The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-22
Heartfelt Proceedings.

/
| This. indeed. is an era of change in our
devoted country Old ideals, standards,
| faith, doctrine. and few surviving prin-
| ciples. are bubbling in the seething pot of
an institutional. moral and social evolu-
| ton. the goal of which is as much hid
| den from our finite view as is the lady in
| the lobster from our unaided vision. he
| whirligg of time hath wrought eyilly
| upon cur Congress, reducing one it's
| branches wholly, and the other in part. to
| the despotic yoke of the First Consul.
Marcus. Satraps and viceroys, carpet
bag in hand, tyrannize our territories.
Trusts and monopolies absorb the actual
powers, and direct and govern the prr-
poses and actions of our Government. and
where the Constitution of the United
States may turn up next Monday, the
Lord and the Supreme Court only know.
At a juncture like the present. when
forms and methods are rapidly changing
in appearance and character, like the
chameleon which doth feed on air." it is
useful to note the phenomena they
present themselves with Kaleidoscope
variety. in order that We may the better
understand where we are at" Indubi-
tably, improving change is desirable in
many directions: not perhaps in our in
situations. but assuredly in a number of
practices under them. This is especially
true as to some of the cold and heartless
forms in which parliamentary literature
has come to be crystallized. We may
look through the public documents of
whole sessions of our Legislature. with
cut finding in any of them the least
thing that breathes soulfulness. or CUR
giles with bursting emotion, except the
eulogies on defunct members. That is
deceasedly wrong. What is wanted is
more heart. more tears and more neral
effusiyeness in the written and spoken
productions of our Ciceros. our Antonys,
our Grosvenors. Pettisrews. and Depews.
They should wake up and cast aside the
cerements of graveyard precedent and
habit, and put little more of humanity
and thrill into their utterances and type
written eloquence. We do not know how
better to illustrate the point we desire to
make than to contrast the deadly dullness
of the average Senate or House resolution
with the stirring and neuralgia variety of
the same thing which we find in the pro-
ceedings of the national convention which
the amiable and accomplished Daughters
of the American Revolution are now hold
ing in this Capital City.
Rising to a question of the highest
privilege, yesterday one of the distin-
guished members Of the society offered
resolution which We think is worthy of
place in history. as an improvement upon
the narrow Congressional construction of
similar efforts. We need not recite the
circumstance which made the resolution
pertinent and even necessary. since the
text sufficiently explains all that. The
resolution reads as follows:
Whereas a report has gained circulation to the
effect that Of this body has sent out anonv-
nous communications; and that statements
equally false and scu1rilous being made in
regard to this ssme member, and while every
member OF this organization is entitled to its
protection, this is peculiarly so when that mem
Der has served the body from its earliest DAYS
until the present time and served it with loyalty
and devotion which should awaken in return its
highest sense Of Justice and appreciation
Whereas such allegations are being made and
are untrue and libelous and disgrace to
such an organization and a blot upon |
TIE iatIbt anu dlEltF OF every member. W men !
such methods prevail, who is safe from attackr |
A woInan's purity o. character is her proudest |
possession. Shall it be permitted by this body I
that the character of any member shall be as /
sailed by such vile and scandalous statements? I
Therefore, be it
Resolved, That such methods of procedure re.
eeive the seal OF disapproval of this congress; /
that every effort shall be made to trace such |
reports to their authors: that they and the re- !
tailers OF such statements shall be made TO feel /
the displeasure OF this high court OF justice. |
Madame President | demand the acceptance of !
this resolution in the name of womanhood and !
in the name of the honor and integrity Of this |
body /
The beauty of this style of resolution is |
that it does not confne the author to a |
bald statement of grievances in the pre-
amble,, nor to the mere recommendation |
of a remedy in the enacting clause 1t |
permits argument. comment, and a stump |
speech to be interpolated here and there |
at will, and makes the whole more life |
like. Our National Legislators must see |
the great advantage they might secure in !
debate by adopting this resolooting sys-
TEN of the Daughters. Were they to do !
so, it is easy to see that, by proper prep |
sration of the language, they could not i
only get resolution before the Senate or
House, but. at the same time. compel the |
reading clerk to make an argument for it.
Day by day one realizes more and more
how much there is for men to learn from
the parliamentary proceedings of the fair
sex, in conventions assembled