The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-30

permits a member to make abusive and
vilifying speeches regarding army officers
doing duty at the front Personal abuse and
defamation are not legislation. Congress as
a legislative body. Its members are elected
and paid to enact laws and not TO indulge
in personal vituperation Of absent citizens
or soldiers. Such defamcfiol is particular
ly out of order when it has no connection
with the subject-matter before the House.
Perhaps in a bill providing for the promo
ton of officers or for a reorganization Of
the army it would be germane 10 the sub
ject and in order 10 criticise the military
record or acts of an officer. But on Mon
day, during debate on the agricultural APP
preparation bill. Representative Sbley, of
Pennsylvania. made a speech severely de-
nouncing General Smith for his recent or
ders in the Samar campaign. The speech
was personal and abusive to a remarkable
degree. 1t would have been indecent ana
out of order in the discussion of any ques-
ton, but in a debate on an agricultural APP
preparation it was fagranty out of order.
II there is anything in parliamentary law
or If the rules OF the House have any mean
ing this Sibley's speech was gross
violation of order. 1t was out of order for
the further reason that ii was an attack
on an individual who was not present, either
in person or by attorney. to deny or resent
it. II was out of order because it attacked
an officer who is now on trial before a
court-martial and was calculated to
prejudice the court against him and to in
1Uence its decision. If there is such an
offense as contempt Of court in military
law this was contempt Newspapers have
sometimes been prohibited from publishing
reports of trials in civil courts on the
ground that it was calculated to defeat the
ends of justice. and editors have been ar
rested for contempt in violating such or
ders. But member of Congress can attack
ar officer under charges and on trial, and
through the Associated Press can address
an audience of millions of people declaring
that the defendant is disgrace to the uni
form he wears and expressing the hope that
the President would strip him of his uni
form within forty-eight hours. There was
no Sucn LICENSE Oh ueIdHldllOn uuTlnS the
civil war, and it's exercise in this case was
gross violation of the privilege of de-
bate. But, above all, such speeches are out
of order because they violate the higher
law of decency that should lead all pat
riotic Americans. even including a men,
Der Of Congress but recently converted
from Democracy. to side with the defend
ers of the flag instead of making war on
them. One such soldier as General Smith is
worth more to the country than a thousand
Congressman Sibleys would be if they could
each live a thousand years. That General
Smiths order was justified by the circum-
stances there cannot be a particle of
doubt, and that it was effective is shown
by the recent surrender of all the armed
insurgents in Samar and the complete paci-
fcation of the island. If the Sibley Rawlins
policy had prevailed the war might have
lasted for years. An American congressman
who plays into the hands of the country s
enemies is always out of order.