Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-05-04
LAMAR, OF MISSISSIPPI
He DIssEcTs THE "soLID SOUTH" BUGA
moo OF REPUBLIcANs-oN WHAT
ISSUES THE SOUTH rs SOLID
ON WHAT DIVIDED.

We annex the concluding passages
Of the eloquent speech delivered by
Senator Lamar, of Mississippi, in the
Senate, in the Malone debate. The
Senator was challenged to the consid.
GRAFTON Of what the South is really
solid about, and on what il is divided
by passage in Senator Don Gamer.
ons little outburst. The eloquence
of Lamar is only surpassed by the
power Of bis arguments and facts:
The Senator from Pennsylvania
MIR. Cameron] says
We know, and my opponents know, that Il
Virginia tsEos her stand upon that platform th'
solid South is thing Of the past.
Mr.. President, why should the solid
South be broken, especially when it is
to be done by the great sacrifice .oi
principle which we think this coali
ton involves? Has not the Republic
can party the possession of all the De,
partments OF the Government and
nearly all of the great States of the
NorthY Whence, then, the danger
from the solid South2
What harm has the "solid South
done to the prosperity and glory OF
this country? 1t is but short time
since it became "solid" by the cessa.
ton of the reign of force and bayonets.
Take her history from that time as
connected with this Government, and
show me where she has deducted any.
thing from your National security or
abstracted single iota from your
National prosperity. Sho came here
through her representatives, first as q
part Of the minority, and soon after.
ward as u part Of the majority in both
branches in Congress. She came at o
time when your commerce was Ian.
gushing, your agriculture PROSTATE,
when mercantile insolvencies and
bankruptcies were rushing across this
Nation, when your currency was do.
preciated, when the balance OF trade
was against you, and when, according
to the statistics of your journals, three
millions Of tramps were wandering
aimless and homeless through the
length and breadth of your land. The
solid South has been hero from that
time to this, and during the entire pc
riod Of the presence of her representa-.
tives in this Chamber and in the other
House the world has held its breath in
silent astonshmont at the progress
you, the country, has made in all that
adorns and iortides and ennobles
Your commerce has revived,
your agriculture is prosperous, your
are operating to the full
extent OF their capacity, the demand
for their products far exceeding their
TO supply them, your currency
is tho best in the world, the balance
Of trade is in your favor, an1 all along
this line of progress we find according
TO the recent census that the South in
every element of prosperity is not far
behind the foremost States OF the North
and West.
Now, sir, | do not pretend that the
presence Of the "solid South" has
caused this marvellous change in your
prosperity; | would not presume to
'ay that in the presence Of the honor.
lble Senator from Ohio, Mr.. Sherman,
he late Secretary OF the Treasury,
who was present in another Depart.
nent Of the Government while "the
Iolid South" was here, during all the
progress Of this marvellous National
transformation; but what | do claim
5 that the presence Of "the solid
south in full force here in the coun.
ills of the Nation, with her own cho.
zen Senators and Representatives, has
not retarded the progres Of our com.
non country; has not distracted |
rom its prosperity. Iailirm the prog. |
'ess of this Nation in all that consti.
utes National glory, and prosperity, |
md honor, and the presence of tho
'olid South in its councils are facts
hat are co existent even If they don't |
iustain to each other the relation of |
,ause and effect. say that its pres.
,nco here has been at least no hin.
trance TO the National prosperity, and
therefore, does not Justify the great
Republican party OF this Senate in
stepping down from its high pedestal
If National honor TO take within It's
,mbraco tho cast off element of tho
Southern Democracy.