The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-03-09
THE SELF-REVELATION OF THE
SENATE.

So Lorimer is acquitted. We note
with interest, among those who
voted against the Beveridge reso-
luton, the names of Simon Guggen-
helm, Isaac H. Stephenson, Chaun-
cey M. Depew, Reed Smoot and
Boles Penrose. How could man
be kept down who had the moral
support of a constellation Of saints
like that?
When The Chicago Tribune's rev.
Citations first saw the light it was
Lorimer and the state of Illinois
who were on trial at the bar of
public opinion. Readers the coun-
try over were concerned to. know
what sort of man had gotten into
the United States Senate and what
sort of politics in the Prairie State
had sent him there. Important as
these questions are, they are no
longer in the first place. For many
weeks past it has not been Lorimer
who was on trial so much as the
Senate of the United States. Now
that the verdict is reached, it is
not of the man one thinks first,
but of the institution. And the feel
ing of the candid American who
has attended without prejudice to
the course of events will vary from
mild contempt to disgust that is
deep and passionate, according to
the degree of seriousness with
which regards the traditions of
American democracy and the worth
of the American ideal.
This foolinO IF rpVn1cinn wQ
ture to think, will be in some meas
ure independent of his opinion as
to the precise merits of the case.
Whatever might justly be thought
of the blemishes upon Lorimer's
title to his seat, there has been no
room for difference of opinion as
to the gravity of the question. 1t
was one involving the honor of the
Senate as whole, because it touch
ed things fundamental to the Amer
lean scheme of government; the dem
ocratic principle itself has been in
some sort in trial in matter in
volving a great expression of the
popular will-the election of a Uni
ted States Senator.
Now it has been evident to the
most harebrained reader of head
lines that the Senate has not met
this question with the seriousness,
directness and simplicity which it's
inherent Importance and dignity de-
handed That body has treated it's
own honor with cynicism past be-
lief. The Lorimer case has been
made the plaything of partisan pol
itics, of factionalism. The vindi-
cation of the honor of the Senate
the very phase rings hollow, in view
of the history of these past weeks
has been a thing altogether negli-
gible.
Senators have spared for time,
and bargained with each other, and
filibustered, and read the congress-
ionall Record by the ream to empty
benches, while the Chair dozed and
members enough to make quorum
slumbered on settees within call. 1t
is not for us to say that Senatorial
courtsey has not been vindicated:
but Senatorial honor has smelt to
heaven if anything so unlikely
could be imagined as the waiting of
it's SAVIOR in that direction.
What we. have in this verdict is
not a decision upon the Lorimer
case at all; it is a decision upon the
expediencies of very complex po-
litical situation of which the Lori
mer case was only an important de-
tail. Men who thought the reciproc-
ity pact or the postal rate of more
Importance than the purity of the
franchise have ignored the lesser
matter; and Mr.. Lorimer reads his
title clear, with three votes to spare.
And now, children, let us all
arise and sing:
My native country! Thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name / love!
st. Louis Republic.