Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-05-13
EX-SENATOR NYEs HUMOR.

Another anecdote of ex-senator Nye,
in addition to that published last week,
and which has been going the rounds OF
the press duly credited to us, illustrates
how thorough WAS his humor, yet strong
ly sdmiEed with sense and pathos, and
withal powerful weapon in debate.
The question before the Senate was a
bill 70 admit the Chinese to equal privi-
leges of citizenship, and Mr.. Sumner
had the floor. His speech was, as usual,
elaborate, studied and classical-his peri
DDS well rounded, aud his arguments full
~ up tn the standard Of the Msssschu-
setts statesman and scholar. Defending
the propriety Of suffrage and equal rights
To the enfranchised slave. he urged that
'he Chinese, who had emigrsted and set
tied upon our shores, were equally en-
titled to similar recognition. His appeal
Tor the children OF the "Flowery King
dom" was earnest, and when Mr.. Sum.
nrr concluded, it was evident he had
made quite All impression upon the SEN
ate.
AT this junction, so soon as Sumner
had taken his seat, Nye, sprsng to his
feet, aud WAS recognized by NJ. Coltax,
the President OF the Senate, Grating some
what as follows:
Mr. President" said Nye, his broad
face beaming with humor, and his attract.
i've person showing to advantage. 81
was born in tho good old county OF
Steubin, in New York State, and raised
upon farm. My parents were hard
working and thrifty people, fearing God,
and performing their duties with clear
conscience. We had morning and oven
ing prayers, in which wsS always offered
an appeal to Tho Almighty for liberia.
ton OF saves. have trudged between
the handles of the plough, drove up tho
COWS, fed tho stock, rea2ed tho grain and
moved the grass, and, like every other
arm boy, die my share in the home
work.
My good mother God bless her was
careful housewife, and among other
standard American delicsciss, dough
nuts were a.ways provided. We all like
dOughnuts, aud think tho American
tarm boy that doesn't like doughnuts is
hardly to be found. often watched
my good old mother, God bless her
when she made the dough, aud kneaded
II and shortened it WAS in fit condition,
Mr. President, the result of my observa.
ton WAS that she atWays took q Smatt
piece Of The dough and fried IL IN the )ot
before she riSked the Whote batch! She
tried it first, and awaited results.
IL have listened to tho eloquent speech
ot my friend from Massachusetts on the
Chinese question. live on the Pacific
Coast, and know the Chinese better
practically than ANY one can know them
theoretically. They have nothing in
common with us. They save their earn
ings and then return, pig tail aud all to
the f owery Kingdom. You can not m ko
citizen of man who will not sacrifice
hi. pig tail We have enfranchised the
btack,-,hey are now free and citizens,
aud Am content. | am willing to place
needs must be, aud want the question
determined by the same rule that my
good old mother regulated her batch of
doughnuts y
Then turning to Mr.. Sumner, he re-
sumed -"My friend from Massachusetts,
has made an exhaustive and able srgu-
ment but suggest to him it is far bet
tor aud saIer to follow my good old moth
er's example, aud fry little piece of
this suffrage dough before We risk the
whole Chinese batch ~
The effect of this speech was marvellous.
Mr.. Sumner leaned back in his chair,
laughing until tears ran down his cheeks,
lho Senate and galleries joining. His la
bored argument had bsen demolished at
one lell blow by the doughnut simile.
Doughnuts and the sacred rights Of citi-
zenshp combined, were too much for
him. sHe could neither retort nor ex-
plain and the consequence was, the bill
failed through tho homely, but by no
means insenslble argument of the dough-
nut at tho hands of Nye. lle literally
killed tho bill and overcsme Sumner
with doughnuts l-FTOm Noah'S Times.