Evening star., 1950-06-02
Smith Text and Statement by Seven Republican Senators

1fBUkEE CAT 0sg'
FOLLOWING is the tert Of q
speech By Senator Margaret
Chase Smith, Republican. OF
Maine, in the Senate yesterday
and a statement by sepen Re-
publican Senators:
I would like to speak briefly
and simply about a serious ma
tional condition. 1t is national
feeling of fear and Illustration
that could result in national sui
eide and the end Of everything
that we Americans hold dear. 1t
is q condition that comes from
the lack of effective leadership in
either the Legislative branch or
the Executive branch Of our Gov
eminent.
That leadership is so lacking
that serious and responsible pro-
posals are being made that ma
tional advisory commissions be
appointed to provide such cri-
tically needed leadership.
I speak as briefly as possible be-
cause too much harm has already
been done with irresponsible
words of bitterness and selfish po-
litical opportunism. I speak as
simply as possible because the
issue is too great to be obscured
by eloquence. I speak simply
and briefly in the hope that my
words will be taken to heart.
I speak as a Republican. I
speak as a woman. I speak as
a United States Senator. I speak
as an American.
Hits Immunity Shield.
The United States Senate has
long enjoyed worldwide respect
as the greatest deliberative body
in the world. But recently that
deliberative character has toe
often been debased to the level
of forum of hate and character
assassination sheltered by the
shield of congressional immunity
It is ironical that we Senators
can in debate in the Senate di-
rectly or indirectly. by any form
of words impute to any Amer
ican, who is not a Senator. any
conduct or motive unworthy OF
unbecoming an American-and
without that non-Senator Amer
ican having any legal redress
against us-yet if We say the same
thing in the Senate about our
colleagues we can be stopped on
the grounds of being out of order
1t is strange that we can verbal
ly attack any one else without
restraint and with full protection
and yet we hold ourselves above
the same type of criticism here
on the Senate floor. Surely the
United States Senate is big enough
to take self-criticism and self-ap-
praisal. Surely we should be able
to take the same kind of char
acter attacks that we dish out
to outsiders.
I think that it is high time for
the United States Senate and its
members to do some soul search
ing-for us to weigh our con-
sciences - on the manner in
which we are performing our duty
to the people of America-on the
manner in which we are using or
abusing our individual powers and
privileges.
Cites Constitution.
think that it is high time that
we remembered that we have
sworn to uphold and defend the
Constitution. I think that it is
high time that we remembered
that the Constitution, as amended
speaks not only Of the freedom OF
speech but also of trial by jury in
stead of trial by accusation.
Whether it be a criminal prose-
cution in court or a character
prosecution in the Senate there is
little practical distinction when
the life of person has been
ruined.
Those Of us who shout the loud
est about Americanism in making
character assassinations are all
too frequently those who, by our
own words and acts, ignore some
of the basic principles Of Ameri-
caniSm-
The right to criticize;
The right to hold unpopular be-
'liefs:
The right to protest:
The right Of independent
throught.
The exercise of these rights
should not cost one single Ameri-
can citizen his reputation or his
right to a livelihood. nor should
he be in danger of losing his rep
utation or livelihood merely be-
cause he happens to know some
one who holds unpopular beliefs.
Who of us doesn't? Otherwise
none of us could call our souls our
own. Otherwise thought control
would have set in.