Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-11
Mr.. GRAYS BRILLIANT ONSLAUGHT
He Strips the Force Bill of Some Of
Its Infamous Features.
And Throws the Republicans Into Dire
Confusion--A Speech That Rings With

Its Protest Against the Lodge Infnmy.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Din the Senate this
afternoon the Election bill was taken M,
and Mr.. Gray (Del.) addressed the Senate
in opposition to IT, The Vice President,
having stated the question to he on the
Senate substitute, Mr.. Gray remarked that
before the vote was taken he had SOME
thing to say; and there might be something
to be said by Others ON the Democratic side
of the chamber and he doubted not on
the other side also. The bill he said, was
confessedly of the first Importance, most
far-reaching in its consequences, and, i'll
the opinion Of many, most nlenacine to
the peace, happiness and freedom of the
people of the several states, Notwithstnnd-
ing the sneer uttered by the President Of the
United States as to the objections of those
who opposed the bill there were those on
his side of the chamber and throughout
the country the believed a majority Of the
freemen Of the country who believed that
the bill was one that threatened the intcg-
rity of American institutions, state and liza
tional; that it was fraught with the great
est danger to the prosperity of the whole
country and that II mcnaced the liberties
of the people of all the states. 1t was the
first time in the history of the government
that u measure was proposed ON the theory
that the states We're no longer able tu pro.
vide for and that the people Of the states
the control Of their own elections.
The Washington correspondent writes of
MIR. trays speech to the Baltimore Sun:
When senator Gray arose in the Senate to-
day to oppose the Force bill, one of his
Democratic associates remarked that Gray
would probably smoke out some of those
Republican coouS." How well he Sue
ceeded will he seen from the following
description of the proceedings just prior e
the adjournment. Senator Gray directed
especial attention to the sixth and nine
teenth sections Of the bill, which authorize
dumiclinry visitations by supervisors of
elections, accompanied by armed deputy
marshals, He dwclt with considerable
force and effect upon those two un-Ameri-
can and unconstitutional provisions until
finally the Republicans were forced to
abandon their Quay-likc silence and mt
tempt to break the force of the Delaware
senator's argument.
In criticisinE these provisions Senator
Gray questioned the right, of Congress to
enact law which authorized Il deputy
marshal to visit the residence Of ~ Amer
lean citizen and inerrogate wives and
mothers us to the politics, religion, &c. of
the voters of the family. In the most
dramatic style he declared that he had
always been a law-abiding citizen and re-
speCted the majesty of the laws, national
and state, but he prayed God to allow him
to he at home when the deputy marshal
p divided for in the pending bill called at
his residence This declaration was
greeted with applause by the occupants Of
| the galleries. Continuing, he challenged
any senator within the sound of his
voice, with drop of patriotic blood in his
| viens, to stand up and indorse such prop
osition.
BY this time many of the Republican
senators who had been down in the restar-
rant or in their committee rooms came to
| the rescue of Senator Hoar, who was
utterly unable to cope with the logic and
rcpartee of the senator from Delaware.
Several times senator lloar interrupted
! him. but each bout resulted in IL knock
| down" for Delaware. Finally Senator
| Spooner, whose days in the Senate are
numbered, could stand the pressure no
| longer, and rose and stated that the COM
mittee on privileges and elections had
| agreed to strike out the "domiciliary pro-
| vision" Instantly Senator Gray congratll-
| lated the Wisconsin senator for refusing to
sanction such an unpatriotic enactment.
Then followed u long discussion as to
whether the committee had actually
stricken out the Objectionable language,
the Democrats showing that ii was in the
House and Senate prints of the bill in two
places.
The Democrats realized that they had
the Republicans in tight place, and II
Senator Hoar while the "smoking-out'
process was being performed by senator
Gray, ably assisted by Senators Morgan,
Daniel and George. Finding himself com
pletely trapped, Senator Hoar attempted
to wriggle ont Of his uncomfortable posi-
ton by blaming the mistake upon the
printer. Senator Evarts, who is "A membeI
of the committee in charge of the bill went
to the rescue of his colleague from Massa
chusetts, and reeled of a yard-long sen
tence, which, when interpreted, meant
that the objectionable clauses had been
stricken out in committee.
Quick as a flash Senator Gray retorted
"You struck at them, but YOU did MOI
strike them out; for here they are in III,
bill in two different places" The sitna
ton was growing more and more interest
ing, when Senator Allison remarked i
was apparent there We're mistakes in tn,
printed bill which ought to be corrected
and suggested that a reprint be ordered
Senator Daniel annoyed the Republican
by moving that the bill be referred bach
to the committee with instructions t.
strike out the Objectionable sentences. A
this juncture Senator Teller, another Re
publican member of the committee, ros
and refused to accept the "domiciliar,
provision, and stated that he understood
that the committee intended to strike
out, and he was greatly surprised TO find
in the bill.
Senator Gray, taking advantage of tn
, confessions of the Republicans on thi
: point, scored another point by moving L
strike out the Objectionable language thci
and there. Instantly several Republican
were on their feet advising Mr.. Hoar Wha
to do under the circumstances. Senate
Edmunds, who had just entered the cham
Der, undertook to rally the dcmorali2e
Republican forces by asking for readin
D Of the sections in dispute While the reuc
| ing was III progress, Senator Pugh, Il Den
orratic member of the committee state
that he understood the committee ha
stricken out the section complained of, \
this statement from n Democrat smiles {
satisfaction returned to the faces Of tn
I. Republicans.
I Senator Gray was equal to the eme
gency. Regaining the floor, he thre'
Senator I'ugh and the Republicans I'M
confusion by showing that the mere fili
I of the Senate committee refusing 10 udul
, the recommendation of the House of Rel
? resentatives did not strike the provisio
from the bill, consequently il was q pa
= of the pending measure until the Sena'
: voted 1t out
n At this point Senator tiorman though
\ il was time to adjourn, 50 III quiet wa
lie stated IT was apparent the bill was II,
in proper shape for consideration, and
J. order Ia give the committee a chance
Y perfect il according to their ideas, he won
i move that an adjournment until Monda
g be taken. Instantly there was Il chorus
a noes on the Republican side, SO IN a
b ionrnmGnt until tomorrow was secured !
IT The Democrats, with the aid Of several Il
It publican VOTES. Thus the day ended wii
Il 4 very satisfactory showing for the Dem
At Gratis.
The New York HcrG'TS Washington co
10 respondent opens his report rs follow
Il Mr.. Gray Of Delaware who is one Of II
N ilblest lawyers and most elective debate
IA in the senatorial body made Il long spec
n to-day against the pending Force bill.
Il WAS the best exposition that has vet he,