Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-06
DOUBTS AND FEARS
As to the Effect of the Federal Elec-
tion Bill if Passed.
CHAT WITH EX-SENATOR KELLOGG.
The Measure is Extremely Likely to Result
in Bloodshed.
NEGROES PREFER PEACE TO VOTING.

| TbPkC1xL TELEGRAh TO THE D16PATCH.1
NEW YORK, August 5.-"Idoubt whether
the so-called force bill will pass the Senate, u
said ex-senator William Pitt Kellogg. oi
Louisiana, to-day. at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel to DISPATCH correspondent. The
ex-senator is known as one of the most pop
ular Republicans in the South among the
colored people, and has represented Louis
lana in the United States Senate and in the
National House number of years. He re-
sides greater portion of his time at Wash
ington.
He was asked: care you opposed to the
Lodge bilI9"
"If I had been in Congress should have
voted for it. But must confess that have
many doubts about the enforcement of the
bill. believe in fair elections aud it is a
well known and trite fact that the Demo-
Gratis do not permit fair elections in the
South, but it is serious thing to contem-
plate the effects of the bill. If the bill
passes the Senate, then the question to be
considered is: Will the Republicans in
power see that it is enforced to the letter?
And the next thing to be considered is what
will be the ultimate result of such
an enforcement. I admit frankly that
1 think force bill could have been en-
forced 10 the letter 10 years ago. 1t was in
the power of the Republican party to do it
then. Now it can be enforced but the re-
suits may be very disastrous. Indeed I
FEAR THE CONSEQUENCES
of an attempt to carry out the provisions of
the present election bill. I tear that life
L. ;.,t n ~
the people would secure fair elections"
"What are the results to be considered If
the bill passes and is strictly enforced?"
"They are these, viz: Will the coIored
people leave their cabins and attempt to
vote at the risk of being shot down or will
they forego the elective franchise and remain
at home to live, educate and bring up their
children? Now this is the point. The re-
ligious and educational advantages offered
to the colored people have no shotgun dan
ger attending them whatever. They believe
in education, and indeed they are more in
terested in seeing their children educated
than they are in voting. Good schools pre-
vail and the colored people are ambitious to
see their children educated. Now, fhe
father OF a family will reason this way:
Shall 1 60 out, try to vote and run the risk
of being shot or hunted down and exiled?
children, enjoy the comforts Of religion and
personal security and give up my vote? See
what fearful and doubtful fate confronts
the colored voter. He loves his children
and does not wish to jeopardize their fut-
ure. Yet to vote means that he must
sooner or later leave them orphans and with
no chance to get good education"
THE CAUSE OF IT.
"What has caused such state of affairs?"
"Why, the cause is apparent to any OBJ
server. The Democrats are well organized,
bulldozing and ever aggressive, And the
Republicans, I am sorry to say II mean the
Republican party In the United States),
have ignominously deserted the colored peo-
pie. 1t is all owing to the cowardice of the
Republicans and the aggressiveness of the
Democratic party. There is no Republican
organization ID any os the Gulf States; they
have dissolved and parted like ropes of sand.
1 could tell the reasons, but they, too, are
apparent. Now and then I hear good Re-
publicans speak of a solid Democratic
congressional representation from the
South. That is an error and does
never was time, with one exception, since
Abraham Lincoln was President that
Louisiana did not have one Republican in
Congress. Even when Grover Cleveland
was elected, a Republican Congressman,
Mr.. Hahn, was elected from the Second dis
trict. When he died, Democrat, it is true,
succeeded him and he was the only one to
break the long list of Republicans. When
President Harrison was elected Mr.. Coleman,
a Republican, was also elected to Congress.
These are facts that few people seem to con-
slider. represented in Congress, a number
of years. Louisiana district, and there is
no reason why Republican, and several
for that matter, should not be
elected from that State"
THE FUTURE PROSPECT.
"Will Mr.. Coleman be re-elected?"
eyes, 1 think he will. Although he
voted againstthe Lodge bill, he is good Re-
publican and should be reelected. Before
300 or 400 whites voted for him, and pre-
sumo the force bill will gain him more
white voters"
''Then, to recapitulate, you have fears
about the force bill if it should pass?'
eyes, confess I have great fear. IF it |
passes>it should be enforced, and know its |
means danger; but in the end it |
will insure fair elections. But who wishes |
to become target for bullets that good may |
come in the end9 A certain prominent |
minister in the South who has taken great |
interest In the education of the colored peo- |
pie started North to work for the passage |
OF the Lodge bill. He met me and in |
I put the case to him as have |
related it to you. 1 did not wish to argue |
with him against the bill. told him that |
I would vote for it had I been in Congress, |
and then explained the dificulty-in other |
words, the sacrifice of life in enforcing the |
bill. Well, sir, he went back home and
wrote letters to the Christian papers against |
the passage of the bill. If we ever intend to
have fair elections the force bill should be |
passed and enforced. 1t should have been
passed ten years ago. believe in the Re-
publican party and its grand mission, but
II d lies Ton lnnr xaru nffan IA annnrn nlish