The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-14


WASHINGTON, ID. c., April II, 1882
THE VETO MESSAGE CONSISTENCY.
The Presidents veto message en-
bodies more facts on the Chinese
question than a whole volume OF
speeches, which are appeals to passion
and prejudice. The message is confined
to facts which are of record, from
which it appears that to be consistent
with his oath Of Office he could do no
less than exercise his veto prerogative,
provided the bill was in any respect a
violation of treaty stipulations. The
constitution of the United States
makes the President, with the advice
of the Senate, the treaty-making power,
and it is his duty to see that treaties
made under executive authority shall
be respected. Congress has no power
to make treaties or abrogate treaties,
except the authority so to do is express
ed in the treaty itself. The. President
being the head of the treaty making
power, must exercise his own judg-
ment as to the proper construction OF
the treaty with China. AS it respects
the reasonable time" during which
immigration may be suspended, it is
not for the House of Representatives
to say, for that body never had any
making Of the treaty with China OF
any other nation.
The President, after mature delibera.
tion, arrived at the conclusion that the
Chinese bill was a violation of the
spirit and true intent of treaty stipu-
lations; therefore it was his bounden
duty to refuse his assent. The Presi-
dent is anxious that a bill may be
passed which shall meet the evil com
planned of without violating national
agreements. Mr.. Page, member from
California, has introduced new bill
differing from the vetoed bill in that il
prohibits Chinese immigration for ten
years, instead of twenty. Mr.. Page
had charge of the first bill, and believes
the people of California will be salts
fled with ten years suspension, if a
longer time cannot be had.
ORATORY IN CoNGREss-HAs 1T DE
GENERATED?
Has congressional oratory degener-
ated2 For the proper consideration
of this inquiry, oratOry must be taken
in it's popular sense. 1t may safely be
affirmed that less attention is now
given to evolutionary preparation, by
Senators and Representatives, than
forty years ago. Of late years the
members elected to Congress are, many
Of them, hastily made legislators, taken
from the common ayocations of life,
without previous fitting. having never
had any oratorical training even in
schOol-boy days. Such men often
make good legislators, but that is not
the point now considered. Money
more than education or talent, in many
instances, paves the way for Congress
sional honor. Availability controls
the choice Of nominating conventions.
This was less so in the earlier days OF
the Republic.
One of the drawbacks to Congress
sional oratory is the modern practice
of long speeches. In no other law
making body in the world are there SO
many lengthy speeches as in the Con-
gress of the United States. 1t seldom,
if ever happens that long speech has
tine oratorscal farce and effect of a
short one foE hss9 lesson the speaker
h3TVoG Lnc s..e!ntvdldy the infec'
hEaers ass'e asssltuations. to
CIV .sdage spoken
Tnat - orator, Rufus
Choate, says o1 .A.Ilself, that he prac-
ticed his speeches alone in his room
before delivering them. 1t is said of
Edward Everett that he carefully pre-
pared his speeches before delivery
every sentence was polished and re-
polished with incest art His atti-
tudes and gestures were practiced in
his study room, and their precise places
in his speeches were calculated. Hen
ny Clay gives interesting facts as to
the methods he pursues to fit himself
for public speaking. What is true of
these men is equally so of many
others who have been accorded the
rank of orators in history. Where are
the like of these men in the present
National Congress? Doubtless there
are in Congress those who scout the
idea of such pains-taking to acquire
what Henry Clay called " the art of all
arts" 1t is possible there are those
who are aptly described by Shakes
peare, in the play of Hamlet, who,
neither having the accent Of chris
tian, or the gait Of christian, pagan
nor men, have so strutted and bel.
lowed, that thought some Of natures
lourneymen had made men, but not
made them we'll, they initiated human
ity so abominably."
It's but just to say, there are men in
the present Senate and House of Repre-
sentativeS of distinguished talent, and
highly creditable public speakers, some
OF whom will be noticed hereafter.
WISCONSIN MEMBERS SENATOR SAW
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WILLIAMS
The Wisconsin members are all
busily engaged in the general matters
of legislation, as we'll as looking after
the wants of their constituents. Sem
atOr Sawyer, who is yet comparatively
a new member, although not a public
debater, is winning good opinions by
his vigilant efforts in whatever per-
tains to the interest of the country.
Senator Sawyer gave princely dinner
on Saturday at his palatial residence on
street. 1t was attended by the men,
bers of Congress from Wisconsin,, and
others from the higher ranks of gov
eminent officials. He is ranked among
the influential members of the Senate.
The Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons, of which Williams, of Wiscon-
sin, is chairman, has before it an I'M
usual amount of business. The claims
growing out of transactions with the
Peruvian government, on which the
public press has had so much to say for
weeks, is occupying much of the atten-
tion of that committee. The holders
OF these claims alledged there is owing
to parties in the United States many
millions of dollars. These, with other
matters, involving large amounts, the
committee will make report to Con-
gress for action thereon. The we'll
known integrity of Mr.. Williams gives
public assurance that, so far as the
committee have control, justice will be
meted out where it properly belongs.
He has associated with him on the