The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-03-11
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 1Ss

w oAS"~SAO - ~~ON'
The Administration has shown the
courage of its convictions during the
week, by launching three aggressive
documents upon the Senate. The first
was the Presidents message on the
right of the Senate to share the in |
formation on which he made official
changes. The second also was a mes
sage from the President condemning
in very strong terms, the outrages
committed on the Chinese in the far
West, and urging Congress TO reim-
burse the victims for their pecuniary
losses. The third document was a de-
Treasury on the silver policy of the
Administration, in which he shows
no disposition to compromise with the
silver men. He describes ihe efforts
lie has made to force the standard dol
lar into circulation, that Congress may
see that he has tried to carry out it's
purposes In good faith. The statement
he makes in regard TO this should at
least stop the talk indulged in by some
that the dollars do not circulate be-
cause the Treasury officials secretly
use the machinery of the Department
against the coiu.
While Senator Beck may not agree
with the Administration On the silver
question, he is with it in the contrc-
versy with the Senate. Said he, in
regard to the coveted appointment
papers, " No one has any right to them
but the persons who wrote them. Mr..
Cleveland can return them to their
writers tomorrow, if he desires to do.
so, and no one can prevent him. The
Senate could not make the people to
whom he returned the papers tell what
was in them"
Since the President sent his message
to the Senate in regard to its demand
for papers, there has been no doubt as
to what he is going to do. He holds
that the question of removal Is one for
him alone, and he will not send the
papers. 1t is not that the hesenators are
misunderstood and misrepresented
that they complain. On the contrary,
it is because they are thoroughly un.
derstood and as thoroughly exposed.
But they say acts of suspension ought
to be public and the reasons for them
explained. While this is true the GUS
tom and the law of the Government
do not require it.. The law should re-
quire it, but it does not, and the Sem
ate does not wish it. The Senate
avoids publicity and fears it. The
Senate has refused publicity. 1t does
not want the country to know all the
facts and reasons in these cases. 1t
wants to have a portion of them given
in secret, to be manipulated in secret,
to be made the basis of political ma
noeuvers, which cannot be fairly met
because they are plotted and perfected
| in secret.
The subject is the chief topic of con-
versation at both ends of the Capitol,'
and it is noticeable that thePresident's
frank and strong statement of his de-
termination not to be misrepresented
or forced to surrender his rights or re-
sponsibilities has increased admiration
| for him.
There has been good deal of COM
ment upon the loss of temper over the
Presidents communication, exhibited
by. the usually placid, undemonstra-
tive Senator from Vermont, Mr.. Ed
munds. The Senate was i'll secret
session when the Presidents. private
Secretary arrived with the message,
Business was suspended when 1T was
learned what he had brought with
him, and the document was laid be.
fore the body, Senator Harris plopos-
ing that it be read with closed doors.
Senator Kenna, of w. Va, and Van
Wyek, of Nebraska, sharply demanded
that the doors be opened. After a briel
debate the doors were thrown open,
the correspondents filled their gallery
and the news spreading rapidly, peo.
pie from other parts of the Capitol
hastily made their way to the Senate
Extraordinary stiffness prevailed on
the floor, and the scene was unusal fol
the reason that every senator on both
sides of the Chamber listened eagerly.
Chieftain Edmunds sat with his eyes
closed, his chin on his breast. His
hands were folded across his knees
and twitched nervously during the
reading of the message. At the close
Senator Harris sprang to his feet with
a motion that the document lie on the
table and be printed. Mr.. Edmunds
arose to dispute this motion, i'll voice
that betrayed his intenee excitement
while his figure trembled and his face
and bald head were scarlet with anger
II do not propose that it shall be laid
upon the table if can help it," shout.
ed he, and demanded the yeas and
nays. He then proceeded to make 9
little speech, which he delivered with
unusual emphasis, comparing Mr.
Cleveland to Charles the First, the
most arbitrary of Stuart kings.
1t is impossible to foreshadow the
outcome of the pending issue, which
has stirred up party feelings among
Senators more than anything that has
happened this winter. They were not
prepared to discuss this communica-
ton in an off-hand style, however.
The message will first be considered
by the judiciary Committee in spec
ial meeting. After that the Senatorial
fight will begin, and it is likely to be
long and exciting.
THE Mr.. Whiteley of Springfield
O., who has turned out of his shops
all the Knights of Labor, Is the man
who organized the plug hat brigade OF
Springfield, which visited Indianapo.
lis and Cincinnati bowling for Blaine
in 1854, and went to Cincinnati last
year to whoop things up for Foraker
I-[Plain Dealer.