The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-06
SEN. LA TOILETTE
DEFENDS ACTIONS
BEFORE COLLEAGUES

about each door.
Senator Williams of Mississippi !
carefully took notes of LaFouette's re-
marks.
LaFollette asserted that the war |
party besides carrying on a campaign |
Of libel and chara 1ter assassination |
against members of Congress who |
voted against the war, was attempt |
ing to suppress discussion of war is
sues and intimidate the people them
selves by invading their homes and
unlawfully throwing them into Jail.
The Senator quoted at length from
Mexican war speeches Of Lincoln,
Clay, Webster and Sumner in support
of his defense Of the right of men,
Der of Congress to assail the policy of
the government, and dwelt at length
on the constitutional duty Of Con-
gress, rather than the President, to
proclaim the nations purposes in
taking up ar ms. He made no refer
ence to the Inquiry ordered yesterday
by the Senate into his speech before
the Non-Partisan League in st. Paul,
and dealt with criticisms of himself
only generally.
Six mem bers of the senate, and as
I recall. about so members Of the
house, voted against the declaration of
war;" he said. Immediately there
was let loose on those senators and
representatives a flood Of invective
and abuse from newspapers and in
dividuals who had been claInoring for,
war. unequalled, I believe in the his
tory Of civilized society.
Prior to the declaration of war,
every man who had ventured to op-
pose our entrance into it had been
condemned as a coward or worse,
and even the president had by no
means been immune from these at
tacks. Since the declaration Of war
the triumphant war party has pur-
sued those senators and representa-
tives, who voted against war, with
malicious falsehoods and recklessly
lfbelous attacks. going to the extreme
limit Of charging them with treason
against their country.
.tIt is not claimed that the SEN
ators VIII oopposed the declaration of
war have since that time acted with
any concerted purpose either regard
ing war measures or any others. They
have voted according to their individ-
ual opinions, have often been oppos-
ed to each other on bills, and, &C
cording to my recollection, have never
all voted together since that time on
any single proposition on which the
senate had been divided"
Senator LaFoIlette declared that If
he alone had been made the victim
of these attacks he would not take
the senate's valuable time for their
consideration
seBut, SIR he continued, cit Is not
alone the members of congress thai
the war party in this country mas
| sought to intimidate. The mandate
has gone forth to the sovereign peo-
ME Of this country that they must pe
| silent while those things are beine
done by their government which mos
vital1v concern their well being, then
/ banniness and their lives. To-day
| ora for weeks past honest and law
| aniding citizens of this country are
bainp terrorized and outraged in theil
/ rights by those sworn to uphold tns
! laws and protect the rights OF ens
/ people.
AZ have IN my possession numer'
j ous affidavits establishing the tact tina
people are unlawfully arrested, throwa
into 1ail, held incommnnicado TOT days
loniy to be eventually discharged WIN
/ out ever having been taken into court
because they have committed NJ
4 crine. Private residences are lnvau
led, loyal citizens of undounted intes
rity and probity arrested, Cross eA
annined and the most sacred constr
ltutional rights guaranteed to ever
American citizen are being continu
ally violated.
s.Tt anpears to be the purpose o
4 those conducting this campaign u
throw the country into q state OF ter
ror, to coerce public opinion, to stih
icriticis1n and suppress discussion
the great issues involved in this war.
Besides quoting at length from tn
American statesmen who opposed BIT
terly President Folks policy in tn
Mexican war, the Wisconsin senato
gave extracts from speeches by Burke
Fox. Lord Chatham and others in tn
) British parliament attacking Grea
Rritain's war on the American col
onies. He said he did it to show tina
the principle Of free speech was n
new doctrine born of the constitution
/ OF the United States.
IN support of his assertion that con
: leress should speak for the country II
declaring the purposes of war, tn
senator cited precedents at grea
i length.
:; ct would be bad enough If the con
. ,SQtut1On ClOIlGu the pTOSioolI W.
lany such power" he said, but to ex
ercise such power without const1tu
!. Itional authority cannot long be toll
) Grated if even the forms OF free gov
Iernment are to remain. We knoN
.. that the people would resist, and
]. necessary resist with arms in thei
hands, any scheme to ciothe the pres
!, iident with power to plunge this coun
TRY into war and then to continue tn
war as long as he desired" M
Senator LaF'o1lette said no convic
! ton was stronger with the people to
!. day than that there should be no fu
. ture wars except in case of actual II
!, Evasion unless supported by referen
: dunn.
And" he added, because there
9 mo clearness of understanding. n
Z unity of opinion in this country. o
the part Of the people as to the condi
9 tons on which we are prosecutin
9 this war or what the specific object
: are on the attainment of which tn
present administration would be Wi
Hing to conclude peace, it becomes sti
3 more imperative each day that cor
: Igreee should assert its contitutions
9 lpower to define and declare the or
a Ijects of war, which will afford tn
4 In. 81, oAd for a<