Year: 1879

We are sorry that two Senators of the
United States should have so far forgotten
themselves and the respect they owe to their
constituents, their associates and the coun-
try, as to engage in wordy brawl in the
Senate chamber as did Messrs. Oonkling and
Lamar on Wednesday night. Both of them
have lowered themselves in the estimation of
all decent people, and both ought to be taken
before the bar of the Senate and severely
reprimanded. Mr.. Conkling being the ag-
gressor, will naturally come in fora larger
share of condemnation than Lamar, but
neither can hope to escape blame.


There was no occasion for quarrel over
the matter that gave rise to it. The pending
measure was the army appropriation bill,
containing provision prohibiting the use
of troops as a police force at
the polls. The day was consumed
in speeches on the subject, few of
them having any direct bearing upon it SIM
ply from the fact that it had been SO thor
oughly discussed that there was nothing left
to say. Then Mr.. Conkling demanded that
an adjournment be had so that he might
speak on the subject, although he had
spoken upon it at least twenty times before.
This was refused by the manager of the bill
The proceeding was thereupon denounced as
revolutionary by Conkling, and be charged
members on the Democratic side with bad
faith in the conduct of the debate. He
seemed to single out Senator Lamar by his
accusation, who retorted with perhaps undue
vehemence, which in turn brought hot words
from the Senator from New York. The
| scene is described as one of the most dis
orderly ever witnessed in the Senate cham
bar, the galleries kissing and applauding
the disputants by turns.


The charge of Senator Conkling that the
effort to press the bill to vote was revolu-
tionary is too absurd to merit notice. Ample
time has been given during the past three
months for debate on the questions involved,
and it will be found upon examination that
Mr.. Conkling has himself consumed moro
than weeks time in discussing them. If
it is revolutionary to ask that the debate be
closed at this late day, the Democratic party
will be perfectly willing to take the blame.
But if such course is deserving of such an
accusation, how often have the Republicans
been guilty of revolution? Within the past
fourteen years it has been almost an every
day occurrence for the Republican majority
to cut off debate on pending measures
in far more summary manner than
did the Democrats, and nobody ever
thought of charging them with being revo-
lutionary. The majority has always exer-
cised the right to cut off debate at any time
and that right has never been questioned
until the present time. The Republicans
have been carrying things with high hand
for SO long that they are CALLED when il
comes their turn to be ''sat down upon.'
But they will no doubt get accustomed to il
in time, for the days of their tribulation
have hardly commenced. Tho Senator from
New York has been accustomed for many
years to occupying an upper seat in the


tabernacle; he finds it somewhat disagree
able to go down lower, and to realize tha
his dictum is no longer the law that govern


the Senate. We commend to him patienc,


and repentance, and in time he may be


6 ONE once more leading light in the delib


erations of the upper house of Congress.