Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-21
HALT REVOLUTIONARY OBSTRUCTION.
Philadelphia Tunes.

PHILADELPHIA Tunes.
II has been boldly announced in the
Senate that unless the majority OF that
body shall amend the tariff bill to con-
ciliate the minority party, revolutionary
obstruction will be persisted in TO the
extent of defeating the passage OF any
tariff bill. Senator Hale distinctly an
nounced the purpose OF the minority 10
pursue the revolutionary tactics inaugu-
rated by Senator Quay unless assurance
should be given that the tariff bill as
amended in the Senate shall not be ma
terially amended in committee Of con-
ference. Thus, the minority Of the first
legislative tribunal OF the nation deli
berstely and defantly proclaims its pur-
pose to persist in revolutionary measures
10 defeat the legitimate legislative pur-
pose OF the maj Ority Of that body.
Let the Senate look the issue square
ly in the face. What is commonly call
ed "flibustering" is, in that body,
simply revolutionary action. There is
no law TO limit debate, simply because
the United States Senate when organ
lied assured that there could never be
any necessity for such reStrainSt upon
Senators. They trusted TO the dignity
aud decency OF Senators ever 10 main
tain the highest legislative decorum In
that body. and no previous question Is
incorporated into the rules simply be-
cause no one then conceived that the
time could ever come when Senator OF
the United States would come 10 play
the pOt-house politician by fli6usteriug
against the will OF the majority. For
ons hundred years that assumption OF
the fathers OF the Senate has been vim
dicated. but lately the housing owls
have crowded into the eagles nest, and
we find the methods Of the ward con-
Vention heller forced upon the United
States Senate.
VINO would have dared 20 ask Seward
or Chase OF Sumner or Wilson or Hale
10 resort 10 revolutionary measures 20
defeat the passage OF the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise in 1854? They
had the power 70 do IL by adopting the
methods of the little effigies Of Sena-
torisl dignity adopted to-day. They
were the founders and leaders OF the
great Republican party. They opposed
the reckless legislation OF the Demo
Gratis of that day with matchlesS ability
bate was exhausted they bowed 10 the
mastery Of the majority, and no one
yentured TO criticize them for not de-
generating into mean revOlutionists.
In like manner the reconstruction
measures, passed in a tempest OF par
tisan passion, could have been defeated
by she minority, but no one dreamed Of
such revolutionary action in the Senate
OF that day. II was not until the Quays
and Chambers became Senatorial lead
ers that this systematic degradation Of
the Senate was conceived.
II this resistance Of the will Of the
majority had the sanction of either law
or custom II might be excused, but IL is
wholly revolutionary. IL is a fragrant
affront to the dignity and decency OF
the United States Senate, and it should
be halted by measures within the rules,
II possible, or by measures without the
rules, If necessary. Being revolutionary
and against the whole genius OF govern
ment by the majority, il il can be over
thrown only by revolutionary remedies
they should be promptly adopted. And
Ia adopting them there should be no
pretense OF anything but the truth. Let
40 be declared that IL revolution will
persist in attempting 10 master the ma
tOrity OF the Senate, revolutionary &C
ton shall halt it; and when that issue
shall be distinctly presented, the men
who have dishOnored the Senate by fill
clustering will doubtless hide from them
selves and permit the majority to rule.
Let there be no tempOrizing on this
issue. IL is the duty OF the majority
Of the Senate to legislate. That duty
Is paramount, and II there is no other
method OF legislating as the majority de-
sire 10 legislate, let revolutionary action
In vindicatIon OF the majority defeat
the revolutionary action Of the minority.
The Democrats have the power to do
this; they have the majority and they
have the presiding officer, and it is
their first duty in the present emer-
Rency 20 halt revolutionary obstruction.