Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-27
Shooting Arrows at the Sun.


IN opportunity ior distinction oc
ours hat once in a lie time, TO most
individuals. and fortunate Is he, if he
can be made happy by such means,
who can discover when the signs are
propitious for successful flight like
the gorgeous rocket, ending with a
loud boom in mid air and shower OF
stars. Senator German, Of - My
Maryland" j. one Of these, and he is
Just now the mOs.-quoted man in
America. not SO much for what is said
or the manner OF saving it, as the oc-
casion on which il j. uttered and the
exalted position OF the target at which
he fires his forensic lances.
II President Cleveland had known
that he was opening Pandora's box,
when he called upon Congress to
stand 10y the pledges of the party
which clecte,! them, he might have
halted, but there is nothing in the
nature OF the man to indulge any
hope that he would have done go. 1t
may lie that he feels the sting OF sar-
casm Of Mr.. German Of Maryland, but
ii he does there is nothing in his de-
pertinent to show that he feels over
whelmed with remorse.
The Senator gives as his preteIt for
assault upon the President, that Gin
famous calumnies had been heaped
upon the heads of the Senate" by the
Presidents letter to Senator Wilson.
When it is considered that this letter
was written nearly month ago, as a
private communication to member of
Congress, it will be shown with what
intent it was written to cheap infa-
nous calumnies" upon the Senate, for
labors performed since then. The
letter is published in full elsewhere,
and We ask each reader to discover
just where the "infamous calumies"
crop out, which might justify this ar.
raignment by the gentleman from
Maryland. The fact is, that Senators
doubtless feel considerably chargined
that the search-light should be turned
upon acts which are in plain contra.
yention of the promises of their plat.
form, and made the voice of the people
at the ballot-box, but does this justify
the assertion, 80 devoid of truth, that,
Infamous calumnies" had been heaped
upon them by the President?
The Constitution provides that the
President "Shall from time to time,
give to Congress information of the
State of the Union, and recommend
to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expe.
dent" He is made by the same au-
thority component part of the leg
islative power in the duty of passing
upon each perfected act by approval or
veto, and his final action if adverse, is
equal to the combined vote of two
thirds the total membership OF both |
branches of Congress. Still the gen.
tleman from Maryland insists that he
should not allow his opinion expressed
to a member on a measure of primary
Importance, to be made public, simply
because the affirmation that the policy
of the people should be embodied in
the laws of the land is a reflection
upon certain gentleman for dereliction
Of duty.
Mr.. German seems to feel justified.
after flashing himself into a fury, to
narrate what is generally conceded to
be matters of secrecy only because
their publicity would in no way inter-
est the general public-the arguments
used and concessions made in caucus
the only object of which seems to be
to inculcate the belief that Secretary
Carlisle and the President were kept
informed of every movement made
and acquisced in the changes by
to the House bill. He
considers it an objectionable offense
to appeal for better work, when the
Objectionable changes had met with q |
quasai endorsement, by these gentle
men. That, it will be conceded, how
ever, is a matter of individual judg-
ment, and the gentleman from Mary
land will find that the people will be
much more likely to approve q call to
duty, though made never so inoppor.
timely, than a desertion of trust that
has been emphasized by verdict at
the ballot-box.