The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-07-02
PARTISAN PLOT AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT

OULlLICus IO L oA SAOS~A
Plot Against the President" We re
ceived a number of letters commend
ing us for doing it, so we believe that
we shall be still further complimented
for surrendering a good deal Of our
space this week to the speech OF Con-
gresham A. w Barley, of Kentucky.
It is one of the most remarkable
speeches delivered in the last session
of the present Congress.
The partisan plot against the presi-
dent is the most mendaciOus in the
history of American politics.
1t is a blacker page than the at
tempted impeachment of Andrew
Johnson.
No part of Mr.. Barkleys speech
was denied because it was undeniable.
Mr.. Barley said:
Mr.. Chairman, under plans formu-
lated by the Republican majority in
both House and Senate, this session
of the Sixty-sixth Congress is about
| to adjourn. In four more days it's re-
cords will be closed, its leaves folded,
and it's membership will depart hence
to attempt an accounting with those
| who sent them here. This will be
difficult task for some from the stand
point merely of individual perfor
nance; but it will be infinitely more
difficult for those who in the aggre-
gate compose the Republican majority
in both Houses of this Congress who
have been responsible for the monu-
mental vacuum which represents the
sum total of it's microscopic accom-
plishments. (Applause.)
If | may borrow an expression made
famous by very distinguished man
now living, this Congress may be
| described as "single-track" Con-
gress. 1t has had but one consuming
desire. 1t has been fired by but one
enthusiasm. 1t has responded to but
one call. 1t has enlisted in but one
great crusade. All it's burdensome eff
forts and its painful anxiety to serve
the Nation have merged into pitiful
and fruitless wailinss against the un-
matched record of a great Demo-
cratic administration and the historic
deeds wrought by him who has been
the Nations leader during the past
eight years.
The Republican leadership in Con-
gress has seemed to be obsessed with
the belief that it could destroy the
Democratic Party and undo it's great
| record of service to the Nation by de-
| stroying the influence and standing
of the President of the United States.
at home and throughout the world.
And it has attempted to discredit the
President, to undo his great work. to
belittle his efforts to serve humanity.
and to bedaub his escutcheon with the
infamy of imputed wrong by methods
more contemplate than any ever at
tempted by any similar organization
of political buccaneers and freeboot-
ers in the history of the Republic.
(Applause.)
The fact that these unworthy eff
forts were foredoomed to failure from
the beginning did not deter those who
planned them. But it is difficult to
understand hour MO-, ,1,oc,,,,,oLI., 49,.
could believe that they could destroy
the Democratic Party; the only party
whose existence has been coextensive
with that of the Nation itself, by de-
stroying one man, however great; or
how they could expect to destroy or
even temporarily injure a Democratic
President by sniping assaults upon
his record, his character, and even
his integrity.
We have heard many times upon
this floor-and the statement will, no
doubt. be repeated throughout the
country-that in the Great War in
which we recently engaged, and out of
which we had hoped and expected to
emerge upon friendly terms with all
nations. the Republican membership
of Congress and those who led them
upheld the President and sustained
his efforts to lead the Nation in paths
of victory and honor. I acknowledge
with pride the great service rendered
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