The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
THE MEMPHIS
WEDNESDAY. -, APRIL 3. 1890
HALSTEADS REJECTION AND Sc.
CRET SESSIONS

The rejection Of Mr. Murat lIalstcad by
the Senate has neither disquieied nor
silenced The Cincinnati COMMERCIAL. Gd.,iie.
II is as bold and outspokcn as ever, and
thoroughly maintains the independence
which induced Il TO condemn the Repub
lcan Senators whom II insisted were In.
duccd 10y corrupt motives TO vote against
an inquiry into, or investigation Of the
election OF Mr.. Payne 10 the Senate by
the Ohio Legislature. defeating Mr.. Pcndle-
ton, who was a candidate for reelection.
Tho charge thus openly made by The Coa-
mercial Go;cae challenging immediate in
yesiigaiion was never made the subject OF
investigation by the Senate, nor did the
Senators thus denounced ever mako an
effort for Standardization through a com.
mission oiinquiry. They merely bidcd their
time and embraced the drsi opportunity,
In street parlancc, TO get even" with the
abusive editor. Nothing mor disgucciul
than this has ever occurred In American
politics, and 1t shows how shallow Is the
prcicncc Of Senators TO an elevation OF Dig.
nifty becoming the arrogance that ihcirs is
the first Legislative body In the world. No
seli-cspcciing Senator who la. anything
like nm adequate appreciation Of his posi-
ton would lend himself 10 anything ~ lit
Tie and bclittling rs the wrcaking Of petty
personal revenge by the exercise Of func.
ton dcyolycd upon him by the people In
the belief that il would be exercised i'm.
partially, fairly and Justly aud without the
bias Of personal motive or personal passion
or prejudice, and what Is worse, TO oxcr-
else this power Of spleen and vengeance
under cover Of the reserve imposed by a
secret session Of the Senate. No Senator
guided by common sense would thus fur.
nish cause for misunderstanding or mis-.
representation by the press, aud In that
way strengthen the argument for the aho.
Hilton Of the secret session and the trans,
Pclion Of oil business brought before the
Senate In full view Of thcpcoplc and within
the hearing Of the press. but. as Senator
Teller admits, this has been done, and the
question Of abolishing executive session,
is again an open one based on the fac, thai
there Is nothing that the Senate can 4,
that the people are not directly concerned
in. Tho business Of that body h publ,
business, and public business should no,
be transacted Ia private. The reasons lot
the rejection Of a treaty or nomination
concern the whole people just a. much al
the reasons for the rejection Of q Din. On,
they should be furnished Ia open debate
All governmental transactions should h
effected in the iull light Of day. Al N,
business Of and all the documents laid be-
fore the Senate should be- subject 10 publ
cation and review by. The press as thD
mouihpiccc Of the people In this wa,
Misrepresentation would be almost impos
eiblc, aud when INDUCED would be- cas-,
Of detection. Senator Teller, yesterday, II
making a movement In this direction II
the Senate, was frank aud explicit In IN
reasons assigned, and these should Undue
every other Senator 10 vote for the abe
liion Of executive sessions Of the Senate
They are not In consonanco with IA
spirit Of the times nor the wish,
OF the people, m was convincing
evidenced when the British cx,md
ton treaty was recently defeated. Il