The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1903-03-21
A Political Outrage.
Daily States.

Democrat, of Missouri, promises
to figure more or less as an issue
in national politics during the
next campaign It might not be
amiss to present the facts in the
case SO that they can be kept as a
matter of record. The Republic
can majority in the House abso-
lutely ignored the Federal Consti-
tuition, and the rights Of the mi
nority in order to accomplish their
partisan purpose. This led to the
Democratic filibuster in the House
which resulted in legislation be-
ing tied up during the closing
days of the session and the failure
of a number of pet bills and
schemes in which the Republicans
we're interested. 1t can not be
charged that the Washington Post
is over fond of the Democratic
party, therefore as an impartial
observer of events at the national
capital it is well to reproduce
what it has to say regarding the
unseating of Mr. Butler. 1t is as
follows:
ave think that nearly every honest
and unbiased person will sympathize
with the indignation Of the House DEM
ocrats over the despotic, not to say bru-
tai, manner in which the Republican
majority have disregarded decency and
justice in the case of the Butler agO-
ner contest. These contests have always
been more or less sOrrOwful and scandal
lOns, and the Post has invariably pro-
tested against them, no matter what
form they took. But in the instance
every evil possibility has been brought
into au unlOvely prominence.
"Mr. Butler was elected to the Fifty
seventh Congress from the Twelfth DIS
trict Of Missouri. He came to Washing
ton with all the legal and proper creden-
tials. And that should have been
enough. II his adversary had. or
thought he had. legitimate grounds for
a challenge, he should have submitted
his case to the local courts, where all the
facts were accessible and where credible
witnesses were easily within reach. In
stead Of that, he appealed 10 a partisan
tribunal. 100 miles distant. and invO-
ked. not competent and informed YER
diet, but the irresponsible tyranny Of
mere force. The manner in which Mr..
Buffers case has been roboed of all its
claims to righteous consideration; the
fact that he was unseated without a
quorum and In defiance Of the COnstitu-
ton; the notorious circumstances Of ar
regance under which he has thrown out
of court. denied a hearing, and dragged
ANONYMOUSLY at the chariot wheels of
the conquerOr-these things recall the
days and practices Of the Goths, the
van6als. and the Huns far more than
they suggest the regims OF modern civi'
lizatiOn.'
This is the truth told in plain
language. and it calls attention to
a political crime committed by
the Republican majority in the
House which should be regarded
as matter of grave concern by
every honest citizen in this coun-
try. Our esteemed contemporary,
the NorfoId Virginisn-Pilot lso
comments on the outrageous treat
ment of Mr.. Butler, and declares
that it was the absolutely "despo-
tic and revolutionary methods by
which the unseating was accom-
plished and the anarchistic prece-
dent thereby established that
should excite the public indigna-
ton an alarm. Indeed. there is
no other Legislative body outside
Of the United States in which the
course of the chair and the major.
| ity in this case would not have