The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-25
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25. 1894.
TWELVE PAGES.
uNsouND PROPOSITIONS.

The speech which Mr.. Bland made In
the House OF Representatives on Friday
deserves much more than a passing com
n.ent. lie stated propositions hat at
tack the vey foundations Of free and
republican government, ard we cannot
permit them TO pass without declaring
cur most emphatic dissent from them
and the grounds upon which that dissent
rests. Mr.. Bland said that on the day
before he had seen members rise in their
seats and boast that they had set ut de-
fiance the writ and order Of the House.
lie declared that this was anarchy and
that II some one in the gallery should
throw dynamite explosive bomb down
amongst the members he would be no
more nor less an anarchist than the mem
bers mentioned were.
This statement exhibits such a pitiable
ignorance upon Mr.. BANDS part Of the
rest elementary principles of our inst-
,utional law that it is hardly entitled
10 rctice. II Jones meets Smith in the
street and with no warrant for 1T he takes
him by the collar TO lead him TO some
place 10 which Smoth does not wish to
go, Il IS naked tresspsss upon Jones
part which Smith is justified in resisting
10 the point OF taking Jones life If no.
thing short OF that will suffice Tor re-
polling Jones attack. 1t is the same thing
exactly II Jones has a pretended war
rant for what he does, which. when prop
ely examined, is no warrant authorized
by the law. This is a principle in the
laws of all nations. and Mr.. Bland could
see 1t repeatedly declared to be a part
OF our institutional law by the Supreme
Court of he United States particularly
I'm the case OF Poindcxter vs.. Greenhow,
III u. S. r.. and the other Virginia
coupon cases. Now the warrant Of the
House which members declared they would
resist was one i'm which no particular
members were named. II was general
order TO the Sergeant at Arms to arrest
any members that he pleased. That Il
was perfectly void warrant is as plain
rs the ncon-day sun. it was repeu-
ton OF what George Ill, in his most ty-
rannical days. attempted TO impose upon
the Er glish eople which produced very
nearly n revolution in England and would
probably have actually done so IL the
Court OF Kirgs Bench had not decided
that such warrants were void. in the ia
nous case OF Money VS.. Leach. The
members had perfect right, therefore to
un1tlH this order
and warrant Of the House at defiance,
because the House had no more authority
70 make It than Jones would have 10 drag
Smith along by the collar in the case sup
posed. So much for that point.
Mr.. Bland next declared that IL was the
duty Of members TO attend in their seats
end vote upon every roll call. This, OF
course. IS a revival OF some OF the ques-
lions so much debated when Mr.. Reed
was Speaker of the House. We have
very decided ideas upon this subject, ana
We shall take pains TO set them out with
dsstinctness We believe IN the princi
PIE that the majority has the RICH. -
rule, and we insist that 1t IS revolutlan
Tor inluOflly 10 interfere VIII l.
right In the majority unless they have
t>p'icit rule Of their body giving e.
the right to interfere. 1t was for II
rvason that. during the contest over tie
repeal OF the Sherman law, We insist
that 1t was the duty OF the Senate 10
make a rule that would enable the. MAORI.
~ TO bring debate to an end and force a
vote.
But that is very different PROPOSE
ton from the one for which Mr.. Bland
nov contends. He insists that 1t IS the
duty OF a member to vote when he Is In
his seat and Dir. Reed carried that prin-
oiple to the point OF counting the member |
who refused 20 vote as peing present so /
As 10 create a quorum which would not |
exist without counting him. We refuse /
20 accept the proposition Of either Mr. |
Bland or Dir. Reed.
majority OF the House has a right TO |
pass any measures that that majority |
thinks should be passed. and II has the
right 10 make any rule that It thinks wise
for terminating discussion OF H. and
bringing on vote upon 1t. Blu, It must
be majority OF the House for IL to have
ths right ana power. No less than a