The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-11
A ASENATOR PUTT0 SHAME
Mr.. BUTLER PAYS MR.. EDGERTON
BACK IN HIS OWN COIN.

A Speech Made in Dakota in Which
Southerners Were Shamelessly
Maligned the Cause of the South
Carolinian's Wrath -- The Dakota
Admission Bill Gives the Opportunity
WASHINGTON, April 10,-The Senate this
evening resumed consideration OF the 'un-
finished business" being the bill TO provide
for the admission Of the State of South Da-
kota and the organization of the Territory
of North Dakota.
Mr.. Butler, who had reported the substi-
tute from the minority of the Committee
on Territories, said that the discussion had
been narrowed down to one single point
that was whether or not the present Terri
tory of Dakota should be divided-and dis
membered. If that question were
decided in tho negative, as he
hoped and trusted it would be,
the way to the speedy admission of the State
was open. He took issue with the state
ment made yesterday by Mr.. Platt, that
the people of that Territory had an impor-
tant right because of their population, etc,
to be admitted into the Union. As he (Mr
Butler) understood the rule and law, that
subject was entirely and solely within the
discretion of Congress.
DANGEROUS DOCTRINE.
If any other doctrine should prevail why
should not the Territory of Utah be ad-
mitted as a State' Or hat was to prevent,
| too, Socialists, Anarchists, Nihilists and
| Communists from taking refuge III some
corner of a Territory and proceed to frame
a constitution and State government, and
| demand to be admitted as State. He
therefore submitted that the Senator from
| Connecticut had gone 90 far in making that
proposition, especially when the claim was
asserted, not on behalf Of a majority Of the
people of the Territory of Dakota, but on
! behalf of a faction of politicians in that
| Territory who had contributed more
than all else besides to prevent the Territory
being admitted as State. The bill of the
minority, he said, proposed to authorize the
| people of the Territory to meet in conven-
| tion, frame constitution and State govern
ment, and submit them to Congress, and
upon their ratification by Congress to de-
clare Dakota a State of the Union.
THE MAJoRITY's PROPOSAL
The majority bill on the other hand pro
posed to ratify ard confirm the so-called
constitution adopted in South Dakota two
and a half years ago; and to seat as United
States Senators two gentlemen (Republi-
| cans who claimed to have been then
elected Would the Senate, he asked, con-
sent to seat as full fiedged Senators, equal
to those who represented sovereign States,
two men who simply represented
1900 votes out of 105, coo voters
That was the proposition. He
referred to one of the gentlemen seeking
seats as the Senator from Dakota (Mr.
Edgerton) as one whom he had spoken Of
courteously in the last Congress, but who
in recent speech in Dakota, had alluded
to him in an offensive manner, drawing a
| parallel between a Southern uan who
| learned nothing, forgot nothing, and re-
sorted to the bowie knife and revolver, and
the Dakota man, whose weapons were the
| Bible and spelling book. That said he
after reading this extract from Mr. Edger-
tons speech) is the language of the man to
whom | extended the courtesy of expressing
| kindly feelings when he was attempting to
| get seat on this floor
SEVERE DENUNCIATIoN.
| He is entitled to all the credit and all the
! honor and all the eclat and prestige which
that character of language can give to him
| but may be permitted to say that if had
to select, either as companions or citizens OF
great country, a stalking bandit, reckless
! highwayman with pistol and bowie knife in
hand, or a sneaking hypocrite, snarling
pharlsee, who fires from the rear and takes
cover under the shadow of his own mean.
ness and malignity, l would select the
former. If the spelling book and
Bible inculcate such education as
that-such malignity, such unfairness
such injustice, such falsehood, may God
have mercy upon the Bible aud spelling
book which that man carries with aim.
Better have them made bonfire of than tc
have them teach such language as that
| which / have read
Without any action on the bill the Senate
proceeded to executive business. After a
secret session of about two hours, the doors
were reopened and the Senate adjourned.