Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
THE GREAT CENsURER.


rett. representative In Congress from o'o
Seventh Massachusetts District, Will MOI
he unknown to fame and to posteri'y. IL
rul trumpet itself down through the
ayas with the sound of mighty brayins.
CONGRESSMAN Barrett will illumine the
pages of that grand historical compiia''on'
the Congressional Record, as the grea'
oensurer-a distinction unique In 'he an
nails of American legislation we nave
had I'm Congress great obJectors' srea'
nrotectors great "reformers.' great
cran,ks during the carpet-bag regime IN
the South great rascals, and 'here -
dim tradition that at times since '"e
formation Of the government there nave
also been great statesmen In the pous'
R,,t never before, so far as our inVes,isa-
t,or roes. ha. the National Legislature
haar able TO boast OF great censurer.
Congressman Barrett has posi'''0
cen,us for censuring. Censure springs
snontaneous in his patriotic ana ioSa'
breast. He first gave evidence OF inc
amount of censure that was bottied up III
him when he moved to censure ana I'M
noach Ambassador Bayard. Next he CEN
cured the Naval Academy in bill he IN
troduced. providing for the removal Vi
that institution from Annapolis ana FIT
dsy he offered resolution censurihg
CONGRESSMAN Talbert, OF South Carohha'
for saving that he CralberD believed mat
secession was right under the circum-
stances that existed in 1861, and that
under the same conditions he would DO
as he had then done.
On this latter occasion Congressman
Barrett bloomed out more radiantiy anu
more grotesquely as censurer thah
ever. His manner and his language
s,,opes,ed that re had fallen heir 10
tho tattered remnant of the ensanguineo
undergarment that had so often raiIied
his party in days agone. and that ne mad
shaken IL before himself. He paved the
.,ound and snorted and charged bhndly
around after "a fashion that set the House
in an uproar His excessive Loyalty
proyed infectious. Admiral Boutene
and other South haters became violently
infected. and for awhile the scene beg
CARED description.
When order was restored. the resolu-
ton. by a vote of 200 ayes to Il nays.
went to the Committee on Judiciary,
where il will probably die natural death.
But il has none the less raised
! Congressman Barrett TO the position OF
the great American censurer. 1t none
the less illustrates that fame hath
sometimes created something out OF no.
thing
AS 10 the cause Of this tempest In a
teapot-the position taken by Congress
man Talbert-if Congressman Barrett
proposes to censurc every man in the
South who refuses to "eat Dirt on the
question OF the South's course in 1861
and d.shonor the records of their States
he would better start right now expert
menting with a view TO discovering the
elixir OF life The southern woods arr
full Of men-many OF whom were op
pcsed TO secession as an original propo
sition. though they did not doubt the
right OF secession-who stand just where
Mr.. Talbert stands in his refusal Il
stultify himself. Yet were It to come to
test of loyalty TO the restored Union
involving a sacrifice OF life and treasure
It Is safe 10 assert that the South woulC
meet Il as well as would the North.