Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-17
1ailp Nennrbrt yournal.
EX-SENATOR NYE'S HUMOR.

An anecdote Of ex-senator Nye that has
been going the rounds of the press daily
credited TO US, illustrates how thorough
was his humor, yet strongly admixed with
sense and pathos. and witbal pow
erful weapon in debate.
The question before the Senate was a
bill to admit the Chinese to equal prlvl-
leges of citizenship, and Mr.. Sumner had
the floor. His speech was, as usual, elab
crate. studied and classical-his periods
well rounded, and his arguments fully up
to the standard of the Massachusetts
statesman and scholar. Defending the
property of suffrage and equal rights to
the enfranchised slave, he urged that the
Chinese, who had emigrated to and set
tied upon our shores. were equally enti-
tied to similar recognition. His appeal
for the children of the "Flowery King
dom was earnest, and when Mr.. Sum
ner concluded, it was evident he had made
quite an impression upon the Senate.
At this iuucture, so soon as Sumner
had taken his seat. Nye sprang to his
feet, and was recognized by Mr.. Coltax,
the President of the Senate, Grating some
what as follows:
..Alr. President" said Nye, his broad
face beaming with humor, and his attrac-
tive person showing to the best advan-
tage, IL was born in the good old county
oil Steuben, 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 even
ing prayers, in which was always offered
an appeal to the Almighty for the liberia
ton of the slave. trudged between the
handles of the plow, drove up the cows.
fed the stock, reaped the grain and moved
the grass, and. like every other farm boy,
did my share in the home work.
My good mother, God bless her! was a
careful housewife, and among other stand
ard American delicacies. doughnuts were
always provided. We all liked doughnuts,
and think the American farm 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, and kneaded and shortened it
until it was in fit condition. MIR. Presi-
dent, the result OF my observation was that
she always took a small piece of the
dough and flied it in the fat before she
risked the whole batch she tried it first.
and awaited results.
IL have listened to the eloquent speech
of my friend from Massachusetts on the
Chinese question. | live on the Pacific
coast. and know the Chinese better prac
ticallv than any one can know them theo-
retically. They have nothing in common
with US. They save their earnings and
then return, pig-tail and all, to the Flow
e v Kingdom You cannot make a citi-
z of a man who. will not sacrifice i:is
pig-tail We have enfranchised the blacks
they are now free and citizens, and |
am content. am willing to place these
Chinese on sort of probation, il needs
must be-, and want the question deter
mined by the same rule that my good old
mother regulated her batch of dough
nuts! S.tE
Then turning to Mr.. Sumner, he re-
sumed-"My friend from Massachusetts
has made an exhaustive and able argu-
ments; but | suggest to him it is far bet
ter and said to follow my good, old moth
e,'s example, and fry a 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, |
the Senate and galleries joining. His Ia
bored argument has been demolished at
one fell by the doughnut smile. Dough
nuts and the sacred rights of citizenship |
combined. were too much for him. He |
could neither retreat nor explain; and the |
consequence was, the bill failed through |
the homely, but by no means insensible
argument of the doughnut at the hands of
Nye. He literally killed the bill and
oyercame Sumner with doughnuts ~