The times., 1897-04-23
The Rebtike Miltonian.

Seldom If ever has q thing SO serious
happened within the Republican fold as
occurred in the Senate on Wednesday,
when the venerable and outwardly Pick
wicllan senator from Massachusetts, criti-
cised the Autocrat of the suppressed House
OF Representatives for prosecuting the
vicious aud Illegal course familiar to the
country We have examined the records
for parallel instance. and find one only
in Milton on Paradise-chapter and sec
ton unimportant-wh Senator Satan
rebukes Speaker Sin for conduct subversive
of the universal cons dtution. The only
material difference between the two
episodes appears to be that the ancient
one did not have any future popular cleo
tions In view, while ii may be taken for
granted that the modern instance did;
and in this reflection there is ground for
encouragement
Evidently Senator Hoar is not obIlv1ous
to the outcry OF the American people
against the audaCious suppression of the
House OF Representatives by it's Speaker
and the usurpation by him Of all its
prerogatives and functions. This is a
good sign; because, il the national indig-
nation has force sufficient to penetrate
the pachydermatous partisanship of the
aged Senator, it must, indeed, be uni
versaI, violent and dangerous Any party
ofTense which to his Illuminated vision
likely to cause trouble, must be almost
tho criminal 10 bear discussion In print.
Therefore it is probable that we shall
Room witness the ceremony of raising the
Republican umbrella to ward off the
gathering storm.
The difficulty is that the Autocrat may
be able single-handed TO keep the umbrella
down For some time IL has been a serious
question whether one properly could include
the Autocrat in speaking Of the party,
Or whether the Autocrat should be consid-
Pred as including the party. 1t is reason
ably clear that the great man from Maine
has adopted the latter theory, and cir
runsta noes seem TO justify him in doing
30, We have seen him placidly pigeon
holipG important matters that have come
10 him from the Senate; matters siren
uodSly urged upon his immediate atten-
hon by his former political co-parceners
In that chamber, and we have viewed
with alarm his relegauion to the shades
of other pressing matters, presented to
him by the executive branch of the Gov
erEment. In such ways the conviction
has been progressively forced upon the
country, that the Republican party, con-
sidered representauvely in the National
Capital, has departed this life, and has
devised it's powers and effects to a party
by tire name of Reed.
All this could be contemplated with
serenity If the ambition of the Autocrat
only aimed at the absorption of his own
party; but since IL goes farther, fnoites
him to .iolate the Constitution, and to
close an important branch of the Govern
ment to the legitimate business of the
people. the whole nation becomes inter-
ested, and, before long, will make itself
interesting 10 the Autocrat, the whipped
and subservient Republican majority in
the suppressed House, and to all concerned
An the conspiracy against the right of the
people 10 self-government.
1t lis not surprising that individual Re
publicans are taking alarm, or that they
are being threatened by angry constituen-
c,es with political determination If they
do not rebel We never have entertained
any exalted idea of their courage when
it should come TO the point of an open
attack upon the Autocrat. OF course, they
have the power in their hands, and the
country will hold them Jointly od sew