The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-25
FIREWORKS IN THE SENATE.


FIREWORKS IN THE SENATE.
From the N, Y. Times
The Senate has Joined in the general pas
time of letting off fre-crackers. Il has Just
prepared five for the especial benefit of the
insurgents in Cuba. Like other compost
tions of the same kind, they will splutter
and ''fzz" for brief space, and then be no
more seen or heard. Mr.. Sumner can be
almost as skilful as Mr.. Banks in the manu-
facture of these noisy but useless articles,
when he is in the mind. His hand is very
plainly to be seen in the new Cuban
resolutions reported from the Committee
on Foreign Relations. The rhetoric of
the resolutions is striking, although the
grammar is defective-a fault which may
perhaps be ascribed to the heat of the
weather. Jaded Senators are apt to fly in the
face of Lindley Murray when the dog-days
are close upon them.
The principal objection to these new reso-
lations is that they commit Congress to an
iDterposition in foreign affairs which would
be utterly without purpose or effect. The
voice of the United States ought never to be
raised in vain. If Congress is to interfere,
let it interfere in manner worthy of the
nation which it assumes to represent. The
system of "meddling and muddling" only
tends to weaken our influence abroad, and
consequently cduuOt pOSSlDly uelp any cause
in which we may happen to be interested.
Mr.. Summers resolutions amount to nothing
more than protest which may instantly be
shelved by the power to which it is addressed.
This is frittering away the influence right
fully possessed by Congress-. If we cannot
give any assistance to the cause of Cuban
independence, we need not go out of our
way to weaken those with whom we profess to
sympathise - .f.-- III. ....f ..-..-.-.s
fin foyo Of ;e
nearly enough to kill them. 'In the name
of humanity they (the people of the United
States) solemnly insist that these things
shall cease" ''Instead of terminating this
pretension at once, the Spanish Government
propose to protect it for an indefinite period
| by an impossible system of gradualism."
| The last sentence may we'll puzzle all the
| wise men of Spain. What is the use of ad-
| dressing remonstrance to a foreign power
| couched in the tone of stump speech? The
sentiment which is at the bottom of the
| resolutions is admirable. But Mr.. Sumner
! might have put in ten lines all that he has
| spun out into hundred. This style of
preaching" at Spain is worse than nonsen-
steal. Congress ought to do more than pass
windy resolutions, or else do nothing at all.
While the subject is thus being trihed with,
we learn that the Spanish authorities in
Cuba have been suddenly seized with great
anxiety to keep clear of awkward complica-
tions with American citizens. They have not
arrived at that frame of mind day too soon.
! We had submitted to as much abuse of their
power as we could we'll bear. Henceforth a
severe reparation will be exacted for every
outrage committed upon men who can law
fully claim the protection of our flag.
TERRIBLE SWEEP OF THE FOUR.
TENTH, AMENDMENT.
From the NJ " Sun.
Judge Bradley of the United States Su.
preme Court made very remarkable appli-
cation of some of the provisions of the four.
teenth amendment, while recently holding
the Circuit Court in New Orleans.
About year ago the Legislature of Louisi
ana passed an act forbidding the slaughterine
of animals in and around New Orleans, except
at specified points and under certain regula
tions The same act created corporation
called '.The Crescent City Live Stock LANDING
and Slaughter House Company" and con
ferred upon it the exclusive privilege o.
carrying on the business of slaughtering cattle
within the prescribed limits, though it wa
made the duty of the company to slaughte
cattle for any person on the payment of {
small fee. .-.,--.-,.--r ~.
Suits for violating the corporate privileges
of this company finally reached the United
States Court, and a bill in equity was ther,
filed to restrain the company from exercising
It's privileges under the act,- on the grOun(
that it was unconstitutional. Judge Bradle,
overruled the decision Of the State Court
which had sustained the validity of the act
and he held that it conficted with those pro
visions of the fourteenth amendment which
declare that no State shall make or enforc
any law which shall abridge the privileges o
immunities of citizens of the United States
nor shall any State deprive any persons o
life, liberty, or property, without due process
of law; nor deny to any person within it
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws
He also held that the Civil Rights bill CAV
the Federal Courts the authority to enforc
these provisions of the amendment. AM
therefore he pronounced the Louisiana lay
unconstitutional, and issued an injunction
against the company. ~,
The question is whether this novel decision
can stand fire. 1t has produced great com
motion in New Orleans, Judge Dibble of on
of the local courts, declaring that if it i
sound law, then ''Wendell Phillips construc
ton of the Government is true, and tn
States are reduced to mere counties" At al
events, if it is affirmed, then doubtless
good deal of the legislation of the States
and many of the ordinances of our cities
will come within the range of the fourteenth
amendment. r 4
Let monopolists of all grades hasten t.
make their peace with Judge Bradley by aban
donipg their exclusive privileges. Big Six i
especially in danger. What if we could ge
an injunction to deprive Tammany of powe
To rob the neonle of this citv .- ..-