Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-11
Democrats Will Do Battle
Against the lniquity.
WILL THE REPUBLICANS DARE ?
Enough Opposition to Defeat
the Infamous Measure.
Anti-Harrison Men VIII Take the Oppor-
sunity to Vote Against 1t to Thwart
Ben-The Measure Strongly Denounced
--siiver Coinage.

senators went into caucus to discuss the
order of business in the Senate The
pending election bill was, of course, the
principal theme for consideration The
chances of the passage of the bill, if it
should reach a final vote, were can
vassed, and individual senators ex-
pressed diverse opinions as to the ability
of the Republican party leaders to keep
their forces in line. The conclusion
reached was TO maintain an unalterable
opposition to the passage of the election
bill. The policy inaugurated to day by
Senator Turpie will be followed, i and the
minority will seize every opportunity to
discuss the bill exhaustiyely and fairly,
and strive to amend every Objectionable
feature as reached in the detailed con-
sideration of the measure, as was the
case with the Tariff bill.
The opinion was expressed that as the
majority had not signifled any intention
to unduly restrict reasonable debate it
would be premature for the caucus to
undertake the arrangement of pro-
gramme TO meet the presentation of a
cloture resolution. II was made ap-
parent, however, that the Democratic
senators intend to resist the passage of
the bill to the end. To secure harmony
of action the Democratic members of the
committee on privileges and elections
(Which reported the billy will take charge
of the debate and arrange the order of
speaking.
There was some comparison of notes
in the caucus to ascertain what senators
were prepared to speak. 1t appeared
that few had set speeches on the bill
prepared, but number of senators
promised to be ready to meet any emer-
gency in the shape of dearth of de-
baters.
Closer investigation Of the Republican
side, after two days consideration of
the BILL showed to-day that there was a
3 very general indifference to the bill.
"A No one except Hoar and Spooner seems
to take any special interest in it. No
one was even ready to speak for it to-
day. Even among men who were anx-
ious to pass it at the last session this in
difference prevails. "It has done us no
good and | am afraid can only do us
harm, said one of them to-day. Still
they say they will follow Hoar if he
will not take up too much time will, the
bill.
Its Republican opponents are still
waiting to see what will turn up Some
of them held an informal conference to-
day, but came TO no conclusion as to
policy. They will meet from time to
time, probably at Quays house, to hold
counsel together. tauay's opposition to
the bill Is fortified by Quay's opposition
to Harrison. Quay understands Harri-
sons unfriendly attitude to him during
the late campaign and realizes that Har-
rison is rejoicing at his defeat. Natur-
ally his love for Harrison, never great,
has disappeared. All his influence will
ha pVprtpG tn IInr ,,,f.
ination, and meantime to thwart Harri-
sE sons desires in Congress.
All the anti-Force Republicans want
y it distinctly understood that their
written promise to Hoar and Spooner
was fully and completely kept on Mon
day when they voted to take up the bill,
and that they are under no obligation
to vote for the bill. Harrison has a list
Of the ''weak-kneed" Republicans, as
they are called, and will watch their
actions closely. The list will become
blacklist II they do not vote for the bill.
He is making personal matter of it,
and will cut off the patronage of every
Republican senator who shall oppose
Z him in it. Harrison's great danger Of
being thwarted is the desire of the west
ern Republicans for free silver coinage.
II is really more probable that the SEN
ate will pass silver bill than that it
will pass a force bill
The free silver men, having satisfied
themselves thai they will be unable, by
reason OF Reeds opposition, to get any
of the House bills further than the cal
andar, have scheme to offer in the
Senate shortly resolution discharging
the hostile finance committee from the
consideration of the Teller Silver bill,
thus bringing it directly before the SEN
ate and insuring its passage. They say
that they have devised this means of cir
cumyenting Speaker Reed so as to secure
vote on the Senate bill in the House. |
They refuse to say anything more than |
this about this part of their scheme. |
These schemers are all Republicans. In |
1t all, however, they expect the aid of |
the Democrats, and in return they will |
be entirely willing to have the Force
bill shelved. Harrison has, however,
served notice on the leaders in both |
houses that he will veto Free Coinage |
bill.
= Whepsthe Election bill came up in
the Serate to-day Mr.. Turpie said that
the measure rested for its support on
what was called the suppressed colored
vote in the south. The returns of the
election showed an abstinence from yot-
sitSo tiiAp hdo iliuIu Sltultl III DluSSutHu-
sets and other northern states than else
where The recent census would show
that in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Illinois there were about $50 900 col
ored people, yet in those states no col
ored man had ever served as governor,
or been elected 10 any department of
the state government. There had been
not only no proportional division of the
otices--there had been none atall. The
colored race in those states had been de-
prlved OF participation in official prefer
ment. The colored citizens in these
states We're not barred by any constitu-
ton or statute; they were barred by a
more potent law-the law of race and
blood.
The suppression of the colored vote in
the south was thing manifestly in
question, affirmed ON one side and de-
MED on the other, but the suppression of
the colored voter of the north was a
thing without question, actual, absolute,
unconditional. The supremacy of the
white race was not peculiar to any por-
.tion of the United States. South Caro-
lima was not more completely under its
sway than was Pennsylvania. Its su-
premacy was not one whit more firmly