The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-29


Mr.. Tillman-Where is the law? There
never has been such law in force in my
state
Mr.. McComas-All the democrats of
South Carolina are not like my friend all of
them do not 20 out and inquire where is the
law. They only look for results. South
Carolina has law sought to perpetuate the
old oligarchy Of the STATE in power and
makeit a partisan white mans government.
TILLMAN DENIES IT.
Mr.. Tillman rejoined that that was not
true, and declared that the election law In
South Carolina was now just what it had
been since the revolutionary war. The re-
publIcans now proposed TO put the people
down by blue coats and the bayonet.
Mr.. McComas declared that there was not
blue coat feature in the bill. 1t appealed
simply to the courts.
Mr.. Tillman-It proposes to put the judi
ciary above the state legislature, whose
supreme authority has always been propo-
sition beyond dispute.
Mr.. McComas-When legislative power
takes from the people the inherent power of
local self control, 1t Is time to invoke some
power under the constitution that will stand
between the Vaccinations of the legislatures
and the rights of the plain and humble peo-
pie and leave them free.
ONE MAN POWER.
Mr.. Tillman-You would take away the
power from the people and put it in the
hands Of one man. Do not take to yourself
any hattering unction that the local
quarrel among the democrats in South
Carolina means a revolt against the Demo-
cratic party.
MFR. McComas-I have no doubt that the
strong centralized power IN that state will
put down the uprising. l do not take any
fiattering unction that the black man will
L. - Al.
be left alone.
Mr.. Tillman (warmly)- Every decent
white man In South Carolina is democrat.
Loud applause
Mr.. Bland twitted Mr.. McComas for hav-
ing taken away from the black man of the
District of Columbia the power of local
government and of suffrage and never Civ
ing it TO him again.
UPRoAR ON THE FLOOR
This soon resulted in an uproar on the
floor, Messrs. Bland aud McComas shouting
at the top of their voices amid the applause
of their colleagues and of the galleries.
Mr.. Cummings of New York began his
speech against the bill by quoting John
Wilcox, the renowned republican statesman
of California, as saying: "The time has
come when | believe my duty requires me
to rise above principle for the benefit of my
party" This sentiment seemed to be the
underlying principle of the bill. Popular
government was certainly impossible with
out local rule Home rule was the tap
root of our political system. Even in the
most extreme cases it was doubtful If in
reference with it didn't create more wrongs
than remedies. When George 8. Boutwell,
ran for congress in Massachusetts the man.
ufacturers had posted notices that those
failing to support him would be discharged.
Yet Massachusetts had purged herself of
1se hlOA~ koI s.,ea- T..
believed federal law would have pro-
longed the contest for purity of the cleo
tions. Admitting that the charges against
the south were true, was she not as capable
Of purifying herself as Massachusetts,
Why apply red-hot iron to a cicatrized
sore?
REPUBLICANIsM AND FRAUD.
But while election frauds were being
talked about, it should be remembered that
republicanism was synonym for fraud.
They were guilty of frauds in 1875, in Mon
tana last year, and in this House this ses-
sion IN turning out elected members. Now
the republicans felt that, in the words of
John Wilcox. they must rise above princi-
pie for party. They had therefore sprung
this bill without notice, and were driving it
through with a whip. Look at it! Seven
teen thousand words, or Is, 600 more than in
the constitution, and it was to be passed in
six days.
HEMPHILL'S BOAST QUOTED.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa read from the
speech of Mr.. Hemphill, declaring that the
whites must either rule or leave the south,
and that they would not leave it. He
wanted no further proof than that declara-
tion that the blacks of South Carolina
should not be allowed to exercise the rights
of the constitution. This declaration meant
defiance of the will of the majority, and de-
6anoa n rho COnofiknfinr Al
ranted in saying that it was as dangerous
as armed rebellion, and he meantit He then
read from an interview in which Mr.. Mills
OF Texas was quoted as saying
that the passage of the bill,
meant an increased number of deaths
among federal election officers in the south.
He did not know if this we're true; but if
so it was another defiance. The shotgun
and dagger were to protect the south from
constitutionally enacted laws II they inter
fered with democratic political control He
served notice that the country would no
longer submit to the rule of the minority.
Under God he declared that Grover Cleve-
land had had no right to his seat in the
white house, and that the Democratic party
had not had an honest majority In the
House in twenty-five years.
Mr.. McComas had stated that there were
no bayonets or blue coats In the bill He
wanted to say that before he should consent
that the minority should govern the major
ity he would favor the protection of every
ballot by a killing bullet. [Appiause.1 He
spoke Of the recent exhibition of the stars
aud bars and confederate gray at Richmond.
He would not have them forget the tender
relations of the war, but he entered his pro-
test against being told that new north
was needed when the ranks of the dangerous
south were Haunting in the face of the re-
public.
EwART OPPOSES THE BILL.
Mr.. Ewart of North Carolina, rep, op-
posed the passage of the bill. He was
aware of the penalty he should pay. I'm
fortunately, politics had come DO such
pass that under bhe rule of King Caucus men
would vote for measures that deep down in
their heart they did. not believe in.
They knew deep in their hearts that
this was as damnable and vici Gus piece of
legislation as ever was put on the statute
books. As to the negros political rights,
speaking for his own state, he unhesita-
tingly asserted that no republican in the
state, black or white, was prevented from
casting his vote. The elections there were
absolutely fair. There were men in the
south who hated the negro and abused
him. Sometimes they were punished
and sometimes not. But the entire
people CT the south should not be
blamed for the acts of few lawless men.
Ja rvoc Siak and TRAD 0f tha santirnentaI