The evening times., 1900-01-12
FRIDAY. JANUARY Il. 1909.
a senatorial Outrage.

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
or the sober second thought Of the orators.
The evil of this practice is that it permits
a person of a certain character, and with
sufficiently obnoxious proclivities, TO stand
in his place in Congress and indulge in
language which be would not have go 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..
Petigrew addressed the Senate. His
speech will be printed hereafter" Ii is a
question whether or not it will be print
ed hereafter" in the exact form of deliy-
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-
oerning what MIR. Pettigrew actually said.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, had
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withdrawn.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 un-
willing to allow anything of the kind, and
he proceeded in his own never-imitated
way to advocate his own proposition. He
claimed to regard it as evident that the
Administration desired 10 keep detailed
information from the people. The trou-
Bile with the imperialists," be said as
reported, lis that they have confounded
the interests of the people of the United
States with the political desires and ambi-
tions of their puny President.
II any amendment is to be made to the
resolution, ii ought 10 be made TO read
that the information should be transmit
ted to the Senate if 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
dignifed and decorous American Senate,
and be tolerated by its respectable men,
bers. is something not only amazing. but
If 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. idealization of that
sovereignty which inheres in the whole
people. and not OF the incumbent. We
affront or impertinence for Grover Cleve-
land. If that despised individual were in
the White House. that we do for its pres-
ent occupant, whose most severe critic or
worst enemy cannot accuse Of a lack of
sturdy Amerieanism and determination 70
the honor of that flag which
small and parasitic provincials ard
traitors would tear down if they could.
If this person. Pettigrew. has been cor
recly reported, and there does not seem to
be any room for doubt in the matter. there
is but one proper course for the Senate 10
pursue. The Senator who is so lost TO
every sense of the proprieties of the body
as to speak OF the American Chief Magis-
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 |
ana ample apology at the bar of the Sen /
ate. and be mercilessly rebuked bv its Pre- /
siding Officer. Disagreeing to that promo |
sition. he should be promptly expelled /
like other citizens. may differ |
rom 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 |
he President of the United States, whoever |
le may be for the time being, is to be
o. vii al Int !
ipect, and in his official capacity with the
most extreme Difference and honor