The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-06-03
EXCUSES TO ORDER.

EXCUSES TO ORDER.
ial in the Oregonian in which it is
predicted that Quay will be seated by
the next senate in direct violation of
recent precedents set by that body.
The Oregonian does not claim that
there is any Law for seating Quay, but
insists that the president wants him,
or rather Quay insists upon the presi-
dent standing in, and that he will haye
to stand. From its deductions 1t is
made evident that the senate is only a
tool for the administration, thus max
ing it political machine dictated to
by one man or by set of men back of
the president. The position taken by
the Oregonian is as follows:
There is no need to doubt what the
administration will do in the Quay
case. We know what it will do there,
from what 1t has done in other emer-
gencies. The law of its being is not to
give offense to any supplication or
threat. Its principle is popularity, its
policy compliance. Its answer to anti
Imperialism has been not the true
answer of military wisdom, but dali
lance in the Philippines from the day
uf the protocol to the diplomatic recog-
milton of the insurgents but yesterday
at Manila. 1t feared to offend Eagan,
it fears to offend Alger, it will fear to
offend Quay. When Quay picks out a
senator he cannot control but whom
the administration can CONT o., and
demands that that senator be influenced
to vote in favor of seating the Penn
sylvania claimant, the demand will be
complied with, and the deal will be
covered up with the greatest possible
amount of secrecy.
The republican machine, of which
the administration is part, wants
Quay retained in the senate, just as iG
wanted Mitchell. Aid of Mitchell in
volved denial of seats to gubernatorial
appointees, and the precedent was
cheerfully established. Aid of Quay
involves reversal of the Corbett pre-
cedent, and that reversal will be forth
coming quite as cheerfully. So sud
den a change of front, so palpable q
qualification of senatorial brains, SO
damning an Indictment of senatorial
honesty, are things disconcert:ng and
inconvenient, but only to slight de-
gree. Quay must be seated, and the
only thing needed is the preparation
of excuses.
Necessity is the mother of invention,
and such excuses as the senators re-
quire will be provided, specially manu-
factured for the requirements of indi-
vidual cases. We shall have splitting
OF hairs to show that Quay's claim is
in accord with the constitution, where.
as MIR. Corbett's was not, regardless of
the fact that on the two points in which
the cases differ Mr.. Corbett's position
was the stronger of the two. Mr.. Heit-
feldt gives a hint for some when he
talks of rebuke for the Pennsylvania
Legislature because it treated Quay
maliciously. Others will put up the
pretext that the Importance of the
questions at issue in congress pre-
cludes acquiescense in half-representa-
tion from four states.
But the most interesting of all the
inventions is one which will probably
serve the most senators. furnish the
official party excuses, if such term
can be used, and which derives its po-
litical Importance from the fact of its
being balt-truth. The most respect
able excuse for the Corbett decision
was public policy. And public policy
will afford the most respectable excuse
for the Quay decision. The senate
professed desire to force the states to
elect senators. 'If you DON'T" it said
to them, ''you go unrepresented."
Rut the threat failed OF effect. The
bitterness of deadlocks rendered the
representation of their state in the
senate one of the things legislatures
care least about. Factions want their
man in. and if they can't have him,
their supreme duty as patriots is to
keep the other fellow out. AS for the
state it may go to pot,
O. k1 - ieh 81
failed to work. Now the senate, in
seating Quay and the other claimants
can say to the states: 'If you don't
elect senator, the governor will ap-
ponit one; 80 the best you can do will
be to pick your man or the COVER
nor may give you some one you
don't want" This will be the pre-.
cedent, and will serve until appoint
ment of an enemy of some of the repub-
lican machine makes another reversal
necessary.
What really embarrasses is the ne
cessity for speeches. If it were not
that garrulity is the prime function of |
senators and words their chief product,
votes of this kind might be taken
quietly and no explanations offered. |
Certainly it is none of the peoples !
business whom the senate admits to
ts privileges, any more than in the
'ase of any other private club. But
he traditions of the senate must be
deserved. When nothing of real con-
interposes, the senator would
Ike to be honest. When circum-
tances now and then permit, he de.
Ives q certain modicum of satisfac-
Ion from the exercise of reason and
affection. But above and beyond
lere brains and conscience, the senate
lust do as it likes. What the consti
ltion and the laws are will be known
'om conaultation of its passing predi-
,ction. And above and beyond all
lis, it must talk. The senators know
,at the measure of a mans character
the time he can stand on his feet
nd howl, and the length he measures
, the Record. The necessity for
oeeches is the source of all real trou-
le in the Quay case.
THE EXPENSES OF WAk.
In these busy, bustling times most
very proposition is considered from a
nanciai standpoint the world over,
nd it was probably on this account