Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-01

policy that would minister to the public
welfare, and not send n man here that
would inperi the very constitution under
which we are living
II Is therefore a breach of faith on their
part to elect such a representative. BY
their action in sending Mr. Roberts here
as their representative they have imperil-
ed the very constitution that they are
swotn to support. They have attempted
TO make this institution, which is nothing
but relic of barbarism. respectable.
They have given 1t a standing and q
status in the halls of legislation that had
been rejected by the Legislature when
they were admitted into the Union.
But we arc told by the gentleman from
Utah that If we adopt the policy of ex-
Guiding him from a seat In the House, we
threaten the very existence of the con
stitution Itself that We break down the
bulwarks that the fathers set up for the
protection of public liberties. Well II
that sermon had been preached to us by
somebody who was not himself trying 10
break down those bulwarks. It would
have a great deal more force. Breaking
down the bulwarks of the constitution ~
excluding representative who comes
here pledged to support the constitution,
comes here pledged to work for the pub
lie interests Of our people, and sim 1ust-
fec his belief In an institution that Con-
gress has once Condemnel-is that the
way tnat the nuINUfhS OF tllC constitution
are threat encd?
For one | am perfectly willing to risk
the ship of state. think she can sail on
safely enough, Notwithstanding the dan
gerous assault which the gentleman says
this House Is about to make upon hose
hulwarks. 1t Is true. sir that In sailing
over these trou blesome waters the tim
hers of the old ship may crack, the cord
ago may in some parts of 1t snap, the
crew may murmur. but of one thing feel
we'll assured. that the old ship of state
will never bo swallowed up in the miry
waters of Salt Lake. daughter and APP
plause)
Mr.. Speaker we are told that over the
doors of the legislative chambers in anci-
ent Rome was written an inscription in
Latin, which translated means See 10 1t
that no harm comes to the republic"
That injunction was written in large let
ters on the very portals of their capitol
building, so that every member of their
legislative body as he marched up to the
capitol each morning to dis, barge his &c
sInnsible dutics in legislating Tor the VOL
fare Of free propic should be REMINDED
that it was his dr,y to see that no harm
came to the republic.
Now. sir that same injunction Is resting
uron us. II Is not written in letters over
the doors of our Capitol but 1t Is written
in spirit In the very constitution under
4 which we live. 1t is written ia the very
pledge which every man makes when he
takes an oath to conduct himself here FOR
the best interests of the people. II is
written in tho very atmosphere of every
one OF ouC legislative halls and it is our
duty to-day obeyins this injunction. to
see to it that no harm comes to the repub-
lie.
The American people only a few months
/ ago rose to a level high enough and to ?,
plane broad enough to write into the code
OF International law new dogma, which
was that the uncivilized methods of three
centuries ago must not be practlced in the
conduct OF A modern war. And so We de-
clare that on grounds of humanity the
United States was justified in preventing
in Cuba the preparation Of those wrongs
under Weylerism that had been
practiced three centuries before under
the Duke of Alva in the Neither
lands. And no nation on the face of the
globe has as yet called in question the
propriey of that doctrine thus newly an
nounced.
1t remains for us to-day. Mr.. Speaker.
to write another maxim in the parliament
tary law of our country. and that is that
no one OF the relics Of barharism that
have come down to us from long ago CEN
turics shall longer vex and disturb the de-
lihera tons of an American Congress. We
oaU say to tho people of Utah. Take your
man back Return US a representative
who is in accord with the spirit of our in
stitutions and We will welcome him TO a
seat on this floor Eut If you, insist upon
sending us a man VINO represents an idea
that threatens tho very happiness Of our
people. If you undertake to popuarize and
make respectable such an idea in our au-
tonomN, we say to you, No. We say
that II Is proper that sc record to-day, If
never before in the legislative history OF
this House, the principle that no man
shall he nsg-mittod to hold n seat here " he