Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30
Ex-pREs.r uARRIsoN,s SPEECH.


Ex-Presldent Harrison's speech in Car
negie Hall New York. Thursday night
was dignifed and "em!nently respeeta-
bic" 1t was a lawyers presentation OF
the Republican side Of the question, was
wen-worded, and, on the whole, he ac-
quilted himself handsomely. But when
he came to address himself to the criti-
cism Of the Supreme Court contained in
the Chicago platform. and assume what
the Democratic party purRosed doing in
respect of that tribunal, he was unfor-
tunate. That is a matter II would be
we'll for Republican campaign orators TO
avoid for fear their utterances may re-
turn to plague them. AS to the general
question Of criticising the Supreme Court
we would remind those who hold up their
hands in holy horror at such criticism
that Abr--am Lincoln, s!e idol Of the
Republican party, was nominated in 1850
on a platform that denounced that court.
But now as TO Mr.. Harrison's more
specific charges against the Chicago
convention and the Democratic party.
After stating that he proposed TO show
that 1.-THE Democratic policy was that
when the Supreme Court, exercising its
constitutional power and duty. gave an
! Interpretation 10 law of the United
States that was not pleasing to Congress
they would increase the number Of judges
and pack the court to get a decision to
please them" he made this appeal:
"You are to answer, then, my fellow
citizens, in all the gravity Of a great
crisis, whether you Will sustain a party
that proposes 10 destroy the balance
which our fathers instituted in our sys-
TEN OF government, and whenever a
tumultuous Congress disagrees with the
Supreme Court and 4 subservient Presi-
dent is in the White House, that the
judgment OF the court shall be recon-
sidered and reversed by increasing the
number of judges and packing the court
with men who will decide as Congress
wants them to-"
Certainly, MIR. Harrisons memory must
have been wool gathering in his grand
fathers hat. What party, we ask, was
in power, and who was President In 1859,
when the law was passed increasing the
number Of judges Of the Supreme Court
from eight TO nine and that tribunal was
packed so as 10 secure a reversal Of the
decision that the act creating the green
back was unconstitutional in so far as
it made the notes legal tender for debts
prior to the act? This decision was rem
dered by a vote Of five TO three In
May, 1871, the court having been re
constituted in December, 1870. it was
-. 80. 49,. DO. -
without any change Of opinion on the
part of the judges who had decided the
question originally, and as a well-known
authority on finance said some time ago,
II is not disputed that the two new APP
pointments on the court--one filed a
vacancy caused by resignation-were
made for the purpose OF oyerruling the
decision declaring the act unconstitu-
| tional Indeed, one Of tho new APP
pointees delivered tho reversing opinion
and the other read a concurring opinion.
in which he outlined the doctrine pro-
mulgated by the court in subsequent
case affecting the currency question.
In view OF this record We respectfully
submit that Mr.. Harrison simply as
sumed that the Democratic party would
do what the Republican party has al
ready done. His assumption. however.
was based uoon a most lautudinous and
unwarranted Interpretation OF the plat
form and proceedings OF the Chicago con-
vention, and every word Of criticism he
uttered touching what he attempted to
show would DO the policy OF the De-
mocracy regarding the Supreme Court
recoils with singing force upon his own
marty.