Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-09-29
Arrows At the Sun.

been delaying necessary legislation
ami taxing public endurance hv
captions. ill-naturcd speeches, criti-
Ci>inE the l.ricf -cmaIks made 10y
r. >l'!.nt Cleveland at the recent
centennial celebration OF the laying 81
the cornerstone oi the National Capt
tol building ut Washington. The
senator wa>li,hly complains that the
PRESIDENT was disrespectiul to the
senate when he warned legislators i'll
genera! terms To avoid legislation in
spircd 10y sectional prejudices, par,
tsanship or passion, but to act only
with an eye single to the public wei.
fare. We read the Presidents Obser.
Nations carefully and find nothing
calling for unfavorable comment, but
indeed sentiments in entire accord
with similar expressions made by the
illustriouS Washington in his farewell
address to the people of the United
States, and in entire keeping with
historical expressions by his success
sUrs, Jefferson, jackson and Lincoln.
The Senator celebrates upon the
various spheres OF government-execu-
tive, legislative and judicial-charg-
ing that the President had infringed
upon the legislative prerogative in
presenting his ideas too strongly for
consideration. Whilst the functions
of these departments differ and are
distinct, still they all enter into a sys-
TEN OF our government and to a GER
tain extent necessarily coalesce. A
distinct power is conferred by the
Federal Constitution, and indeed it is
mandatory upon the executive to
transmit by message to Congress such
recommendation as he may deem es-
sential to the public welfare.
The Constitution further confers
upon the Executive the veto power,
80 that two-third majority vote is
necessary for the enactment of a law
over its exercise by the President /;
thus indicating that the trainers of the
government did not design that the
President should only exercise execu-
tive functions and not be clothed with
much authority and power in mould
ing legislation. That officer is the
general guardian of the peoples in
terests, their only aggregate represen-
tative, and whilst we view with appre-
hension, and as eminently reprehnsi-
bic, any departure from strict func-
tional duty by any officer of the gov
eminent, exalted or humble, we
assert the right and duty of the Pres
ident to make such utterances verbal
or written, as he may consider to be
necessary in the discharge of his du-
ties. He represents the people; the
Senate represents only the States.
Indeed, the Senate is body far re-
moved from the people, elected by leg
islatures, with a tenure Of six years,
and thus remote from direct re.
sponsibility to the people. That body
is manifesting tendency to obstruct
necessary Hesitation, for which the peo-
pie clamor in the midst of their dis
tresses, the chief purpose for which
they were convened in special session
by the Executive, who, wisely or un-
wisely, as different interests may be
affected, is without doubt endeavoring
to promote harmony and prosperity.
We do not in this article assume to
take position upon the currency ques-
ton, but consider only the captious
efforts made by the Senator in ques-
ton to delay by factious purposes and
proceedings legislation so vitality es-
sental to the public good.
Weeks are running into months by
reason of an insane intention profess
eddy to obstruct, and to afford Sena-
tors opportunity to ventilate their use
less vaporings to the world. Let us
have work for the people now in finan-
cial straits, and if there be any good
to come to them from this session of
Congress, let it forthwith appear in
some practical demonstration or let
Congress adjourn. The frivolous char
acter of the entire assault by the silver
plutocrat of Nevada, which no Senator
endorsed, may be gathered from his
complaint that the President is mot a
college graduate" leaving the infer
ence that he could not comprehend
"the courtesy of the Senate" or the
prophecies of his position, because
forsooth he had never passed a college
course!
The House of Representatives, which
holds the power of presenting impeach-
ment, was upon the platform upon
that patriotic occasion, and if the Pres
ident did offer an insulting menace to
the Senate it would have been appro-
pirate for q member of the House to
have taken the initiative, on behalf of
the people, for eventual presentation
to the Senate, which with the Chief
Justice presiding, constitutes the high
court of impeachment, rather than
that single Senator, and he from
State almost destitute of population,
should shoulder the responsibility of
presenting loosely, vague rambling
charges against a coordinate branch
of the government. the President
will suffer no evil from this vicious as
sault.
ONE would suppose from the inn
mense hustle which Tom Cavanaugh
makes that he could have secured
some award for Washington at the
fair if he had made any exertion, but
he spends too much time posing at
the hotels and other pmlic places.
Tom is no good; pass him on to some
other State. Kansas and Washington
are sick of him Tom said nuhlicly