The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-28

washington, February 24.-The presi-
dent has withdrawn his invitation ex-
tended to Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina, to attend the Dime to be
given tonight in honor of Prince Henry.
Of Prussia. at the White house.
1t is stated hat this action on the
part of the president was necessary
from the fact that owning to occur
rences on the floor of the senate last
Saturday, the senator from South Caro-
lima was declared in contempt of the
senate.
Senator Martin. of Virginia, accepted
an invitation in Mr.. Tillman's place.
The invitation was extended to Sena-
tor Tillman owing to the fact that he
is the ranking minority member of the
naval affairs committee.
There was a sensational sequel to the
decision Of the president to eliminate
Senator Tillman's name from the list
of the dinner guests.
| The president sent for Senator Cock
rell, of Missouri, and asked him as q
friend, and democratic colleague of
SenatC Tillman, to suggest to the lat
ter the propriety of Withdrawing his ac-
L CSpldHCc OIL IQS UlllHST llNlldllOu. IL
president explained his attitude in the
matter and said that, in view of the
| contempt proceedings, SENATE Till
mans presence would not only be an
affront to the senate, but a d~iscourtesy
to Prince Henry. Senator Cockrel &C
| cepted the commission and, later, tele-
phoned to the president that Senator
Tillman absolutely refused to withdraw
4 his acceptance in response to the preSi-
Il dante cI0Onctfnn Tho nrpCi6ont th6r
| Immediately Cancelled the invitation in
a note he dispatched directly to Senate
| Tillman shortly before noon today. In
| his note, which was very brief and
formal. the president stated he regret
ted he was obliged to hdra the in
vitatiOn. simultaneously senator Mar
tin, of Virginia, was invited to take
Senator Tillman's place at the dinner
as the next ranking democratic member
of the senate naval affairs committee.
The following is the letter from the
White house Withdrawing Senator
Tillman's invitation to dine there to-
night.
White House, February "a.
The president regrets that he is
compelled to withdraw the invitation tt
you to dine tonight at h White house
Very truly yours,
&c. EB. CORTELYOU,
Secretary of the President"
Commenting upon the letter Senator
Tillman says:
The president of course has the RICH
to invite any one he chooses to din
with him officially or otherwise, AND
also has the right to withdraw such in.
vitation. AS l am not conscious d
having done anything, personal or Off.
cial, which gives the president the right
to insult me l am surprised at his &C
ton. The invitation to this dinner
came to me unSought n Unexpectedly
and so far as the withdrawal is con
cerne it is a matter of absolute indif-
ference to me. 1t is the motive behind
it which seeks to put me in the condi.
ton of unworthineSS to meet the pres.
ident and his guest before final actor
by the senate. Prince Henry, the presi-
dents guest. comes from a country
where custom makes it obligatory upo-
any man VINO regards himself a gentle
man to promptly resent an insult anC
the method is by challenge to a duel
That was once the custom, but it is o
obsolete in the United States, and We
have been forced as a people to cling
to the Vi Anglo-Saxon rule of consid,
ering the lie direct as the first blow
and no man could hold up his head ir
decent society should he, being near
enough to answer the lie with a blow
not to give it.
LAS for my being In contempt of the
senate. which 1 presume is the excuse
for this insult at hands of the president
that I deny. I have been guilty Of :
breach of the rules n the privileges OF
the senate. The senate was not sitting
as a court, but as a legislative assem-
bly,. 1t has the right to expel me if Il
sees fit and 1 am ready to abide it,
judgment and action. 1t has the righ
to arrest me and to hold me in custody
until it makes disposition of my case;
but it has no right to gas me. and the
president has no right to judge m
guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentle
man unless he bellies all his anteced
ents. which led one to believe that ne
would have done just as I did under
the circumstances. AS to which of Us
is the gentleman in this matter, in vie
of the u%nsought invita- ton to dinner al
the White house and it's indecent with
drawal. / am willing to abide by the
Judgment of all brave and self respect
! ing men,"
The name Of Senator Martin. of Vir-
ginia, was originally oil the list of those
given out as guests at the dinner. but
| he declined the invitation.