New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-13
F4CE-SL4PPTNG BY HTLF.

The proposition made by Congressman Ira
ccy, Of this State, in the House on Wcdncs-
day, ito slap the face" Of any Republican
who should hereafter make any auSion 10
cuckoos seemed To us SO wide a departure
from the ordinary course of parliamentary pro-
ccdurc that we have waited for the official re-
port before INDUCING in comment thereon. Int
we now find that the proposition docs not ap-
pear in the record Of the debate. and We con
clude that Mr. Tracey merely dropped the re-
mark as casual announcement of his own in
dividual programme without any purpose Of
introducing face slapping rs a regular feature
Of Congressional debates The inference, Of
course. is that the Honorable Mr. Tracey does
not like being called "cuckoo" by impli'a-
ton or innucndo. although II was Democratic
Senator who first distinguished 10y that term
the few devoted followers az the President In
Congress. and il may hence BE- considered rs
in some sense complimentary. We obScrv" that
our Democratic contemporary. The New York
sun considers Mr.. Traccys resentment unreal
sonablc not because the allusion 10 the rcSpon-
sivcncss of the bird is compliment to the 10y
atty Of the Presidents friends but because the
bird has other merits. among which il mentions
his freshness. his chronological diet. his sinsu-
lar prudence in the matter of house rent
the regularity with which he takes To the
woods" and the fact that he flies before the
hawk and other snappcrs" But whether his
resentment Is reasonable or unreasonable. the
fact remains that he does resent any alusiOn
to "cuckoos." and the question arises whether
he would be justified by the law Of nations,
the rules of the House or :" the code in giving
expression 10 his resentment by Shaping any
bodys face who should say cuckoo on the
floor Of the lousc
As the rules now are. il seems 10 Us that the
proceeding would he open to- objection. Be
sides being irregular. the practice. If once init
atcd by the hard hand OF Mr.. Tracey on the
soft lineamcnts Of the meek and patient Bod
tellc might disturb the placid current of dis
cusson and Introduce IN inharmonious element
in the councils Of the Nation. If it is To he
done at all. and We are by no means sure that
the cXigenccS Of the majority do not require |
some such simple and effective method Of |
closing debate on such questions as the tariff |
and Hawaiian affairs Should say il would !
be better to have the rules amended III some I,
way to give il the sanction of regularity. There I
might be some difficulty in dcviSng rule cX- ,
plicity defining the conditions under which one !
member might close Il discussion that be !
coming gricyCuS to him 10y crossing over and |
slappinG his opponents face. 1t is possible 10 /
imagine debate participated in by many NOM |
bcrs in which there should be 50 much face
Shaping that the continuity of thought on the
part Of the disputan;s would be- seriously dis
turbcd, if not utterly broken leading To the
disocation of their logical processes. and pos
sbly the confusion of some Of their physical
That. however might be arranged by
dccgating the function 10 The scrgcantat-
arms. who upon the call Of any member of the
majority could come down on the floor with
his mace and slap any offending Republicans
face in Il formal and official manner.
IT, however any rule is adopted and we re-
peat that. if il is to be done nj all. il should
be done under the rules which leaves the face
slapping To be done by members themselves at
their own discretion. ii will make necessary II
change in the qualifications required of cIndi-
laes for Congress. They should b. brazcn-faccd
and horny handed How far this would rcyo-
utionize the personnel OF the House il j. impoS-
'iblc TO say. Mr. Tracey would doubtless be
returned. For, whatever may be said Of the
brittlcness of his temper. the scnsitvcncss Of
MS nature, and the intellectual equipment ncccS-
'ary to meet opponents in oral debate his skill
md readiness as n facc-S!appcr would give him
irst place in the regard of any constituency
nat '"'' =" pi'l'I III)ItCIiiioH VI id''f''pPi"S
is the last resort Of statesmen. 1t is worthy Of
note that Mr.. Traceys proposition is entirely
original. II did not occur TO that distinguished
aceslapper, the late Mr. Morrlssey who AT one
imc represented the Democrats of his district
II Congress TO introduce in that body the prac {
ice by which he had gained distinction. Nor, ,
when the Democrats of Boston proposed-as at
me time they did-to send Mr.. Sullivan to Con- $
.l,,t Ia nj
lis special gifts On the floor Of the House. With