The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-23


somewhat laggard and altogether partial
In his operations thus far
THAT ROBERTS REPORT.
If the house Of representatives should
accept the report Of the majority Of its
exclusion of Congressman Roberts from
his seat, a blow, the seriousness OF
which may not be lightly estimated, will
have been delivered against representa-
tive government. That report declares
IN so many words that when the con-
stitution prescribed certain requirements
of eligibility to a seat in congress that
provision was designed to be taken as
subject to the absolute right of congress
to establish any other requirements to
eligibility it chooses and to exclude any
member from his seat even after the
event in case he does not meet these re-
quirements so established Roberts is
excluded, not expelled, because he Is a
Mormon. Any other constituency in the
United States may elect its congressional
representative, and, according to this re-
port, the branch of congress to which
he Is elected may at its pleasure refuse
to allow him to take his seat for any
disability which 1t chooses to aver
against him, or by reason Of any offense
of which it may choose to hold him
guilty
The conclusion of the committee is en-
tirely in accord with the standards Of Of
fetal responsibility which have come in
vogue since the advent Of Imperialism.
1t will be surprising, indeed, If a major
ity Of the house is not found available to
put this Infamous report through and
thus invest a majority Of either branch
of congress, Independently and separate
ly, without regard to constitution or
courts, with the law-malking power. For,
if the house or senate may at it's own
elect for a disqualification created by
itself, and without regard to the specified
constitutional qualifications, it can, even
without the formality of legal enactment,
deprive the citizen of his elective fran
chise.
The f1imsy character Of the arguments
advanced for this assertion of arbitrary
power is made painfully manifest in the
language of the report There is evil
dence of mental hysteria in every line
of that document. 1t tries to make this
man Roberts out an embodied menace to
the perpetuity of American institutions,
and the ludicrous products Of its eff
forts in this regard are worthy of brief
specification Among other desperate
deeds imputed to him, he Is described
in that report as having "def1ed,' ''de-
spised," 'spst upon," laughed at" ode
family trampled," proclaimed his utter
contempt adhered to the audacious
assumption" even going finally to the
atrocious lengths of openly saying, 9TH
be ID if I would IT'S crowner's
quest law, which this committee dis
penses, as true as any ever expounded
The public sentiment of the country
has clearly expressed itself in favor Of
the expulsion Of this man from his seat
by reason Of his polygamous relations.
In putting that decree into operation the
committee, whose report has been sub
mitted, evidently feels itself safe to over
ride all constitutional requirements and
to recommend an exercise Of power oyer
the rights Of American citizens by q
congressional majority as arbitrary as
was ever assumed by European autoc-
racy.
Those who have not been inoculated
by the virus of imperialism may well
look forward with much concern to the
action which the house of representatives
will take on this dangerous recommended
ton.