The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-05
HE REFUSES TO RESIGN
REPUDIATES THE DEMAND OF
HIS STATES LEGISLATURE.
HE SETS UP A QUEER Defense
Because II Out of 10 of Kentuckys Electoral
Vote Went for Mckinley, Therefore, He
Dees Not Misrepesent its Democracy
bv Fighting Its Platform,
by Fighting Its Platform.


Washington, d. c., Feb. 4.-Speaking
to a question of personal privilege in the
Senate to-day, Mr.. Lindsay, of Ken
tucky, commented sharply upon the mo-
tives of the author and promoters of the
resolution recently passed by the Leg
islature of Kentucky demanding his re-
in part:
with the relations existing between
q Senator and hls constituency this
body has generally no concern. But
there are exceptional cases in which a
Senator may be justified in calling at
tention to transactions semi-official in
their character, which, if left unex-
plained might create the impression that
he stands officially charged with con-
duct which would render him unworthy
Of seat on this moor and an unfit as
sociate for his fellow Senators.
Il hold in my hands a paper pu1porting
to be an official copy of a resolution re-
Gently adopted by the two houses of the
Kentucky General Assembly, and which
it is due to myself and to the Senate,
shall be fully understood"
He then read the resolutions read at
the clerks desk and continued:
.'While this processes to REQUEST
my resignation, it is couched in Ian
guage which disregards the ordinary
amenities of life and is in effect, II de-
mand that / shall surrender my place
III order to create a vacancy, and thus
make room here for some one holding
political views in harmony with the au-
thor and promoters of the resolution.
desire TO protest against this usurpation
of ungranted power, and inasmuch as
the resolution has been made Il matter
Of record OH the journals of the two
aiouses of the State Legislature, TO which
l have no access, / propose TO give it a
place on the records of the Senate and
in that connection to make such com
ments as / deem necessary and proper
under the circumstances.
ut is to be observed that in the ar.
rafgnment which precedes the resolution.
there is no charge that | have ever
dis0beyed the expressed viii OF the peo-
pie of Kentucky.
The substance of the complaint is
that | am opposed to the free and un-
of 16 to / and that l opposed the elec-
tion of the nominees of the late Chicago
convention, and by so doing betrayed the
trust reposed in me by my constituency.
/ shall mot discuss the Presidential cam
paign of 1896. 1t is not necessary TO
do 50 to meet the charge tiafrt | betrayed
the trust of my constituents by opposing
dthe election Of the Chicago nominees.
My constituency lis made up of the peO-
pie of Kentucky, and that people voted
against those nominees, and twelve ont
OF thirteen of the electoral votes OF
Kentucky were registered against them.
If to he opposed to the free coinage OF
silver and in favor of maintaining the
parity of our gold and silver dollars is
TO be deemed n betrayal of trust, then
/ may ne pardoned for Calling attention
to the history of current politics III Ken
tlreky from 1898, when i was first elect
ed TO the Senate up to the time of my
second election"
Mr.. Lindsay then defined his position
on the financial question and quoted
facts to make it clear that he was the
representative of the whole people of
Kentucky and not in any sense the
agent of tIhe Kentucky Legislature.
Above all he was, he said, a Senator
for the whole American people and as
such he would perform his duties and
cast his vote in accordance with his
convictions and with the dictates of his
conscience.
In conclusion Mr. Lindsay said:
"A scrrlpuIOms regard for the division
of powers between the State and FED
eral governments, and the careful OBJ
servance of the boundary line which sep
arates those powers, is a cardinal doc
tTine of Jeffersonian Democracy; yet we
haye here the spectacle of controlling
majority of a State Legislature, boldly
0ver-stepping that line of demarcation
and in the name of Democracy demand
ing that / shall surrender my commission
because, in their estimation, i have
ceased to be a Democrat. They seem
ignorant of the unuerlying principles of
the historic Democratic party, or else
regardless of their obligation to observe
those principles. Their right 10 impeach
my Democracy, or to put me upon the
defense of my record as n Democrat,
j utterly and absolutely repudiate.
'.rhis much | have thought it proper
TO say, and with these remarks / dis
miss the so-called legislative request for
my resignation"
Shortly after Mr.. Lindsay concluded.
the Senate, on motion of Mr.. Davis
(Nl:nn.), chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tions committee, went into executive
session. No business of Importance was
transacted in the open session. At $40
p IN. the Senate adjourned until Mon
day.