm the fillibusters
in their confidence III such tactics OF
obstruction and to show the repeal
men that they must rely upon some
thing more than the mere bodily eN-
haustion OF their adycrSarieS.
1t also ought to strengthen them
in the resolution never to surrender.
The people OF this country have not
inherited and maintained a govern
ment whose legislation must nc de-
cided by the physical powers OF their
senators. The state legislatures.
while often choosing United States
senators on other grounds than in
tellectual fitness. have never selected
them for their physical prowess. A
majority Of the people have put the
government in the hands of the pres
ent administration and the present
congress. A few members of one
branch of that congress claim and
assert the right to dispute and de-
strOy the power of all majorities I'M
der our system OF government by ma
jorities. In resisting that assump-
tion the majority are engaged in 4
contest in which there is far more at
stake than the fate OF the repeal bill.
If n minority can prevent n vote on
that bill minority can prevent it
on all bills, block all Legislative ac-
ton and destroy absolutely the
power of the people to govern them
selves through the institutions which
they have established as their sole
instruments of self-government.
We sincerely hope that the repeal
senators, confessed by their oppo-
nents to be in a clear majority of the
senate, will neither capitulate to, nor
dicker with, this insolent and desper-
ate band of buccaneers. To treat
with them now would be as pusilla-
nimous as to surrender, and to sur
render would be not only to throw
the prosperity of the country as boo
ty to them, but to abandon every
prerogative with which the people
have invested congress and forsake
every duty which they have imposed
upon it. II the majority will not
brush aside the rule which permits
indefinite obstruction-surely q
flimsy and TRIVIAL bit of senatorial
furniture to be held more sacred than
the rights of democracy and the in
terests of the entire country!-then
there is but one course to be followed
with consistency, courage and honor.
That is, to keep the repeal bill con
stantly before the senate, if need be
suntil the expiration of congress, al
lowing no measure to supplant it,
insisting upon the right to put it to
vote, spurning every suggestion OF
compromise, conceding to the usurp.
ing minority not one iot or little
and placing upon them the response.
bility of stopping entirely the wheels
of legislation. That course will hold
these men up to an outraged and in.
dignant nation as no other could and
lift should not ultimately result il
their abandonment of their present
position and their recognition of the
right of the people to make theil
own laws through the majority o
their chosen lawmakers, then moth
ing else short of Reputation of the
existing idiotic senate rules would