Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-03
BLACKBURN RLAMEs
SENATOR sPooNER

AS a reader and admirer of your paper
desire to take issue with your editorial
expression that Senators Tillman and
McLaVrin disgraced their state and the
country in their sensational fisticuff in the
senate chamber"
I also protest against the implication
that places Preston Brooks in this cate
CORY of disfraceful demeanor on account
of his eminently just chastisement of
Charles Sumner for his brutal assault up
on the South Carolinian's uncle.
If Senator Tillman was in possession Of
information going to show that his coll
league had betrayed his party for official
patronage, it was his duty to his party
to uncover the treacherous deal.
Whether guilty or not. Senator McIau-
rim could not afford to allow the charge
of perhdy to pass. without some show Of
outraged innocense. Even a guilty official
must protect the people who have given
him his commission, so long as he is per-
mitted to enjoy the society of others who
are true to public trust. He owes this to
an abused constituency.
But Senator MeLaurin should have met
the charge of corruption with a dignihed
privilege statement, followed by chal-
lenge under the code duello. 1t was un-
becoming and coarse to use such language
as he employed against his colleague, In
a representative body. More than this, 1t
was not a fit way to meet a charge i'm
pugning personal honor.
When this bitter and out-of-place Ian
guage was employed, it was natural that
every instinct of manhood should have
been fred beyond control, in the breast of
his antagonist, and the scene that follow
ed was Therefore to have been expected.
Tilman was forced to resent the denun-
citation of McLauFin, on the spot, and
while the entire affair may be deprecated,
there is certainly no disgrace in giving
blow under such circumstances.
towards frequently dodge behind tradi-
tional dignity, but T1llman is not that
kind of a senator, and the south can at
ford to do without such.
Nor is there any use in being hysterical
about the matter. Such scenes occur al
most every year in the national legfsla-
lures Of Europe, and the United States
Senate is not so holy as to make them
sacralegious here.
According to my view, the disgrace, In
this particular instance falls upon Sena-
tor Spooner, who acted the Ransy Sniffie
in the debate that led up to the charge,
and the president Of the senate, whom
your washington correspondent says. hur-
ried a page to inform Senator MeLaurin
of what was taking place. The IDEA OF
such men talking about dignity is ridicu-
lous hypocrisy.
Then President Roosevelt, In withdraw
ing the invitation that he had addressed
to Senator Tillman on account Of his be-
ing in contempt, requesting his presence
at the reception to Prince Henry, showed
a degree of littIeness that suggests he Is
sadly in need Of conventional training.
Senator Tillman occupies a position in
gentility far above that exhibited by
Spooner and Observation-Disclosures MS
fsticuff in the senate chamber.
All hsticuffs are commonplace but how
are gentlemen to act. in the face Of the
cowardiee of legislatures in outlawing the
code duello. on which traditional courtesy
rests. b. NJ. BLAChbORN.