New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
LONG ON BROWNSVILLE.
Says No One Doubts Presidents
Honest PurpOSe-FdUOrS inquiry.

Boston. Jan ls-"The Brownsville incident was
discussed by John D. Long formerly Secretary OF
the Navy, at a dinner OF the Massachusetts, Club
organization Of prominent Republicans, here to-
day. He said
In this Brownsville matter, while there is a very
decided difference of opinion the proprety OF
the Presidents action. cannot think that anybody
doubts his honest purpose In one sense the black
is not involved as such. because the principle
at stake pertains not to him specially but TO all
what actuated the President to such an unlimited
sweep, which without hearing Of the parties ao-
cused, inflicted severe punishment not only those
suspected of guilt, though proved guilty
trial, but also, IL there guilty innO-
It has occurred to me that the reason is perhaps
to be found In the impulsive nature OF the Presi-
not always directed with sufficient consideration
No President has been emphatic of his
Negro for whose sake he has braved criticism and
contumely. His righteous courtesy to Booker
Washington in inviting him 10 his dinner table, and
his, think mistaken. iusistence in forcing Crum
upon the city OF Charleston are instances In point
Ihey brought upon him en- ayaianche OF unjust
abuse which he met with answering fidelity 10 his
What more natural than that. when occasion
came he should seize II TO show that he IS as
him. and that he does not purpose TO make fsh OF
one race and fowl Of the otheE II was an honesI
on the head, but really knocks the bottom out OF
President When he saws he wishes that the Presi-
dents action had been little more carefully CON
sidered. The instructive feeling OF the people
Whatever may bo the precise letter of the law, q
De adludged guilty without hearing and that in
nocent men shall not be punished for the guilt Of
they are d9ing duty IN the same oTsanz,q1tion It
mssai without honor especially after long years Of
faithful and gallant service and without an oppor-
indeed, oae of the severest OF punishments- The
Everybody knows that had time been taken. had
efficient means OF detection been set at work. had
70 open In ! matter Of Which so many are claimed
to have had knowledge. the truth could have been
AZ 10 A
oicer too, from his very training IS the last man
in the w9rld d to get down to detective work He
The very fact that with some three hundred
men in camp not one Of them furnished any clue
70 infoEnation is In Itself almost conclusive eyi-
nopoGy ctilhS-WeFe Pafllclp4toLS IN the wrong
doing and, second. that not all Of them could nave
knowledge OF its perpetrators. In all history OF
conspiracies there rarely appears case even
which in less time than In this case somebody did
not peep" It is simply Incredible that out OF two
three hundred men one at least. from fear or
hope OF gain from that stil active instinct
should % not have opened the door TO diselosGTs
OF course, It Is right and htting that, in the
now proposed have thorough Investigation of the
facts with fun hearing cf all whose rights and
suffered, do them Justice And. surely nobody VIII
by his manly withdrawal Of that part Of his order,
which IN his haste was improperly included In II.
10 tn1 1uSsoa 9i an sluLg mo 10 ,,,e ,I, Goh1 b
anioat tt ~ . m ne postnn NJ hts aSvoSates
in the Senate a little M rrow? Without goins into
the question whether that action strictly with
In his constitutional function with which It Is
lamed that the Senate in its distinctive consttu-
tional function has nothing TO do. there TWO
suggestions made in his behalf which Invite at
tentiOu IS that the only constitutional resort
is by impeachment The idea is absurd and trifing.
a movement In that direction would be laughed aut
of sight. The country had enough Of that bust
ness in the impeachment Of President Johnson.
with whose case this present one is as fan to
hurricane. An Impeachment would be foolish an
inquiry sensible.
Another is that Congress is precluded from such
thority because II is said the President acted en-
tircly within his constitutional function. But the
pardoning power Is his Suppose that he should,
not cOrrupty, but on some theory, issue a par ion
every land grabber and CRATER and dishonest
official who has recently been conVCtel ir the
federal courts. COngr7 IS might feel that such
action, all the more on tAe part of an honest
President. indicated danger, l. he has the 80 Lsve
power of pardon Tho Constitution gives Con
have the right 10 inquire INTO the matter with
view to queStonins wne Atf lEe paldonlns rover
questioned whether the Constitution really does
Sc give Il. then with !ew tn inqulrinS into that
question I'm order 10 propose. If need be. oonsu-
tutiOpal amendment?
Besides there Is never very sreat danger OF too
much ventilatiug discussion and scrutiny.
Certainly Ii is not easy To see why members Of
the Senate should maze haste To discl9im their
rights. Certainly there is no reason why the
Blackburn amendment which forbids the Senate
even to consider the o1s-itIitnn1l authority Cf
the President IN this case. should he adopted And
there are two reasons why IL should Go be adopted
first. because II Is or io effect, naS-lNcn the
Foraker resolution. ~ amendment 10 winch it
is offered. calls Cor inquiry not into the ETcsi-
dents authority but cnly tn-o he fLct5 CT the
Senate would be very stupid Inonace itself with
restrictive rule or precedent ,cforS thC pcCtk-
sity for making IL arises.