New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-22
SHEEHAN,S TITLE TO DEFEAT.

/
William F. Sheehan the Democratic candidate
for Lieutenant Governor can read his title clear
TO the defeat which awaits him at the Novem-
Der ba.lot-box. The voters of New-York State
fail to sec eye to eye touching many public
matters. But whatever may be their political
differences they all stand ready to resist any
infringement upon their right of petition-one
of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them
by the Constitution. That right Mr.. Sheehan
grossly assaled last winter. lie used his place
as Speaker of the Assembly to prevent the read
| ing of a petition sent to that body. This petit
ton perfectly decorous in its language, origi-
mated with body Of Catholic clergymen of the
metropolis who felt it to be their duty to pro-
test against the passage of pending measure.
This was their petition:
To the Honorable the Legislature Of the state of New
York We the undersigned Catholic clergymen of the
city Of Newlork, entirely opposed to the stadler
bill any other legallzng the sale Of liquor
! after midnight. We consider every such measure az
highly detrimental TO the moral and material welfare
| Of the community. We therefore petition yOur hon
orable body TO reject any bill permitting the relaxation
| Of existing laws.
Anxious to curry favor with the rum power,
the Speaker denied the request of Assembly
man Hamilton Fish jr., that the petition might
be read. Thereupon Mr.. Fish made formal
motion that the petition should be read. But
Speaker Sheehan refused to entertain the mo-
| ton.
Not long after he had perpetrated this out
rage upon his petitiOning fellow-citizenS the
| Speaker became convinced that it was bad
blunder He discovered that he had aroused
popular Indignation against himself Accord
ingly, he proceeded to explain that in treating
the petition in question as he did he was merely
obeyfng an Assembly rule. He was aware, of
course, that the Constitution of the United States
provides that Congress shall make no law
. abridging the right of the people to
petition the government for a redress of grev-
ances"; he was also aware, of course, that the
Constitution of the State of NewYOrk provides
that "nO law shall be passed abridging the right
Of the people to petition the government o. any
department thereof" But, nevertheless, it Oc-
Cured to him that he could excuse himself for
placing a gag in the mouths of these public
spirited Catholic clergymen by quoting an As
sembly rule, as if a rule could override the Con-
stituton of the Nation and the State Mr.
Fish made the following crushing reply to the
Speaker:
scented to the Clerk cannot be controvered the only
way In which any petition no matter from what source
other than state ocers) be read or brought TO the
attention OF the House is by unanimous consent 10 It's
reading being granted by the House Being familiar
with the rules Of the House, when the petition was
handed down on February 25 to the Clerk by the
Speaker, demanded the reading of the petition. The
Speaker refused to entertain the notion and re.
fcrrcd it to the Committee Excise where it has since
lain buried The following day. the Journal OF the
House made no mention of the motion made by me
have the petition read moved TO correct the Journal
by inserting the fact that had made such notion
The Speaker refused 10 entertain that motion.
Upon several occasions since l have asked unanimous
consent to present the petition from the same
and TO have 1t read and 1 have been refused permits
sion by members Of the majority party Of this House.
on one occasion by the Democratic leader. The
Speaker in his remarks stated that he had obec
ton 10 tho rules being amended as to provide an
order Of business for the introduction OF petitions
Allow call his attention 20 the fact that last week
when gave notice Of motion TO change the rules so
as to permit the Introduction and reading of petitions
from religious bodies refused the opportunity by
an objection made by Democratic member. Every
one familiar with the proceedings Of this Assembly
knows that the rules are waived almost daily and
unanimous consent thereto is obtained The rules of the
House provide that bills may be deposited at any mo
during the session In box. to be known as the bill
bOxn and yet frequently bills are introduced by mem
bers rising in their seats. There has never
been a moment from the time that the petition was
presented to the present that there was any objection
to its being read made by any member Of the minority
party and that the House has not been made familiar
with the contents Of such petition can BIO charged only
to the majority of this House.
AND IN CLOSING, PERMIT NE TO SAY THAT
DURING THE EIGHT YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN
A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, DO NOT RE-
CALL ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE A PETITION
Upon ANY MORAL QUESTION COMING FROM A
REPUTABLE SOURCE, HAS BEEN DENIED a
READING WHEN DEMANDED.
If Mr.. Sheehan gets his deserts he will be
beaten by an overwhelming majority To elect
him to preside over the Senate would be to
afford him additional opportunities of denying
to the people their Constitutional rights. He
has forfeited whatever claim he ever may have
possessed to the confidence of the electors.