The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-05-22
HARSH, But NECESSARY LAM
GUAGE.

The Raleigh Times quotes from
Senator Bailey's remarks in the senate
on last Wednesday and says:
That is harsh language. AS we said,
there may have been great proVoca-
ton and Mr.. Bailey was right in de-
Tending himself even if it was neces-
sary TO intimate that the president or
the United States was untruthful Ana
that is what he meant to imply. Mr.
Chandler, for instance, says that he
would not use the same terms in re-
plying to the president as the pres1-
dent had used in referring to him, yet
his high office ought not to protect
him if he has deceived the people at
the expense of one man as truthful
as himself. It was not SO long ago
that President Roosevelt selected an
obscure reporter in Chicago ana
branded him as a liar and thief, so
Mr.. Bailey has the same right to
select one who is less obscure.
It is distressing, Of course, that the
senate should be astounded and
shocked by such talk, but the cond1-
tions seem to have warranted It, The
rate bill is no longer measure in the
interest of the shipper. 1t is strictly
a party measure and party issue,
and in view of his sudden change OF
front il is not even passing strange that
Mr. Roosevelt should indirectly
charge that a democratic senator was
responsible for the failure of an
agreement between the senator IN
charge of the bill and the president.
Yes, it was harsh language, and it
is a pity that any member of the SEN
ate should have found it necessary to
apply such remarks to the chief exc
cutive Of the land, but it cannot be de-
MED, except, perhaps, by the most bit
ter republican partisans, that Mr..
Bailey had great provocation for the
use of such language.
In answer to those who would say
to Mr.. Bailey that he should not have
used such language toward Mr.. Roose-
welt, knowing that the latter was de-
barred by his official position from re-
seuting it, it could be said by the sena-
tors friends that Mr.. Roosevelt had
used that official position to give
weight to his false charges and bitter
denunciations of Senator Bailey and
other prominent citizens OF the coun-
try. He did not hesitate to discharge
venomous shafts from the executive
Office against prominent and honora-
BILE citizens of the nation. His posi-
ton should have shielded them from
such attacks from him Just as much
as it did him from return Of the
blows first given by him.
Had Mr.. Roosevelt not first USED
his high official position as vantage
ground from which to attack and de-
nounce other officials of the govern
ment and honorable citizens of the
union the public would never have
heard such scathing rebuke admins
tered to the president as came from
the lips of Senator Bailey.
The world says it is cowardly to
strike a man, knowing that the latter
is in such a position that he cannot
strike back. 1t is just as cowardly, II
not more so, far man to strike an
other, because he believes himself to
be in a position which prevents the
person stricken from striking back
and when he gives blow under such
circumstances and unexpectedly re-
ceives another in return it is con-
temtible to plead that his position
should give immunity against attack
because he cannot return it.