The Iola register., 1902-06-20


progress and prosperity, and perhaps
the very life of the nation depended
there have always been timorous or
shortsighted counselors who sought to
prevent the step by blocking the way
with the Constitution.
1t is enough to cite the constitutional
chase of Louisiana, to the greenback
act to the credit-strengthening act, to
the proposal to hold the islands ac-
quired from Spain as territory, and
and not as Territory of the United
States. But the Supreme Court has
always vindicated the sovereignty OF
the United States. 1t has always held
that whatever act was essential to and
inherent in national sovereignty could
be properly exercised by this nation.
Why should we fear, then, that this
great tribunal would now deny to the
nation the very first and highest right
of sovereignty, the right to protect the
life of its Chief Executive, the right to
preserve the orderly administration OF
its affairs?
Does anyone imagine that the Su-
preme Court would quibble and hag
gle and split hairs when the question
before it was one of inherent national
right? II this amendment should pre-
vail and an assault should be COM
mitted upon some future president,
and the assilant should allege as his
defense that he committed the assault
at time when the President was not
engaged in the performance of his
duty, does anybody believe for a
single moment that the Supreme Court
would recognize the validity OF such
defense and declare that Congress had
exceeded its power in attempting to
protect the President at all times? The
President can not always be engaged
in the actual perform ance Of his duty.
He must eat and drink and take his
recreation as other men. But can it
be insisted that there is any time when
his death would not disturb the ma
chinery of government and bring
anguish to the people?
Let it be remembered always that it
is the Government of the United States
the free institutions which we have
builded here, and not merely the life
of a man, that we are endeavoring by
this bill to protect. Was it any less
an assault on these institutions that
Abraham Lincoln was shot at a
theater: that James A. Garfield was
struck down as he was departing upon
a journey of pleasure and recreation;
that William Mckinley was treacher-
ously murdered while extending the
hand of friendship and good will to
his fellow-citizens in city far distant
from the seat of government? Not one
of these men could by any reasonable
construction of language be said to
have been engaged in the performance
of his duties at the moment
chosen by the assassin to take
his life: and yet who can deny that
the assault upon them in each instance
, was just as much an attack upon the
, Government and just as great shock
4, to the orderly administration of the
nations business as if the fatal shot
had broken in upon the very midst of
an Executive act?
The President can not be always in
the performance of his duty, but his
, duty is always upon him, and who
ever makes impossible his perform
, ance of tomorrow's duty commits as
great crime as he who strikes him
down with today's duties half full
q filled. Strike out from this first sec
; tion the words, "%hile he is engaged
in the performance of his otiicia
e duties, or because of his o1cia
y character, or because of his oticia
y acts or omissions" and you leave tC
f the Supreme Court no task except tc
e declare whether or not this nation
e has right to punish an otfenst
against the official head-a righ
q which is of the very essence of ma
| tional sovereignty, and which is in
e conceivable to me could ever bC
e denied. Leave the words in, and you
8 not only suggest to the man who as
saults the President the line of hi:
defense, but you impose upon the
y court the determination of questions
[ of motive, about which there can al
( ways be endless quibblnig and con
: tention.
r. Leave these words in and you war;
e the would-be-assassin that he mus
Q committee the assault at some time
Q when the President is taking his res
t or his recreation, and that he mus
allepe as q reason for IL some private