The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-07
8itlm,ond 1ispatth.
WEDNESDAY. MAY Z, 1884,
Mr. raton's Speech.

NT. Edtph SPooS"
II there are any true men In the House
az Representatives, Mr.. EATON, OF Connec-
tic,,t is one Of them. Nothing can induce
him 10 swerye from his purpose TO do what
his conscience tells him he ought 10 DO.
He was the only Democrat In The United
States Senate in 1877 who voted against the
e,ectornl.commissio bill, under the opera.
,io,, Of which Mr.. TnpEN lost the office Of
President Of the United States. Through.
ou, the war between the States he adhered
faithfully to the old Democratic States
rights creed. Since the war ended, he has
always been warm friend OF the southern
PEG, le, aud has never lost an opportunity
OF rendering them service.
II Is simply an outrage that such man
should be traduced because he made q
speech last week against the MORRISON Dill
We have read his speech. 1t was an eX-
temporaneous effort, and. as he confessed,
rather rambling one, but 1t was a good
one. In 1t he made the very good point
that the words general welfare were
left out OF the Confederate Constitution
because the statesmen who framed 1t knew
that those words had been made and could
be made 10 cover protective tariff. But
he expressly said more than once that hC
made these references in all kindness, and
also declared that he was in favor oil
amending the Federal Constitution so as
TO make it agree with the Confederate Con-
stitution in fixing the presidential term at
six years.
Let us give few Of Mr.. EAToN's words.
After quoting from the Confederate Con-
stitution, and saying that "somc OF our
friends " seemed TO be acting under it, he
added:
81 speak in all kindness as they kno,o."
"Again, say, speak in all kindness"
OF course he did. He was well known
10 be a southern sympathizer during the
recent war. We quote again:
alt seems TO me when look around this
Uouse that in the estimation OF a certain
class OF minds here there is no other ques-
ton except this tariff question. Local SELF
government, the preservation OF the true
rights OF the States, good government
eyerywhere-theSe are nothing; and this
Congress has nothing TO do except to pid-
die with an economic question which they
have not the power to act upon"
There lie takes the position taken at its
last meeting by the State Central Commit
fec of the Democratic party OF Virginia.
We quote once more:
"Noy. then, there are thousands OF in
dustries in this country the plants OF which
amount to three thousand million dollars.
Would YOU unsettle them for nothing:
NV friend shakes his head. | believe he
would not. but, II he will pardon me, he
has n poor way OF showing his belief.
Laughter and applause.] Believing as l
do, and as INV friend the chairman OF the
Committee ON Ways and Means well
knows, as all my friends on this side OF the
House and on the other side Of the House
well know, was averse to any action by
this Congress. l, as a party man, was
ayerse to it. | said so frankly to my Re-
publican friends, and yet am told Joined
the Republican party because voted with
them. might as well say my friend from
New York and my good friend from Vir-
ginia [Mr. Tucker] Joined the Republicans
the other day because they voted Tor a certain
thing against which three fourths OF the
Democratic party voted. Laughter and APP
plause.l | do not say any such thing. Per-
hans my friend has forgotten what that
was. [Laughter.l 1t was simply taking
out of a committee of this House. the Com
mittee on Appropriations, the right TO
carry into conference What was very neceS-
sary 70 have in order to make good trade
with the Senate conference committee.
Laughter and applause.] That Is all there
is about il.
AGAIN, as political measure the Nor
rjson bill. so called-and use the name OF
nv friend from Illinois because it is at
tached TO this bill-the Morrison bill, so
called, is in my opinion unworthy OF the
distinguished committee who have brought
il before this House. He smiles, and
think he himself agrees with me. Laugh
ter and applause.] j have not heard him
say to the contrary. [Renewed laughter.] y
Could any man exhibit more kindly
spirit towards everybody?
What said Mr.. EATON that gave a south
ern man the chance to abuse him? Why
when some one referred 10 BENEDICT AR
MOLD as a traitor, Mr.. EATON said ARNoLI
was the only traitor he could think OF il
New England, but he could 90 ELSEWHERE
and find many. He could not have refer
red TO southern men as traitors; for HI
sympathlzed with them in their so-calle(
rebellion" He must have referred u
the Tories. But the malignant Republi
cans applauded his remark, and made
apply to the southern people. That is all