House debates President's condolences to the Czar

February 20, 1905

The U.S. House of Representatives today debated President Roosevelt's action to send condolences on behalf of the American people to the Czar concerning the assassination of his uncle, Grand Duke Serge. New York Congressman Baker stated angrily that the President's declaration did not "voice the real sentiments of the people of the United States." He proceeded to enter a resolution that stated "that while this House views with horror the deliberate destruction of human life, at all times and under all circumstances; yet it declares that reprehensible as was the murder of Grand Duke Sergius, it was no more wanton than the massacre perpetuated by the Russian government on Jan. 22, when thousands of unarmed men, women and children were butchered in cold blood as one of the most dastardly crimes ever perpetuated; that, in refusing to express the horror of people of this country at that fearful crime, while now asserting that 'both the American government and people' view the killing of Grand Duke Sergius with abohorrence, the president has not and does not voice the real sentinments of the American people."
On the floor of the House, Congressman Baker vehemently asserted: "I deny that the American people are shocked by the killing of Grand Duke Sergius." He insisted that Americans were shocked "by the wanton massacre on Jan. 22."
Congressman Thayer (D-Mass) interjected: "Do you wish it to go out to the country that the American people sanction the killing of Grand Duke Sergius?" The New York congressman responded by saying that the American people were shocked "by a government that refuses to take notice of the murder of thousands of its individuals, and yet pretends to be horrified at the loss of one human life."
Baker also noted the refusal of both Houses to adjourn "out of respect to the Russians" who were killed on January 22. Congressman Grosvenor(R-Ohio) took umbrage at this final comments. He said it would have been a "meaningless and stupid exhibition of ignorance. The public and the world knew that the American congress did not sympathize with riot and unncessary bloodshed."