The sun., 1900-01-27
Saturday, January 27, 1890.

Representative CHARLES E. LITTLE
FIELD, of Maine, who succeeded Nelson
Dingley, has already vindicated the
judgment of the voters of the Second Dis
trict. Mr. Littefeld's argument in the
Roberts case, although his maiden effort,
held the attention of the House by its
exposition of constitutional law, close
reasoning and eloquent summing-up.
Nevertheless, when the vote was taken
on the adoption of the majority report
excluding Roberts, Mr.. Liltlefeld, who
had signed the minority report, was the
only Republican to vote in the negative.
For a new member it was an unusual
situation, but only a nan of great moral
courage would have dared to thus isolate
himself from his party. And Charles L.
Littlefeld is not fanatic or freak.
From the first he took the ground that
Roberts had constitutional right to be
sworn in, but that the House could ex-
pei him instanter. Many eminent law
: yers agree with Mr.. Littlefeld. Public
clamor, based on cant, as well as honest
indignation, demanded the swift politi-
cal execution OF the Mormon Representa-
tive. Men in Congress, irrespective of
party, bowed before the storm. Right
must be sacrificed to expediency, and
the law to morals, although there was
no question of morals in constitutional
view of the case. The time for the ap.
plication OF morality should have come
after the technical right of Roberts
had been acknowledged. The dam
ger. OF denying it was pointed out in
the debate yesterday by Mr.. Talbert
Dem. J, of South Carolina, a most extra
ordinary person, by the way. Mr.. Tai
bert pointed out that if the proposition
was sustained-that is to say, if Roberts,
whose election as such had not been con-
seeted, were to be excluded-what was
to prevent Republican majority in
some future House from denying South
ern States representation on the ground
that the election in these States was an
explicit or offensive violation of the un-
derstanding (referring to the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments) by which
they were admitted as States. Mr.. Tai
bert is an extraordinary person, because,
in spite of this alarming opinion, he
voted for the majority report. Why?
Let him speak for himself: at is a case
of such abhorrent and defiant immoral
ity, that did not stop two seconds to
think whether he ought to be kick d in
and then Kicked out, or neither. The
more decent thing to Go is to keep him
out entirely" 1t is to be feared that q
great many other members voted TO ex-
Glade for the same reason.
Charles Il. Littieield did not sound
the sentinei OF his constituents before
addressing himself to an examination u
the. case. He acted on the homelv adage
of Davy Crockett: .Be sure you're ripht,
then go ahead" Sticking to his convic.
tions landed Mr.. Littlefeld in Republi.
can minority of one, but we undertake
to say that he is the most respected man
in Congress today. Whether his inter.
probation of the law is right or wrong he
is to be admired for his courageous and
independent spirit. Maine is to be con.
graduated on having such representa-.
tive in Congless, and Mr.. Littefield's
constituents are to ba congratulated be-
cause he is a young and vigorous man
who can be returned TO Congress term
after term.