Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-06

race OF men it has produced. of the
| great part their illustrious statesmen
have borne in every step in our progress
and in the very foundation Of our match
less Constitution. Sir, it was not the
Humanitarian principle OF which the
gentleman speaks that brought the
negro, those who did il eliminated all
the teaching OF their lives. They for
| got their free civil and religious senti.
ment and the introduction OF the negro
| from Africa to this country WAS the use
of power, the practice OF uniustiiiable
wrong, moral degradation. and the in.
slinct OF iron.souled cupidity.
Here the hammer icii.
Mr.. PAGE. yield ten minutes TO
the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Cas-.
NoN.
Mr. CURTIN. would be very much
Obliged If the gentleman would ALLOW
me little more time.
Mr. PAGE. have no objection il
the gentleman can proceed by uuani.
nous consent.
Mr. CURTIN. shall want but few
! minutes.
Mr.. PAGE. am willing the gentle
man shall 50 on IT the additional time
Is not to tc taken out OF my hour
Mr. CAMP. object.
Mr.. SPRINGER. The gentleman
from California Mr. PAGE has promised
/ 10 yield me five m3nutc.. win give to
the gentleman from Pennsylyaui. what.
ever portion OF my time lac may desife
! 10 occupy.
Mr. PAGE. have already yielded
my time Literally. have no objection,
Of course, 10 the gentleman from l,li
nois yielding his time TO the gentleman
/ from Prnnsy lyapia.
Mr. CURTIN. | thank the gentle
man from Illinois for HE courtesy. Ia.
| stncuyely the negro moved TO the
/ South. There he had the genial warmth
| OF the sun, 30 natural aud necessary to
! his race. At a prOpiiIous era IN the
history OF this people Whitney invented
/ the cotton gln. and introduced a meas
ure OF prosperity quite unknown to any
+ portion OF tins country IN the past, aud
. added 10 the wealth OF the nation aud
/ 10 the ease and comfort of his owner.
[ The nccrJ made the southern portion
OF the United States fruitful aud pros
/ porous.
Who, Mr. Speaker, can refer to the
/ history OF that race in this country
/ without emotions Of sorrow for the ia I
/ and approximations for the future. We
are all familiar with 1t. It i, = Lesson
/ we have all learned aud know only too
/ well. Year 10y year the problem Of
/ African slayery in this county grew
upon us. II engaged the attention OF
| our wisc't and most skIllful statcsmeu.
/ 1t strengthened with the coming years
and finally the question was srt,,ed ~
/ the blood Of more than 80 OJ1 OF our
/ people. Strong, useful, intellectual men
| bit the dust. Untold millions of treas
/ ure we're spent IN the struggle which
affected the business, the commerce.
/ and the sentiments OF the civilized
world. The contest ended with the
| freedom Of ia" ucEro. lie was raised
to manhood. and TO. day Le stands the
| equal Of the white man before the Law
aud one OF the common humanity OF
thi. great country.
Tho negro Is our legacy. The dis.
/ turbing element Of hls bondage 10
| American politics is gone forever. That
/ era, sir - fact fading into furfetfuluess
would TO God we could erase II from
our history aud from our memories
| And yet since my presence 10 this Hall
| have taken courage for the future
when | notice the mincling OF men
! together on this floor who struggled
IN battle. the hal,ing gate and manned
| bodies OF members Of this House ay.
| sr, more. When | listened the other
| day TO the speech Of the eloquent gen
tleman from Mississippi, Mr. Hooker.
| noticed the beauty aud perfection OF
his sentences and the depth and power
aud force Of his classic allusious, utter.
| aucss Of the gentleman which attracted
| the profound attention of this House.
there was more appeal TO me, err, in the
mute cloquence Of the waves Of his arm.
less sleeve than IN all the beauty and
power and fascination OF bis language.
| IL brought To me the consolation that
We were once at peace aud that true
| liberty founded on unity. concord. and
| fraternity was nov present. aud 10 grow
and increase forever and forever. IGreat
applause.
What the true philosophy OF the IA.
tufe of the negro race in this country
may be no man has yet been wise
enough To predict, for reasons which
are acceptable and convincing To those
who study and reflect upon the momen-
toUs question. In his native country
the negro never built highway, and he
never engaged in commerce or trade.
! lie never made = tangible religious faith
which consoled him living or gave hopes
for the future. or raised temple TO a
deity. He never learned 10 build for
himself house, TO manufacture. or To
invent. and scarcely knew how to make
clothing to cover his nakedness. lie
inhabited a country of great rivers and
extensive forests, a land Of great pro.
ductiveness a healthy climate with all
the surroundings and appointments OF
beneRcent Providence. and yet he lived
without language or an alphabet, with.
out history or tradition. lie was bar.
barian then, and he remains in the ig
noraDce and superstition OF a barbarian
.till