The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-03-27
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LETTER.
WAsnrNaToN, March 10, 1886

/ EQmuluS Oh NefuiOuL- 1T hOPSN "
obtain through il safe reelection to
/ the Senate next fall. This he has
probably accomplished, but all ms
adroit little schemes for managing the
controversy have failed igpominiousiy,
through the Presidents adhesion--to
sound policy, good precedents and his
constitutional right aud duty in the
premises.
Everybody was getting tired of the
useless debate when suddenly in the
midst of Republican Senator's
speech, Senator Beck infused some
new interest into it. He asserted that
Dnskin was unfit to hold office, that
| the Vermont Senator knew 1t, and that
the papers were called for in his case
because il was thought the President
would comply, and a precedent be thus
established.
II was shrewdly believed that as
Duslxin furnished bad example OF an
official appointment under Republic
can President, this Democratic Ad-
ministration would fall into the trap
laid for it by the resolution, which
would make MIR. Edmunds master OF
the situation and thus enable him to
roam at will through the nntecedents
of all other cases \
The Kentucky Senator said that
everybody knew that Duskin was nomi-
mated in March 1881, and the Senate
did not see fit to confirm him. He was
again appointed after the adjournment
of the session, and nominated at the
October term of the same year, and
| Mr.. Edmunds had not felt justified IN
reporting him to the Senate for cOntir-
nation. When he had finished this
statements profound silence fell for a
few minutes upon the surprised Sena-
Itors.
Then Mr.. Edmunds arose with an ex-
| preston almost of pain upon his face,
and turned upon the Senator who had
dared, as he said, to betray the Sen
ate's secrets by speaking of this matter,
| in open session, Mr.. Beck instantly de-
MED having violated his duty. ''The
records and the ptblic papers," said
| he, ''show three nominations of Dus-
| kin, and it is because the Senator from
Vermont knows that be is unworthy
that the papers were asked for, because
he expected to entrap the Department
Mr.. Edmnnds again insisted that the
Senator was ont Of order, and appealed
to the chair to enforce the rules. The
Chair mildly hoped that the Senator
from Kentucky would see the distinct
ion between public and private ses-
sions. He had an nndoubted right to
public facts, but-Mr. Beck, inter
| posing,) remarked that he had, and
that he would prove next day by the
press of the country, and by the
records of the House of Representa-
tives all that he had asserted. He also
hoped in Executive session to get a
vote of the Senate TO compel the Sena-
tor from Vermont to produce evidence
which was before his own committee to
show Duskin's unfitness. He hoped to
prove that this effort to make an Issue
in regard to Dusltin was because Dus-
kin's case was so bad that it was be-
lieved the Democratic Administration
would be glad to prove how bad he
was, and that it could then be claimed
as precedent in good cases. "And I
hope to prove" continued Mr. Beck, 3"
that this move, made with sueh a
flourish of trumpets-well, ] will not
say what ] expect to prove, for could
not do 1t perhaps in parliamentary
language.
Mr.. Edmunds claimed to be greatly
shocked by what he claimed to be a
violation of rules on the part of Mr..
Beck. He said he would have TO leave
what the Senator from Kentcky had
said in utter silence Whatever other
gentlemen might choose to do, he
could not violate his ''oath" or his
''honor" by abiding to what the
Judiciary Committee had or had not
done until he should have permission.
Senator Beck was not to be imposed
upon by tame conYentionalities, and
when question of honor was hurled al
him, he grew warmer, more gesticula-
tory, and stepping forward a little
raised his powerful voice higher.
f'rhe Senator from Vermont" said
he, ''speaks of my honor, and oath and
integrity, and compares them with his
own. ] am willing to stand by the
comparison. Whatever i say, ] say
boldly and openly. i do not believe
in secret ways, i do, not believe in by.
I pocraoy, or in circumventing any
body" Mr.. Beck had more respect
4 for the man who meets his enemy in
the open field and either knocks him
I down or takes fair knock-down him.
self than he had for the man who stabs
his brother under the fifth rib while
shaking hands with him and asking
him, "How is itwith thee, my bro,
ther2"
He proposed to have all the proceed,
4 ings ia March 81, Oct 81, and Dec
f "a, and all the papers filed with the
n Judiciary Committee. of which Mr..
Edmnnds is chairman, and all the pro.
eeedings had before that COMMITTEES
bearing ON the Duskiu ease made pnb
lie, 50 that the country c0nld judge
whetherihe had told the, truth or not
X II be bad not falsiiied, he wanted n
chance to prove it, since comparisons
had been nude between the oath and
, henoro Of himself and the Senator from
\ Vermont.
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