The National Disgrace of “Honorable” Squabbling.
EDITOR BULLETIN: - The lamentable frequency of Senatorial brawls and Representative street-fights in these days is a matter worthy of the serious attention of the people of the United States. My thoughts are led in this direction by the account, taken from an Eastern paper, in the Bulletin of 23d February, of the recent misunderstanding in the Senate between Mr. Douglas on the one side, and Messrs. Fitch and Davis on the other. The very words of the article which I speak of are sufficiently indicative of the indifference with which these things have come to be regarded by the people at large. Mr. Douglas, a Senator of the United States, in the hall of that formerly dignified body, is represented as “pitching into” the Postmasters of Illinois, and Senator Fitch as giving the [lie?] direct to his assertions, while Mr. Davis uses language for which he afterwards deems fit to apologize. Such things are beneath the dignity of men anywhere, to say nothing of Senators in the Senate Chamber. The members of the House are not a whit behind their leaders in the display of their unmanly jealousies, and in their ardent attempts at imitation, are in imminent danger of cutting their throats, like the monkey in the fable when he tried to shave. The worst of it is, that now these disgraceful scenes have become so common, they attract no attention – not even contempt. But notwithstanding our indifference, nothing is looked upon with greater satisfaction in Europe than such unworthy exhibitions of our belligerent propensities.
DIGNITAS.
