Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-03-28

the basis of twenty years imprison-
ment on the same ground. just such
instances occurred under the old sedi.
ton law and are liable to occur again
under this law.
ION still another ground, among
others, l opposed this law. 1t has
been our boast that, in this free couu-
try, all citizens we're equal before the
law. Can this be said when we have
singled out clasS-the President. the
Secretary of State and all the other
secretaries-to assault whom is made
a crime punishable with death, while
a similar assault on the governor of a
state or on anybody else. ls punishable
/ only by imprisonment ? And if we are
to SO make one class, why not more
Why not have included the judiciary,
senators and representatives and so on
and make it punishable with death to
assault any of them, while to assault
any other people in the United States
merits only imprisonment ? Such
distinction is contrary to every tenet
of liberty and equality, contrary to ev-
cry tradition of American freedom
and the favor which attends existing
circumstances having subsidized, will
be condemned by every Thoughtful
American citizen. Aside from the
fundamental objection to the Unequal.
ity of different people before the law
which this bill establishes, a grave OBJ
lection is that under this law an limo.
cent man is liable to be convicted. 1t
| is all right to make it easy to convict
an anarchist, but it is all wrong to
make it easy to convict an Innocent
mi r, for hO 1aco - =
word spoken by him. Whether this
bill becomes law or not, the man who
kills President will be executed, but
that will not bring the President back
to life. The important thing to do is
to drive the anarchists out of The coun-
try and prevent the killing of Presi-
dents.'
On Monday the House Committee
on Rules voted to report to the House
the Crumpacker resolution providing
Tor the appointment of a committee to
investigate the question of congress
sional representation as compared with
the number of voters. On Friday the
House passed the River and Harbor
bill carrying an appropriation of $780,
6SS,267. On Friday the Senate passed
the war revenue repeal bill, amending
the bill as passed by the House only to
the extent Of leaving the tax on "buck-
ct shops" Saturday there was no SEES
sion OF the Senate and the House de-
voted Its attention to the private cal
ender.
movement do not deny that their in
tention Is to curtail the congressional
representation Of certain Southern
states, and II they attempt any definite
move in that direction. they will be
strenuOusly resisted by the democrats.
Representative Richardson, the demo-
cratic leader, assures me that the demo-
Gratis will avail themselves of every
parliamentary tactic to prevent so
grave an injustice and every democrat
In Congress will stand by him. What
ever may be the result, in so far as the
republicans are concerned, the attempt
gives every premise of uniting the
democratic party and it is freely pre-
dicted that northern republicans will
repudiate the attempt, ON the part of
their representatives, to take a step
which must result in intense sectional
animosity. 1t is well known that the
former President disapproved of this
movement and the leaders OF the House
shared his disapproval, but were forced
to give their consent with view of
overshadOwing the constantly growing
sentiment in Congress, and all over the
country, in favor of tariff revision.
The much Wanted harmony emanat-
ing from the ratification of the Ways and
Means policy in regard to Cuba, at the |
conference of the republican members
held on last Tuesday evening, is not
Undertaking. to the satisfaction of the
leaders. The Michigan dele |
CATION have resolved to contest the
policy on the floor of the House. The
Massachusetts republicans are prepar-
ing to make an onslaught on the com.
mittees and General Wood has come
to Washington to protest to the Presi-
dent that the proposed reduction of
twenty per cent. of the Dingley tariff
rates on Cuban Imports will accom-
plish nothing. The President still looks
to the Senate to SO amend the measure
rs to make it practical and the Repre-
sentatives are constantly threatening
to revolt unless they are given solemn
pledges that the Senate will not
change any bill bill they may pass, in
any particular.