The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-06
Parliamentary Disorder.

The parliamentary tactics of that distin-
guished statesman, Tittlebat Titmouse, Esq,
seem to be in great favor in Washington. It
will be remembered that his great effort in the
House Of Commons consisted in growing like
q cock. The House of Representatives is full
Of roosters, az was proved by the proceedings
on Wednesday and Thursday. First of oil,
and after all his qualifications and evasions,
General Butler called the white people of the
South banditti and horse thieves. Such Ian
guage called for severe rebuke, not so much
from the Southern members Is from the
Speaker. Had Mr.. Blaine checked Butler as
he endeavored to check Brown on the follow
ing day there the matter would have ended
but, failing to do it, Nh. Mclean, Of Texas,
came to the surface for the first time in Ian
euage as obnoxious a. it was ul-judged. In
calling Butler . murderer he exceeded all
bounds Of decency and propriety and COM
mitted breach Of decorum for which no re-
buke would be sufficient punishment His
language was inexcusable, whatever tho provo
cation, and he ought to be taught that such
words are not to be uttered with impunity on
tho floor of the House. Here, again, the
Speaker failed in his duty. Nor did Mr.. Ran
dalrs coarseness nor Mr.. Cox's frivolity
help matters. Both OF these gentlemen
should have been checked in their foolish
remarks, especially the latter, whose infantile
taunts were only intended to provoke personal
i'll feeling. It was in bad taste to remind Cen
eral Butler of his recent defeat, especially in
the terms in which Mr.. Cox chose to remind
him of it, and for Cox to do it while holding
q seat that he only obtained by the death of
another member was particularly inappropri-
gained for the House the name of ''bear gar
den," and it reflects grea. discr~dit on all
concerned in it. The motives which prompted
it are even more discreditabl, than the scene
itself. Like bad actors, who are never happy
unless they con see their names in the news
papers, these bellicose Congressman were only
seeking notoriety of which more scrupulous
people would have been ashamed, and we are
afraid the episode teaches that q proper sense
of shame is not a quality possessed by the
average Congressman.
The proceedings on Thursday were even
more outrageous than those of the preceding
day. Mr.. Browns language, as applied to
General Butler, was something so extremely
offensive that q reprimand would have been
q very slight punishment for it had it been
uttered under ordinary circumstances Com
ing, as it did, after the warning OF the Speaker
and in disregard of the Representatives a.
surance that it had no personal application, ex-
pulsion would scarcely have been too severe
for the offence. Had Mr.. Blaine done his full
duty in regard to Butler and Mclean on
Wednesday the seems of Thursday would not
have occurred. and this is the only reason why
Browns expulsion should not have been in
sisted upon. In the future no penalty less
severe will be sufficient for so violent an in
fraction of the rules of the House and Of par
iamentary decorum. II the Titmouse tates-
men cannot behave themselves they must be
driven from the House.