Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-29

When congressman engage in black
guardism and fsticuff5 on the floor of the
House it is time for their constituents TO
attend to their cases.
Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois, should remem-
her that gentlemen sometimes read the
Congressional Record, and also that ladies
sometimes sit in the gallery.
Now York Times.l
The display of yulgarity made by Mr.
Cannon, of Illinois, in the House yesterday
is, so far as we recall, entirely without
precedent. Yesterday was the first time
in the history of the House when
an angry man found no means Of express
ing his anger but by indecency. Unfor-
tunate as 1t is for the Republican party
that this low bred fellow should be at the
time the titular leader of the majority IL
is far more unfortunate that Mr. Reed. who
was in the chair, who Is a man of courage.
prompttude, and energy, and who in his
personal habits Of speech and thought is
a gentleman, should have allowed par
tisan considerations TO induce him TO
shield from swift condemnation the bOor
who had disgraced the House.
rSew York HERALD
1t is impossible TO describe the scene in
the House Of Representatives yesterday
without polluting our columns with the
filthy words used III debate. There can
only be the severest condemnation for the
member who disgraced Congress 10y Ian
guage he would have resented in his own
home. Nor can we refrain from au ex-
preston of the deepest regret that the
Speaker should not have interfered to
protect the dignity of the House. Mr.
Reed is the immediate guardian of the
honor of the chamber over which he pre-
sides. IL he had been conscious of his
high duty the Speaker would have ordered
the offending member TO the bar and re-
primanded him in terms of such wither-
ing contempt that he would have been
Glad 10 withdraw from public life.
This is the only reparatlon the member
can make. He can no longer have useful
position IN any public station. nor should
he be permitted in the society Of gentle
men. With bully in the Speakers chair.
insensible to any consideration but party
success. and blackguards on the floor II IS
about time that the House adjourned and
went home. 1t would be relief to an
angry and Disguised country.
We feel authorized 10 say that Mr.. John
l., Sullivan after reading the account of
the smuggling match in the House of Rep
resentatives yesterday. will reDounca all
congressional ambitions on the ground
that he does not care to belong to so dis
reputable a body.
ANAIIogAL DISGRACE.
Philadelphia T!mes.l
Utterly tired out and brutalized BY
Reeds dogmatism. the House actuall
welcomed the disgraceful scenes of yaster.
day, beginning with Cannon's yulgarity
and ending with the fsticufs between
Wilson and Beckwith, a. afor1ing mo-
ment's brutal amusement. By this time
all the members must be utterly ashamed
OF themselves. But the stigma has been
fastened on them.
No wonder Congress is tired of the long
session. of dictatorship. of divided coun-
sells, and of abortive legislation. But tho
country is even more tired of Congress.
Its members are doing no good in Wash
ington. They should go home.
THE HOUSE IN CONTEMPT.
Washington postl
The House of Representatives was never
before the scene Of such disgraceful uproar
and riot. The floor OF that memorable
hall Is no stranger to stormy debate and
episodes of disorder. 1t has even wit
messed personal alterations and other
gross breaches of decorum; but yester-
days performance eclipses every precedent
in its vulgarity, blackguardism. and shame
less disregard of all the decencies and pro-
Nothing can be set down in malice
against the members involved. because in
this case the simple truth possesses the
rougher edge. Neither can anything be
said in extenuation of the offences per-
petrated. for they lie outside the pale Of
federation or excuse.
There must be something radically rot
ten in the bill now under consideration to
have wrought up the angry passions Of
members 10 such pitch.
But it is no particular bill that is at
fault. 1t is in some degree the
fault Of the Speaker. whose rulings have
been unfortunately inconsistent. 1t more
than all discloses a tendency to degeneracy
and responsibility on the part OF the
House. Examples in point abound all
through the session, and yesterdays but
surpasses all the rest. No wonder there
is q spirit of unrest and indignation abroad
that betokens the reconstruction of the
popular branch Of Congress on lines fsr
different from those on which il is now
well-nigh disorganized.