St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-03
REDUCED TO A MOB.

Yesterday the evidence of the full
fillment of Speaker Reeds boast was
at hand. The house of representatives
derided and trod upon the idea that
1t should be considered "deliberative
body" 1t refused permission to con-
slider, to debate, to examine the reso-
lutions relating to the recognition of
Cuba. In tempest of excitement, reck-
ing nothing Of formality, of propriety,
of decency, it howled down everybody
who tried to speak or asked to speak.
A matter which relates TO the fortunes
Of three peoples, upon which may hang
possibly a destructive war between two
nations, was passed upon under the
gag law procedure which marks the
administration of Mr.. Reed and the
Republican party; and the utmost con-
cession that could be wrung from the
majority was thirty-five minutes for
debate on each side, under the ten
minute rule. 1t is a record to strike
us with shame before all the world.
The readers of the G l O are in no
doubt as to its position on the Cuban
question. 1t is not now the merits Of
that question that are in controversy.
1t is the method of action of the Re-
publican house, in it's agony of fear
lest some political capital might escape
1t. To prevent that it trampled upon
the usages of legislative bodies, alb
d1cated reason, forbade debate on a
matter involving the life or death of
nations, and drowned remonstrance
with imperative cries of vote" No
such exhibition was ever seen in this
country before. 1t cannot be defended
on the ground that the house was anx-
tous to facilitate the recognition of
the Cuban belligerents, because 1t was
already committed to a policy that
postpones this consummation. There
were before it the resolutions adopted by
the senate on Saturday. If any action
should be taken by congress, which is
an open question at this time, the SEN
ate resolutions are much better than
those approved by the house. They
say that belligerency should be recog-
nized, and urge that the friendly Of
dces of this country be employed to
secure Cuban independence. The house
resolutions cover the same ground, with
a lot of extra verbiage, and add an
offensive threat of intervention. which
leaves no room for amicable adjust
ment. They go too far or else not
far enough. By accepting the senate
resolutions the house would have
gained time. 1t hung up the whole
question by bringing in it's own, while
1t denied fair or decent space for their
consideration.
This is the view of people every
where, however much they may svm-
pathize with Cuba, who regard govern
ment as something more than the
mere bowling of a mob. The New
York Evening Post, which admits that
we have the right to interfere in Cuba.
and that 1t may be our duty to inter
fere, says: 1--WE should interfere as
a Great Power, and not as a SYM
pdIheIlc MOP; as a civilized govern
ment and not a lynching party" Be-
fore any action should be taken. If
says that there should be a full ex-
animation and debate. The New York
Tribune, which cannot be suspected
of criticising the majority in the house
In an unfriendly spirit, is equally en-
phatic. 1t applauded the act of Mr..
Boutelle in objecting to the Immediate
passage Of these resolutions. 1t says
that "the ultimate crisis in Cuban af-
fairs should not be precipitated, and
the issues of peace and war between
this country and Spain should not be
disposed Of off-hand, while members of
the house are already putting on their
overcoats to hurry away to dinner"
1t argues that the resolutions either
mean something, or they do not. If
the latter, there is no need of haste.
If the former, "let it be fully under
stood by the house and the country
what their meaning really is"
These were the views of a leading
Republican organ upon the programme
prepared by Republican leaders of the