The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-07

hiss of a piece OF metal hurtling through
the air, and In the place where the Presioen'
had stood was horrible. signihoant VOC
Other figures beside his had also disap-
peared. After an instants dased help
essness, many officers and q surgeon gath
cred about the group Of the fallen Ihen'
with blanched face and staring eyebaiis.
the doctor looked up at the Lieutenant
General and shook his head pointing with
mute eloquence to the shimmermg oonne
Of the Capitol across the river.
Owing to this dreadful accident 70 eA-
eraordinary conditions prevailing at tna'
time and to an iron rule OF succession winch
we need not explain, Philip Craig became
President OF the United States. LArge
events crowd one another from this pom,
in the story. The Senate had opposed
itself to measure formulated by the House
for the relief Of a suffering people John
Peter Norton, at this juncture the junior
Senator from New York, delivered In the
Senate a speech which Ia described a.
-masterly in it's invective, powerful In its
rugged eloauence, skilful In its appeal
IN the shirt of conservatism After this
speech the Senate rejected the relief bill
by a vote Of so to IS. Senator John Peter
Norton said in his peroration:
The issue is clear. 10 o so-called Con-
gress Of idle vagabonds to awe the Senate
of the United States into an act. which VII
destroy the rights OF the business men 0,
this nation to sell In the open markets OF
the world what they have honestly bought!
There is no other Interpretation, and nc
amount Of hysterical prating about the
rights of the people can disguise the fa'
that tyranny, incorporating az liberty,
is jeopardizing the security Of the nat'oi
and seeking to trample upon the prerogs'
tives OF Congress An accidental President,
posing as a new savior Of his country.
and acting as the mouthpiecs OF the rabbl'
commands the Senate. This honoraole
body, respected both by tradition and by
the opinion Of the conservative element"
Of our country. will show such men their
rightfu place. The Senate OF the United
states will do justice, but II cannot be
coerced.'
President Philip Craig resolved to ad-
journ Congress. He called In the General
Of the arm y to learn how the army would
stand in the matter. The General assured
him that the army would give him its sup
port. He shook hands with Philip Craig
and said THE army. sir, 10 now, as ever,
at the command Of the President OF tho
United States" Philip declared IN ad-
journment accordingly.
or course, the House was ready TO be adj
jouInad. 1t dispersed with song. The
members of the House Of Representatives
promptly dispersed after the singing Of tho
old-tme traditional doxology started by
the press men in the gallery But the
Senate stood out. 1t voted rather con-
,emptuously at 4 O'Clock to take recess
until 8. They reckoned without their
host. When the hour Of reconvening ar
rived the Senators found a vast, noisy,
jubilating throng packed about tho Clp o
Jibes and Kisses and even threats there
were in abundance, but no acts Of violence,
and the hated lawmakers made their way
TO the building with no great difficulty
But their amazement and anger knew no
bounds when they found that every en-
trance to the Capitol was guarded by double
files Of United States troops. and that no
man was allowed to pass without permit
And as Gen. MacMahon had taken care
that no permits should be granted there
was no session Of the Senate that night.
Already the newspaper extras were being
sold by tens OF thousands on the crowded
streets. They all contained a proclama-
ton by the President issued at o'clock.
This is not martial Law. 1T read, but the
protection OF the rights OF the people against
usurpation by a Senate that respects moth
ing save the greed Of wealth. The people.
in this trying hour, must support the Ex-
ec,itive Loyalty and quietly"
The 1aristocratic' Stuyvesant Lord went
to the President TO protest. He began to
humble something about the Senate. Said
the President coldly: There lie no Senate.
sir. Your mission is q day late. You
expected, assume. that | would meet
YOUR grove!ling with as weak a surrender
| and that / would convene Congress in
extraordinary session. ] shall do nothing
| OF the kind The real representative OF
the people is here--he drew himself up
proudly as he spoke. we are told, and COW
| cred Lord with a gaze Of contempt. Fate
| has willed in miraculous way that should
act for the people. Rest assured ] shall
| not neglect my duty. To reassemble
Congress now would be pitiable weakness
| before which I and the people would be
| forced to the wall. Tell those who sent
| you that as they have crossed their Rubicon,
| 20 have mine. There oan be no retreat.
He found an especial pleasure in making
this answer to Stuyvesant Lord. We
read AS the man who had 20 often
covertly sneered at and insulted him Jeff
his presence with bowed head and de.
jected step. Philip Craig threw back his
head and laughed aloud. IT is destiny
destiny, he exclaimed, and how dare
thwart iti'
Tho senior Senator from New York
Senator Pratt. called on the President
and said i have como. Mr.. Craig, In the
name Of our common country 70 the END
that the liberties Of this nation may not h
impsrilled. 10 avert bloodshed and reigr
i of terror. ~ make impossible such scenes
as fortnight polluts the streets Of Wash
ington' The SENATOR In speaking ~ the