National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-03
1s,1.ryErAxn \ usurrrR,
Some Talk About ImpeachinR the
rresident-w Wondering what VIII BE

Some Talk About Impeaching the
rresident-wondering what viii BE
the Outcome OF the Pending Issue.
Half dozen Republican senators dis
cussed the Presidents "somewhat extraor-
binary" message to the Senate within the
hearing and for the benefit Of the NATIONAL
RrrUBLIcAN scribe yesterday.
Senator No. remarked, with asperlty,
that "this (messagc) is but Il continuation
Of the blunder with which this administra-
ton started out in the matter Of official re-
movals. There was that offensive parti-
sam business, accompanied by the adver-
tisements sent out by the Postmaster Gen
eral and other Cabinet officers, asking for
all or any kind OF proof against Republic
can incumbents. Well, the responses to
those advertisements came from Tom, Dick,
aud Harry, and irresponsible ofllceseekers
or heirfriends, alleging all kinds Of charges
against the officials whose removals were
desired. This was base partisan con
spiracy, worthy only a gang of ward poll
ticians. And II is these responses to the
offensive partisan advertisement that the
President now refuses to send to the Senate.
lie calls them unofficial or confidential
documents
"Yes,n interrupted senator No. g; "but
that is not the worst of IL. In his message
lie deliberately distorts the meaning and
practically garbles the phraseology OF the
demand made by the Senate for legitimate
information. That demand or request, in
effect, excluded the so-called private or UNI
official information regarding Republican
officials to which he refers. But In his
message he adroitly leads to the inference
that the Senate has asked for matters or In
formation outside of the official records.
This is theworst kind Of pettifogging."
Then the third senator chimed in, say
knfr ID
plished by the exercise OF one-mau power,
or OF purely personal government, Grover
Cleveland is the man to do IL, provided we
permit him to choke his personal pronouns
down our throats. There are more big rs
to the square inch in that message than
ever saw In a similar document before. II
is clear case OF big with him and little
u with the Senate from his standpoint It
may not be parliamentary or dignifed to
say so, but venture the remark here that
he is not only bull-headed, as his admirers
assert, but big.headed, as this message
demonstrates"
~, for one,m remarked the fourth sena-
tor, "sball never vote for the confirmation
OF any nominee, vice suspended officer,
unless the purely official reasons for the
suspension are placed before the Senate.n
"There," said the fifth senator, ''you
have given to this chiel here the plth of our
caucus agreement, and faith he'll print it,
"Well,' said the sixth senator, '"there'll
be no harm II he does. The eX-sherin, no
doubt, understand the whole scheme
already. II he does not, 1t is time he
should. OF course, he will not persist In
refusing to give us information regarding
removals for cause That would be mani.
festly improper, although there's no telling
what the big, big may or may not do"
Then the conversation became more gen.
eral, relating to individual cases, and was
concluded by remark from senator No. /,
as follows
''The true policy for us to adopt is to re-
iect as ruthlessly us the President has sus-
pended. He suspends our friends without
giving cause, and we have the right to re-
iect his friends In the same arbitrary man.
ner. He denies that the Senate is co.or-
dinate power with the Executive in the
matter Of presidential appointments, and
restricts us to the exercise of legislative
duties alone. This is usurpation Of such a
glaring character, In so plain violation OF
the constitution, that he should be i'm
peached for 1t. However, as 1t is, we can
only retaliate to the extent that the constl-
tuition and the laws will permit Let us
give him dose Of his own medicine. Fail
ing in that, we can certainly hang up the
nominees, vice suspended officials, until
the time comes for other actlon.n
Perhaps" inquired the scribe, "Senator
Edmunds may say something TO that
effect In his forthcoming speech on this sub
ject Z"
~ hope he will,n was the response, sand
really think he will because believe all OF
our side regard the President in his present
attitude as nothing more nor less thai
an usurper. II John Sherman, who II
managing these things to some extent, will
give us chance in open session 20,
will hear some very plain talk"
ain open session." .....
"That is what ] say what happens ii
executive session / cannot talk about ?n