The Iola register., 1902-06-20
TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT.


takes it for granted that its readers
are interested in the public work done
by the proprietor of this paper and
therefore takes the liberty of reprint
ing speech which appeared in the
Congressional Record Of June l1th.
The question under consideration was
IAN act to protect the President of the
= United States, the suppression OF
crime against the Government, and
for other purposes" and Mr.. Scott
said;
"Mr. Chairman AS one not trained
in "the lawless science of the law,
unskilled in the dialectics OF its books
and schools, hesitate to avail my
self of the opportunity afforded me by
the courtesy of the distinguished gen.
tleman from Maine Mr.. Littledeld) to
engage in the discussion of the pend
ing measure. The sentiment of the
great and patriotic State which l have
the honor to represent on this floor is
SO united and earnest, however, in
support of the objects sought to be
gained by the passage of this bill tha
/ feel as if l should be remiss in my
duty if / should fail TO give expires.
sion to it here.
can easily understand the attitude
of gentlemen on the o:her side of this
Chamber who have arrayed themselves
in almost unanimous opposition to
this measure. With a fidelity to the
traditions Of their party which does
credit to their heart If not to their in.
telligence, they have gone TO the mel
ancholy grave at Appomattox and
conjured forth the poor ghost Of States
rights and have thrust it forward here
as justi6cationlfor their opposition to
\ a measure which seeks to give the ma
tion's protection to the nations Presi-
dent. "We must not trench upon the
lights and powers of the States with
isderal legislation, these gentlemen
assert. "There is no dignity which
doth hedge about king in this great
country" they say, "and therefore a
statute which seeks to give him spec
ial protection violates every principle
and tradition of our history.
] say | can understand such an at
bitude as this on the part of the gen.
5lemen on the other side, for | have
'ead the history of the Democratic
oarty; but must say, and | am very
ylad to say, cannot sympathize with
+. AS an academic proposition |
.hink have fair understanding of
the relations existing between the
several States and the Federal Gov
srnment, and their respective powers
an& privileges; but as a practical
question it has never worried me. No
intelligent American needs to be told
that the proper adjustment of the re-
lations which should exist between
the States and the General Govern
ment was the first and greatest of the
problems which confronted the makers
of the Constitution; but why, at this
stage of our national life, State lines
should be held of any Importance ex-
,cept as mere political convenience
90. facilitate the operations OF self
government among the people has
been to me always a curious thing.
No citizen of Kansas has ever been
accused of lacking a proper degree
of State pride; but | never heard
or heard of any citizen of
that State expressing feeling OF
jealousy or suspicion towards the
United States of America, or pro-
testing that the Federal Government
was trespassing upon the rights OF
the sovereign state of Kansas. Kan
sas was settled in large part by ex'
soldiers of the Union Army. They
went out there with the idea some
what firmly fixed in their minds that
they had settled for all time the ques-
tion as to whether the United State S
was one sovereignty or forty-five; and
they are still of that opinion. The
idea, therefore, that in passing law
authorizing the Federal courts to
take jurisdiction of an assault upon
the life of the President Congress-
would be authorizing the General
Government to usurp function thai
should be left to New York or Ohio OF
Arkansas or any other State would
simply never occur to the mind of q
citizen of Kansas.
have no sympathy either with the
objection to this measure which is
grounded on the proposition that the
life of the President is no more
precious than the life of any lothel
citizen and is therefore not entitled tC
special protection. When one man is
singled out from among so, 900, 900 o.
people, and by the free, uncoerced,