St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-07
THE HOUSE.
The Negro Trotted Out as a Polit-
ical Issue.


WASHINGTON, March 6.-The house
resumed the consideration of the Ala
bama contested election case of McDuffie
against Davidson. Mr.. O'Ferrell, of
Virginia, supported the majority re-
port. He ridiculed what he called the
claims OF the Republican party that the
negro vote Of the South was invariably
cast for the nominees of that party.
That had been true in years gone by,
but was not true now. The negroes
were learning who their friends were.
In 1884 man of destiny had arisen, one
who knew no section. but took into his
big national heart all sections and ex-
tended the Egis of his protection over
North and South, over white and col
ored, without discrimination. This
man had been called to preside over the
country and make it union, not only of
lakes and lands, but of hearts and
hands. That year would be enshrined
in the history of the country as the year
when the emberS of civil strife had been
extinguished around the national fire.
policy of equal rights to all and of fra
ternal feeling and brotherly love.
The Republican party sought to hold
the negroes through their churches and
societies. If it were not for this system
of intimidation and bulidOzing by their
preachers and leaders the Republican
party would not have enough cOlored
voters in the South to furnish pail bear
ers at the approaching funeral of that
party in 1888. Applause and laughter
on the Democratic side.] If freedom
meant liberty of thought, of action and
of opinion, the colored men of the South
were as abject slaves to the preachers
as they had been the day when Mr..
Lincoln, with hesitating hand, signed
the emancipation proclamation. 1t was
time that the Democratic party should
take stand and sustain and support
and uphold the colored men in their
right to vote as they pleased. APP
plause. Mr.. Kerr inquired where the
gentleman learned that Lincoln signed
the emancipation proclamation with
hesitation. Mr.. O'Ferrell replied that
he learned it from history. There was
painting on the walls of the capitol,
the propriety of hanging which had
been questioned by some. He was glad
it was here to perpetuate historical
event and scene. He referred to the
painting of the signing of the enamel
patton proclamation by that good man
whose tragic death had been
A TERRIBLE CALAMITY
to the whole country. The deep thought
that there rested upon his features, the
anxiety on his brow, the disheyeled
hair, told that the fire was burning with
a fervent glow within his brain, while
the pen in his hand was heSitating to
sign the immortal name of Lincoln.
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine-Does the
gentleman pretend to say that Lincoln,
as portrayed at that crucial period OF
his career, when engaged in performing
the grandeSt duty, was hesitating? L
tell the gentleman that he was unfOrtu-
nately situated to know the history his
country at that time.
Mr.. O'Ferrell-Such language as
that coming from that gentleman (who
never loses an opportunity to use it, is
not the language of a brave man.
have always been taught that it was
cOwardly to kick and cuff fallen foe.
brave men. Applause on the Demo
Mr.. Boutelle-You will allow me to
Mr.. O'Ferrell-I do not yield; you
can take your own time.
Mr.. Boutelle-I will take my own
time"
Mr.. OFerrell-And 1 will take my
time after you.
Mr.. Boutelle That is the bravery to
which you allude. Applause on Re-
publican side.
Mr.. O'Ferrell-Well. sir, it is the
right kind of bravery; you may bet
your bottom dollar ON that.
Mr.. HOuk, of Tennessee, said the
gentleman from Virgirginla had stated
that all the colored people who used to
vote the Republican ticket now voted
the Democratic ticket. Was that the
reason that the Democratic majority in
Virginia had fallen from $4,000 to
nothing, and that the Democrats had
only fragment of one or two members
in the house from Virginia, while the
plause OH Republican sidel. After re-
marks by Boutelle the discussion was
closed by MIR. Crisp, of Georgia, who
touched the question of the negro vote,
and declared that in the South that vote
was being cast for the nominees of the
Democratic party. But for the misera-
BILE carpet-baggerS, who went South to
prey upon pOverty-Stricken people,
there would never have been any di-
vision between the people of the South
and their former slaves. But the col
ored people now knew that their inter-
estS were the same as those of the white
people among whom they lived, and
they would no longer be miSled by the
threats of the Republican leaders. The
minority resolution, declaring McDuffie
entitled to the seat, was rejected-yeaS
122, nays 144-and the majority resolu-
ton, declaring the sitting member en-
titled to his seat, was adopted without
division. The house then adjourned.