The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-12
FRIDAY. JANUARY Z. 1900.
\ Senatorial Outrage.


Under a thoroughly vicious system Of
privilege in vogue in both houses OF Con-
gress. Senators and Members are permitted
to withhold the speeches delivered by
them on the floor from publication in the
Congressional Record" until they can be
prepared for public consumption, edited,
amended. and altered to suit the interests
OF the sober second thought Of the orators.
The evil Of this practice is that il permits
a person Of certain character. and with
sufficiently obnoxious proclivities, to stand
in his place in Congress and indulge in
language which he would not have 20 be
fore the country in official form, and
which he fully intends at the time TO
eliminate from his remarks before they
shall be printed in the Congressional
Record"
We observe that the speech OF Mr.. Pet
tigreW of South Dakota. delivered in the
Senate yesterday. on the subject of his
Filipino resolution, does not appear in the
Record of the same date The columns
OF that esteemed contemporary in the is
sue referred TO. contain this notice: Mr..
Pcttigrew addressed the Senate. His
speech will be printed hereafter" Il is a
question whether or not it will be print
ed hereafter" in the exact form OF deliv-
cry. In the absence Of the official text we
will venture TO accept the stenographic
reports Of our own people in the press gal
lery, and OF the representatives Of other
Journals and the press associations, among
whom there is substantial agreement con-
corning what Mr.. Pettigrew actually said.
Senator Lodge OF Massachusetts, bad
suggested that his own and the Pettigrew
resolution asking the President for infor-
nation concerning Philippine matters. be
withdrawn. and the Hoar resolution for
the same purpose be substituted. with its
scope enlarged to cover such matters as
the plots to massacre Americans in Ma
Mia. the butchery Of prisoners by the Ia
gals. their relations with other tribes and
so on. But Mr.. Pettigrew was quite I'M
willing to allow anything Of the kind and
he proceeded in his own never-imitated
way to advocate ais own proposition. He
claimed to regard it as evident that the
Administration desired TO keep detailed
information from the people THE trou-
bic with the imperialists." he said as
reported is that they have COMPOUNDED
the interests of the people Of the United
States with the political desires and ambi-
lions Of their puny President
II any amendment is to be made to the
resolution. It ought TO be made to read
that the information should be transmit
ted to the Senate II not Incompatible With
the Presidents interests as a candidate for
reelection"
We should experience some surprise il
the widest Populist in the other house
were to venture upon such speech. even
in the heat OF debate and under great ce-
rebral excitement That direct and vulgar
insult to the President OF the United
States should be uttered in the formerly
dignified and decOrous American Senate.
and be tolerated by its respectable mem
bers, is something not only amazing. but
humiliating. II the highest officer Of the
nation is not to be protected from per
sonal abuse in the Senate of the United
States, where else will he be safe from IT?
We are speaking now of the great Presi-
Dental office the. ideaIization OF that
sovereignty which inheres in the whole
people. and not Of the incumbent We
should demand the same immunity from
afront or impertinence for Grover CIeve-
land. II that despised individual we're in
the White House. that we do for its Dros-
ent occupant whose most severe critic or
worst enemy cannot accuse OF a lack of
sturdy Americanism and determination IN
maintain the honor Of that flag which
small and parasitic proyincials and
traitors would tear down if they could
II this person. Pettigrew. has been cor
rectly reported. and there does not geem to
be any room for doubt in the matter. there
is but one proper course for the Senate to
pursue. The Senator who is so lost to
every sense Of the prophecies of the body
as 20 speak OF the American Chi-f Napts-
trate as Puny President" and assert
that his only interest in the conduct OF
public affairs is a personal and unworthy
one. should be compelled to make a public
and ample apology at the bar OF the SEN
ate. and be mercilessly rebuked bv its Pre-
siding Officer. Disagreeing to that prono-
sition. he should be promptly expelled
Senators. like other citizens. may diNor
from the Hon. William Mckinley. Of Can
'on' Ohio. as much as they choose and in
proper places at proper times combat his
views and criticise his public conduct; but
the President Of the United States. whoever
he may be for the time icing. is to be
treated with absolute and distinguished re-
sDect, and in his Official capacity with the
most extreme Difference and honor.