The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-09
VESTS STATUS.

Senator Vest, Of Missouri. made what
must have been n very eloquent speech
IN the senate on Tuesday. He was obliged
to stretch several points. however. in or
der TO reach such clgmaxes as he thought
would be effective. He said the Demo-
cratic party did not seek to evade the re-
sponsibllity for the legislation OF the last
congress. and yet the supposed head OF
that party and those in sympathy with
him openly charged that congress with
seeking to evade that responsibility. He
said the revenues OF the government would
have been ample had tho supreme court
not declared the income tax law unconsti-
tutionai. and yet the highest estlmats ever
made OF that tax-SS5. 600 000-falls far be-
low the deficiencies that have occurred.
lie said the tax decision was surprise TO
every Intelligent lawyer in the country.
when common sense would have told him
that the intelligent lawyers were probably
divided in their opinions. as the supreme
court proved 70 be. He said that IN the his
tory OF the country no Judgment had ever
been rendered which has done so much 20
destroy the influence OF our greatest legal
tribunal. when. IA matter OF fact. the
country az large has iust as much conf
dence IN the supreme court as IL ever had.
and any d.strust created by us tax decision
IS nothing rs compared with the suspicion
and ABSOLUTE disrespect which followed the
rendering Of the Dred Scott opinion. He
said the decision made new era and that
the time would come when neither soft
words nor honeyed phrases viii prove
sufficient apology" which Is nothing more
nor less than Haymarket utterauee
dressed up FOR use "a the United States SON
ate lie saA that the country had never
seen more successful administration
! than that % SIT. Cleveland from 1885 TO
/ 1850. ahlch is as much as admitting when
Ms party bad control O; both executive
ana legislative departments. x was a fail
/ ure. He sad all these things a. a mere
/ prelude ana closed With plea FOR free
l silver. the real object Of the speech.
{ Senator Vest IS "a able man. He Is rot
+ great. bat he has a mental strength rather
7 above the average Of that found In his
( Democratic colleagues. As a dehater re
! congress fer she las; quarter OF 4 century.
VITA itftle more mental stability. eooi
ssuss aud good Judgment be would have
/ been enc o. the commanding figures OF hls
! 5lne. When & was only necessary 20 be
/ T'egnocra, On general principles. when
( another party was in power. and ali that
/ was required Vas 70 object ara give vea-
/ sons therefor. re was thought 20 ~ a
/ growing mGn. bur when n became reces-
I sarv 81 create and new issues arose upcr
/ wAish RS oWr party had % take SIDES. f.
Vas foand that Ne bad reached the TOP
I notch CO RS greatness sra that hencesor.h
/ rs course would - stationary or aowa-
/ ward He studied public feeling rather
I than pr.aeip3es ard Re lacked TIE sagac.ty
I 20 appreciate Whether pueltc feeling was
( a temporary daiassoa q TIE hour OF fcur4
! e. upon = sol3 aas enduring basis. T.
5 sn.staking the ere tor The o,her ne decides
upon the close o. his career. for ne Vii 60
! eat Z politics "a ben his PRESENT term O.
! eMss sxa..Ss aa4 As W. lave aS.lhsF lie