The Forrest City herald., 1896-02-29
RIGHT OF PETITION.
Violently Assailed by Senator Hill,
of New York.
He Would Remove the Senate One Step
Farther from the People, II He
Could-Senator Carter Ex-
plains His Vote.

Washington, Feb. 25. - Especially
John Quincy Adams, after having been
president of the United States. became
a member of the house of representa-
tives, and added luster to his laurels
by defining and establishing the right
of petition in this republic. Then,
after answering "Here" to roll call,
he was stricken suddenly and carried
dying into the room Of the speaker,
where he breathed his last.
That was nearly half o century ago.
1t probably never entered the mind OF
John Quincy Adams that the time could
ever come when the right Of petition
would be questioned in this republic.
He had done well his work, and the
country had given unanimous approval
to his course. But before the close OF
this century the right of petition has
been assailed, in q venomous manner,
upon the floor of the United States sem
ate; and by democrat. Senator Hill.
of New York, recently presented Pc
titions from several thousand people
Ssking congress to prevent the sale OF
beer to immigrants at Ellis Island, New
York. Addressing the vice president
and receiving recognition, Senator Hill
delivered speech In which he de-
nounced "the mania for petitions" de-
claring that they do no good, and are
quietly packed away" by the clerks
of the senate.
Thus, while presenting the petitions
of his constituents, Senator Hill dis
counted them by sneers and jeering
manner which the people should have
scen,for it cannot be portrayed in print.
lie also offered resolution providing
for n change in the rules Of the senate,
so as to enable senators who receive
petitions to practically suppress them,
by handing them privately to the Sec
retary of the senate, who will be au-
thorized to pack them away" in some
pigeon hole, wnere they will be forgot
ten. This proposition practically nulli-
ties the sacred right of petition. 1t
takes the senate one step farther from
the people, and make the senators just
one more notch higher than the people
whose servants they should be. Under
the Hill proposition all Of the people
of this state might petition congress
to right some great wrong. and our
senators could quietly cause those pc
titions to be filed away in pigeon holes
in the office Of the secretary of the
senate, and thus the expressed will of
ha ,,an,,la ,null l,a nulliAaI
But Senator Hill went farther In the
wrong direction. He said that he could
see no harm In the sale Of beer to immi-
grants ut Ellis Island when they arrive
there. He said: II am inclined to
think that gluss of beer would be very
welcome to the immigrants upon their
landing in this country" He went still
further and said: II cannot very well
see how the sale Of beer to immigrants
can be of very great injury to the tenn
perance cause"
First this democratic leader proposes
to deny the right of petition, and In the
next breath he welcomes beer'drink.
ing class Of immigrants to our shores
He can see no harm that could be done
tho temperance cause by having immi-
grants met with glass of beer, when
they step upon American soil. Those
immigrants are to become American
citizens; and that is the welcome they
are to receive, according to this eminent
democratic authority. 1t is NOT
primarily the business of politicians or
newspaper correspondents to preach
temperance sermons ;sneither " IL the
prime duty of craftsmanship 70 advo.
cate intcmperance or indulgence.
Senator Carter, of Montana, has ex-
ulained why he voted with the demo-
eats against consideration of the tar
bill. His explanation is intended
= TO cover the reasons for the re.
ration of three other senator's
lver states. Senator Carter has
Jason for his action. II may not
satisfactory to majority of the
,ans Of the country, but there
hhing in 1t. lie says; ~ am
republican and believe In u protective
tariff. have been a republican all
my life, and claim to be as good a re-
publican as any man from New Eng
land, the middle states, or amy other
section of this country. But my peo-
pie are silver producing people. They
demand recognition Of their product.
Thf f>elief is prevalen. among my peo-
~. ..7..J silver has been maliciously
demonetized They are republicans
and protectionists; butthey do notwant
their senators or representatives in
congress to vote for protective tariff
bill, and to uphold that system forever,
without securing recogni lion for sill
yer. Therefore, believing as do, tha.
the tariff bill which recently passed the
house, and which has been reported TO
tho se..-> with un amendment, was
primarily 49,. d In the interest of Fall
rivar mud tho fnr pust | voted uVniusl