Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondents


Congress made provision for the OBJ
servance of Friday, the 18th, the cen
tennial Of the birth of Lincoln, as aspe
cial holiday and the Presidents pro
clamation confirmed the action of Con
gress, making it effective in the Dis.
trict of Columbia, Alaska, Arizona
New Mexico and Hawaii. In anticipa
ton OF the passage of the resolution,
after he has departed for Linclon's
birthplace in Kentucky, the President
had prepared and signed a proclama.
ton which issued as soon as the joint
resolution had been signed by Vice
President Fairbanks and Speaker Can
| non.
Near the close of the session of the
House of Representatives, Mr.. Routelle
OF Illinois, delivered eulogy on Lin
coin of such force and simplicity that l
will venture to quote it here believing
it could have too wide circulation.
mo ruler ever faced so hard task,
or one beset with so many pitfalls as
that which confronted Lincoln, when
he entered the Presidency. During all
his term of service he had to deal, not
only with open enemies, but with secret
foes, faithless friends and INSCRIPTIONS
rivals.
"He endured the whips and scorns of
time with unfailing patience and seren-
ity. sometimes diverting the force OF
the heaviest blows with the shield of
humor; and day after day he bore with
out murmur load of care that would
have crushed spirit that had not been
nobly consecrated.
"But in the night watches, when
deep, sleep falleth upon men, he trod
alone the Hottest heights of human
thought, communed in solitude with
God, drank deep from the cool cisterns
of Christian charity and came back to
the burdens and the heat of another
day, with his soul purged of all envy
hatred and malice and all uncharita-
blensss, and with the light of inspira-
ton in his deep-set eyes. We shall
search in vain the messages, speeches
and letters of Lincoln for one impatient,
harsh or contemptuous word, directed
against those who differed with him or
sought to thwart his designs"
The President has returned from
Kentucky, where he went to officiate
at the laying Of the cornerstone at the
old Lincoln Homestead in Larue coun-
ty and to deliver an address there. The
other speakers were Ex-Governor Folk
of Missouri and the Secretary Of War,
Mr.. Wright.
President-elect Taft is expected in
Washington on Tuesday, where he will
hold conference with the President
and some friends, and it is probable
that at this time an authoritative state
ment will be made of the results of his
inspection of the inter-oceanic canal.
There was an interesting episode in
the Senate yesterday when LaFollette
of Wisconsin, standing alone held up
the United States Senate and prevent
ed the consideration of the naval ap-
preparation bill, forcing an adjourn
ment until Monday, involving loss Of
two days time notwithstanding the
fact that but fifteen legislative days of
the short session remain. He and Sen
ator Hale of Maine, had tilt in which
LaFollette proved himself more than
equal debater and master of sarcasm.
1t is well understood that Mr.. LaFol-
lette and number of Senators young
er IN service if not in years, are deter
mined to resist the autocracy of Aid
rich, Hale and Gallinger which has
long ruled the Senate. In the debate
Mr.. La Toilette said: ~ have had the
hardiheod not only to doubt the divine
perfection of the present arrangement,
but to almost believe the business of
the Senate could be distributed among
its ninety-two members, instead of be-
ing taken care of by less than one-third
of this body"
Without debate and with very few
words of explanation, the bill to remove
the obstacles standing in the way of
Senator Knox becoming secretary OF
state was passed by the Senate on the
evening of the 18th inst. But the bill
will probably not have as smooth sail
ing in the House of Representatives.
The chairman Of the judiciary commit
tee of the House holds that there is no
constitutional remedy in Mr.. Knox's
case, and it is limited that he will with
| draw his acceptance of Mr.. Taft's invi-
tation that he enter the cabinet, and
will continue to represent the state Of
Pennsylvania in the Senate
Although the Senate passed the meas
ure to repeal the salary increase that
was granted to the secretary of state in
1908 without word Of opposition,
Senators Overman and Kittredge of the
Judiciary committee are known to ques-
ton whether this or any other iegisla-
tive action could cure the ineligibility
of Mr.. Knox. Other senators are doubt
full as to the efficacy Of any measure,
but senatorial courtesy was potent and
the bill was passed. There is, however,
not vestige of such courtesy in the
House and some republicans as we'll as
nearly all of the democrats, while
friendly to Senator Knox, hold that the
constitution must be upheld in this
matter, regardless of how much it may
embarrass the President-elect in the
formation of the cabinet.
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