Washington sentinel., 1900-07-28

THE NEXT The composition
of the next House
of Representatives
seems to be giving the Republican
managers much trouble. 1t GER
tainly should. Even with their
colossal gall and efrontery they
hardly expect to capture a major
itY Of the members. Still doubt
less no effort will be left undone by
them to that end. The fact that
they express doubt is suspicious.
1t may mean that they expect 70
flnd the Democrats Mapping. This
must be avoided. For no greater
calamity could happen the coun-
try than that the next House OF
Representatives should be Repub-
lican in ase Mckinley should
steal the election.
The present Republican major
ity has been eowardly, subservient
and corrupt. 1t has obeyed the
mandates Of Hanna, not only with
out a murmur, but apparently
reVelling in its subserviency. The
nerveless and colorless Speaker
has been content to take his cue
from the White House. The lead
ers on the floor OF the House have
openly changed their principles,
and boastinglY gloried in their
shame. This was notably so in
the case Of the Porto Rico Tariff
bill. In fact representative gov
ernment has ceased TO exist in the
United States of America. Nc
Kinley, arbitrarily and uneonsti-
tutionally exercising the war
power OF the Government, has so
added to his patronage that mis-
sway has become autocTatic.
The name of Civil Service still
exists in some of the departments,
bu: Il is only the shadow OF its
former sell. None but careless or
servile Democrats have been left
in positions OF trust or profit. To
all others the mandate has gone
forth that they must not even
"tallk" against the Administration.
A Republican ex-soldier was dis
missed for writing some mild crit
icisms OF the Presidents political
junketings. And so imperialism
grows apace, Republican Con-
gressmen have refused to attend
Boer meetings on the plea that
they would have something to ask
from the President, and could not
afford to risk incurring his dis
pleasure. Day after day the pap
ers here announced that this, that
and the other Congressman has
called on the President for some
thing tor their constituents. They
have been begging. like so many
mendicants, the crumbs that fall
from the Presidential table.
To continue this thing if McKin-
ley should be reelected would
mean irreparable damage to our
institutions. II Mr.. Bryan is
elected, and all signs point that
way, we want a House OF Repre-.
sentatives in harmony with him, on
i'm 2erialism at least. But as we
have said, should Mckinley be the
next President, which may the
gods forbid, it is imperative that
the House OF Representatives
should be strongly Democratic.
What a world of expense, OF
trouble, OF sorrow, Of shame, we
would have been spared, if the
present House were Democratie1
But considering the present out
look, with Cuba and Porto Rico in
sullen silence, with the Filipinos
actively hostile, with the great un-
known facing US in China, with the
brutal and despotic and blood
thirsty war spirit abroad, nurtured
and encouraged by such veneered
savages as Roosevelt. every man
who loves the Republic should see
to it that there is a Democratic
House to curb the power OF the
forces that are undermining its in
Auence.
The present leader oil the DEM
ocratic minority, Hon. James d,
Richardson, has shown himself a
man of resources, OF tact, and oI