The times., 1897-06-20
Circulation Statement.
WASHINGTON. SUNDAY. JUNE 20.
The Philosophy of Anarchy.

Ine Inilosophy or Anarchy.
We do not need 60 remind members
Of the suppressed House OF Representa-
tiyes that the body to which they have
been elected, hut in which they are not
permitted to exercise their constitutions al
rights, is in a state OF anarchy. Ii it
be possible that they are not aware Of
the fact, the country knows it well
enough, as one and all of them VIII
discover If they have the courage to go
home at the end of this extra session.
The philosophy Of the situation ought
to be plain enough to any man with
more brains than are contained in the
brass doorknob OF commerce. No rules
bind the Autocrat OF the House Why,
in heavens name, should they bind any
one else IN the outfit? Thomas Brackett
Reed cares nothing for the Cons strItion
of the United States, nor for the rules
adopted by tie House OF Representatives
He violates both whenever it suits his
personal purposes, or those of the gold
ring, the trusts and mo nopoIes, or the
Spanish legation.
Thomas Brackett Reed declares the
House adjourned for more than one day
in the absence OF a quorum. He declares
the House adjourned for four days with
out the consent of the Senate. In both
instances he contenns and defies the
Constitution OF the United States He
tells Representative Lewis of Washington
that a question of the foreign policy Of
the United States is not privileged, and
he tells Representative sulzer that mo-
ti1n to approve the Journal has precedence
over an antecedent motion to amend it. In
each case he places himself in direct an
tsgonisn. TO the rules Of tie House and
TO universal parliamentary law, prece-
dent and practice. Utterly lawless him
self, why should anybody else be less so,
where only anarchy reigns supreme?
If Mr. Lewis or Mr. Sulzer or Mr.. Any
body Else desires to speak, smoke, go to
sleep, throw an inkstand at MI Dfngiey,
or some other painful thing at Mr.. Payne,
there can be no House parliamentary lea
son why he should not do so. If GEN
Wheeler should take il into his head 90
get out his old Confederate cavalry saber
and charge on the Autocrat, there is not
the slightest active rule to prevent him;
or, IL Nh Clayton should be seized with
fancy to sing the Little Alabama Coon
,n the floor, and compel Mr.. Grosvenor
TO dance to his music. who shall say him
nay?
Let us always pray that we may be
consistent and logical Consistency and
ogic alike demand that suppressed mem
bers should get up and do something for
the honor of the country. We have point
ed out to them the dignified and decorous
course TO pursue; based upon the idea that
something might be done, decently and in
order, in spite OF the Autocrat. We have
recommended them to remain in session,
after an Illegal adjournment send for
absent members, and proceed with basi-
ness; but all in vain They do not seem
opportunities Nothing, then, is left but
toencOurage them TO place themselves upon
the anarchic level of the Autocrat, and
proceed to smash the furniture, or the
Autocrat, or something.
What they need most, and the Auto
crat, the country, and all hands, is an
object lesson. Thomas Bracket Reed has
invoked anarchy. Now is the accepted
time to give him full green corn, Gu
cuInber and watermelon s,lrfeit of IL