The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-28

worthiness to meet the President and his
guest before the. Senate had taken final
action. But Is this true? Senator Till
mani was afforded tho opportunity OF de-
cliniug the invitation as of his own Volt
ton; and certainly the proffer of this OPP
portunity did not imply the desire pub
licly to Insult him or to prejudice his case
in the Senate. Therefore, we are brought
down to one question Of fact: Did Presl-5
dent Roosevelt tell the truth when he de-
clarcd that to entertain at a State BAN
quota most formal function, be it re-
membered, and subject to the strictest
diplomatic Interpretations Senator ur.-
der suspension by his associates would
.affront'' the Senate and be an act of
.'dscourtesy' to a. royal visitor?
This is a novel point in American official
etiquette and we do not pretend to be an
authority on ceremonial observances in
Washington or elsewhere; but it seems
to us that by the ordinary rules of cour-
tesy the President was justitied.-Colurn-
bia (a Co. State.
But the most extraordinary conduct Of
this Senator was his refusal to recall his
acceptance Of the Presidents invitation
asking his presence at the reception OF
PRICE Henry. In some respects this IS
the most outrageous thing Senator Till
man has been guilty of. He seems, IN
fact, entirely destitute of the sense of
SOou .tdStS anu llllo SiiO"ll
Ivy his failure to grasp the fact THAI his
behavior in the Senate last Saturday was
grossly insulting, disgraceful, a high mis-
demeanor in law and in the code that pre-.
stribeS the manners of gentlemen. Ills
is a hopeless case, because of the absence
from his makeup OF the principles on
which politeness and decency are based.
If the Senator had been any part of a
gentleman he would not have waited to
be requested but would have cancelled
his acceptance OF MI. Roosevc1ts invita-
ton in the same hour in which no had
provoked q disgraceful personal fight in
the Senate chamber-ChattanooS Times.
Tilman was not satisfied with his Sat
urday exhibition, but continued his inde-
cencics yesterday in insisting on holding
to an invitation which the President
wished TO recall from him. The position
OF tho President in this matter, it may
be said, is quite correct and there was
nothing personal in the matter between
him and Senator Tillman. The Senator
had been invited to dine at the White
House to meet Prince Henry. lie was in
Vited as the senior minority member Of
the Naval Affairs Committee Of the Sen
| ate. Since the invitation had been is
sued and accepted the Senate itself had
placed Tillman under the ban Of its dis
pleasure and had shut him out from his
-tiiCliOHso LII Inc Tune DelHS.. NO lOIlSCI
was he entleled to any of the prcroSatives
or dignitics of his position, and the invi-
tation to the White House naturally
lapsed with other honors of his position.
The President very politely and ccrsid-
erately asked Senator Cockrcu to explain
the matter to Senator Tilman anu secure
a withdrawal by the latter of tho &C
! ceptance OF the invitation. This would
| nave relieved the whole matter and no
| great talk would have come of it. But
that din't suit Tillman. He refused en-
| phatically to withdraw his acceptance and
insisted on his right to be present at the
dinner. Then the President himself can
| celled the invitation and an unfortunate
incident was marked, unfortunate tor
South Carolina and for the country at
| large, especially in this exhibition of bad
manners before and in a measure con-
corning Prince Henry. 1t is very clear
That Iillman has lost his head in this
whole Standardization Post.