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

FIREWORKS IN THE SENATE.
From the NJ Y. Times.
The Senate has Joined in the general pas
time of letting off fre-crackers. It has Just
prepared five for the especial benefit of the
insurgents in Cuba. Like other compost
tons of the same kind, they will splutter
and ''fizz' for q brief space, and then be no
more seen or heard. Mr.. Summer 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 NAV
perhaps be ascribed to the heat of the
weather. Jaded Senatorsare 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
ipterposition 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 1t interfere in a manner worthy of the
nation which it assumes to represent. The
system of ''meddling and m1ddling" only
tends to weaken our influence abroad and
consequently cannot possibly help 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.. .r.. .-... - .-.... +. T.
The didactic tone of the resolutions is very
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 gradualsm."
The last sentence may we'll puzzle all the
wise men of Spain. What is the use of ad-
dressing remonstrance to 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 trifed 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
We had submitted to as much abuse of their
| power as we could well 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 Y. SUM-
| Judge Bradley of the United States Su-
| preme Court made very remarkable appl-
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 slaughtering
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 of
carrying on the business of slaughtering cattle
within the prescribed limits, though it was
made the duty of the company to slaughter
cattle for any person on the payment of a
small fee -,-...' ,-.,....,-.--. ~.
Suits for violating the corporate privileges
of this company finally reached the United
States Court, and bill in equity was there
filed to restrain the company from exercising
its privileges under the act, on the ground
that it was unconstitutional. Judge Bradley
overruled the decision of the State Courts
which had sustained the validity of the act,
and he held that it eonflicted with those pro-
visions of the fourteenth amendment which
declare that no State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges Oh
immunities of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any persons OF
life, liberty, or property, without due process
of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
He also held that the Civil Rights bill gave
the Federal Courts the authority TO enforce
these provisions of the amendment. And
therefore he pronounced the Louisiana Law
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 one
of the local courts, declaring that if it is
sound law, then 'Wendell Phillips construc
ton of the Government is true, and the
States are reduced to mere counties. At all
events, if it is affirmed, then doubtless 9
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. i. tsr. I'D
Let monopolists of all grades hasten tc
make their peace with Judge Bradley by aban
doning their exclusive privileges. Big Six is
especially in danger. What if we could gel
to rob the people of this city? 80
POLITICAL QUIET.
From the London Saturday ReoielO
In agitated times everything is agitated
and in quiet times everything is quiet. Why
this is no one can exactly say, but the trutl
of it is apparent to every one. Things are