Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-17
Mr.. Reeds Triumph

| to do the bu-iness OF the nation upon their
own me thods of procedure the Democrats
of the National House of Representatives
have been forced to adopt the famous
Reed tuics," and emporer the speaker to
count, for the purposes Of quorum, mem
bers present in the hall and not voting.
It is needless to say that this surrender
to what they have derisively termed Reed
| ism" came only as last resort. 1t
vas the triumph of common sense over
partisan obstinary and big ,iry. The Demo
cratic party Is always lolth to do the right
| thing. The present case is no exception to
the rule. The vocabulary OF vitupera,ion
and approbrium was exh ,usted by the mem
bers of that party in exscratons of the
Reed rules" They were stgma,iz i IS
unconstitu iOnal. and tyrannical and their
author was denounced as a "tzlr." Fore
most in the fulminations of this
character was the present speak
er of tie National House Ind ed, il
was his sonorous promin nee IN this con
test of lungs, this iyalry of epithe's, tina,
| fist distinguished him among the members
of hi' party. If he hal previously done
| Anything to attract pubic att, ntion to him
self, it had escaped the attention of his
coun,rymcn.
To this class of men he lea of en-
dor ing the Reed rules" was repulsive
in the extreme. They were chagrine3
beyond expression when the supreme
court pronounced them CONSTITUTIONAL
They still contented themselves with re-
iterating the "tyrannicsr' portion Of their
TRADE bu, their voices had hollow sound.
Speaker Crisp took occasion very soon
after the converting of the present Congress
to have the word go forth that under no
circumstances must the bis Democratic ma
jority in the National House be inve igled
into action that would directly or indirectly
sanction the Reed rules" lie lost no
opportunity to publicly announce his
supreme satisfaction tina, the unterrifed
and unwashed, Democracy were above the
nece ssity of such action. As a result of
this obstinate determination not to do the
right thing, because Mr.. Reed had done it,
the country has for months past, been the
witness of an amazing scene. A House of
Representatives with nearly 100 Democratic
maj ,rity, has been so bound hy parliamen-
tary manscles of it's own forging, that it
has been utterly powerless to transact the
public business.
den. 1t has met day after day only to adj
| journ because the roll calls have failed to
show tn a quorum was present, though
the fact was plainly apparent to the senses.
! Such evidence however, is not acceptable
to most Democrats, especially those from
the South, who often see things so f,ntas-
tic and intangible as to lose all faith In their
eyesight.
| 1t is needless to Say thst the
country, beset by the hard times that have
GENE about under Democratic rule, has
grown more and more impatient of the dc =
| lay and inactivity of do nothing Congress.
| They have had ample opportunity to note
the utter incompetency of the Democratic
| party to deal with national affairs. Their
| disgust has found vigorous express
sion at the polls wherever opportunity
has afforded. This fact has not
been without its effect upon Demo
cratic congressman, especially those from
/ Northern states. Political oblivion has no
charms for them. They are worried at the
outlook. They have been DESTROYS of in
dulging Speaker Crisp as far as possible,
bu; they are not Nilling that he should tide
them to their political graves. They have
come slowly to the belief that the much
/ abused Reed RULES" are the only ones I'M
der which the business of the National House
can be promptly and properly transacted.
More than that. they have come to believe
| that their onlf hope OF political salvation
lies in the adoption of the Freed rules"
The Democratic caucus, which convened
for this purpose was an angry one. Speak
or Crisp, and a small cote'ie of henchmep,
who stood by him 10 his determination not
| to surrender TO what he has been pleased to
| te' IN the Reed system protested vigorously
against the proposed action. They declsred,
sni tru,hfully so, ths, such action would be
! 8 complete viudication of the course pnr-
sued by the publicsns of the ffty.irst
Cor gress under the leadership of Speaker
Il ed. Speaker Crisp and other Democratic
leaders having publicly declared that the
msia purpose of Mr.. Reed ia the presen,
Congress has been to force il to adopt the
Reed system, the hour of surrender was
/ specially full of humiliation to them. They
were exsspersted beyond expression and