Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-11
Mr.. Chalmers's Resolution.

The lot OF the average congressman Is
not very happy one. III he attends to bis
business, he is worked as hard as is canal
boat mule. The popular idea that he does
nothing but draw big salary, live on the
fat OF the land. and furnish the editor Of
The Congressional Record matter to bill up
with for his own glorification, IS a fallacy.
] These constitute but a small part OF his du-
ties. The demands upon his time and at
| iention are as varied as are the contents OF
| a peddler's pack. Besides his committee
work, about which the public knows
hardly anything, nearly every one who
| voted for him thinks he has a claim upon
him. Every mail he receives contains
letters, the mere answering Of which imposes
ar1uous and fatiguing labor. Heis expected
to take an interest in everything in which
constituent is interested, from lunar
railway scheme to the securing Of pat
ent for new soothing-syrup. Yet, after
all, the congressman is not without per-
quisites that the small boy might envy. He
can frequently see circus without paving
for the privilege. IL Is q poor session Of
Congress indeed that does not afford some
fun. SUNSET Cox can always get up a
laugh by his genuine wit, and during last
session the antics OF BoUrELLE and the
somersaults OF KEIFER helped to while
away many dull moment. These two
last.named gentlemen are still in the ring
doing these SPECIAL acts, but their laurels
are In danger. Another funny man has
tumbled over the ropes. On Tuesday
Mr.. CHALMERS, Of Mississippi, introduced
into the House bill 20 restore a republi-
can form Of government In that State. The
faithful cbronicler of congressional BUSH
ness and congressional humor says that the
Democrat; laughed. OF course they
laughed. Who could fail to appreciate
such joke or such innocence ? As well
expect them not TO laugh at a proposition
to teach the Ptolemic theory In our public
schools. II Mr.. CHALMERS was not joking,
his innocence was equal to that Of RIP
VAY WINELE after his long nap. He did
not know that n republican form OF govern
ment such as he represents and desires is
as much out Of date as is a last years BIRDS
nest. In either position We place the gen.
tleman-that OF perpetrating joke inten-
tionally or OF being sublimely ignorant
he gave Just cause for amusement.
Seriously speaking, however, what
ground had Mr.. CHALMERS for Introduce
his resoutiony None whatever. Accord
ing to the best OF testimony there never was
time when the political condition OF Mis-
sissippi afforded less justification for the
implication contained in the resolution.
There never was a time when Mississippi
was more republican, in the true sense of
the term, than at present. Take the evi-
dence Of JOAQUIN MILLER, who has recently
made tour OF Mississippi, and writes to
the New York Independent as follows:
"And this brings me sharply up TO the
social question. Here Is State with
tremendous majority Of negroes. And yet
this State insists on remaining tremen-
ously Democratic. And because Il does
the politicians, the political press, the
North, almost in body, insist that the
black man is bullied; and ergo there is a
race OF DULLES here.
This foolish accusation does the black
man greater injustice than it does the
white man. The negro is not bulied.
As for the white men here. l find them a
race OF gallant Christian gentlemen. Let
me call youl attention TO one fact. | have
sat at many mems tables here. | have been
ut dinner IN a great number OF houses here
in the state Of Mississippi, that of the Gov
ernor In the Mansion House included; aud
/ have sat at no mans table where the
head OF the house did not offer thanks.
or course, suppose there are exceptions
to these rules, but grace al the table is the
rule here. In the Moth il Is the eXcep-
ton.
- think you have the social and polIti-
cal problem here in a nutshell. A negro
likes good white man better than he does
a good negro. He has more confidence In
him. He thinks him more honest, and
better able TO help him. And you may set
1t down as fact, that |; negro aud
white man, both good, honest, and o! even
ability, we're candidates tomorrow, with
| everything fair, and even, and equal, the
white man would come out long way
ahead.
$50 we OF the North had Just rs well
stick pin here, and set IL down as fact TO
be remembered that the black man down
here, as long as he Is well treated, Is going
10 vote for aud with his old master and his
old masters children for many year TO
come. And II Is wrong TO disturb them in
their trustful faith. for II only brings strife
ard trouble and does no good to any one"
We present the testimony OF JOAQUIN
MILLER because II happens 10 be at hand.
II confirms dozen letters we have seen
that have been written since the election
by travelling correspondents Of northern
Journals. In many OF the southern States
the negroes have become Indifferent, or
where they own property have become
conservative. The result OF the election In
North Carolina may be attributed In mea-
sure TO the fsst that Democratic Govern
ment In the State has done so much
to interest the negro In industrial enter
prises, while In Georgia the number OF
negro landowners is greater than the mum.
Der In any other State. In Virginia the
negro's interest In politics aud his dispo-
silion 10 draw the color line Is attributable
to the fact that he has been the especial
prey Of the emmIssaries Of the Admins.
tratioB. His nearness TO the seat OF Fede- |
rni Government has taught him to depend
upon and take advice from Federal officials |
rather than look TO aud consult with his |
..atsa pc;athnr Ne UuAf ngposc rounl,s- Il