The Helena independent., 1890-01-17
THE NEGRO PROBLEM.
Senator Buffers Bill for Exporting
the Africans Discussed in
the Senate.
Northern Members Denounce the
Measure as an Absurdity
and an Outrage.
The Credentials or sanders aud rnwer a.
senators from Montana Presented
nv Teller The Tionsr.

day Hale. from the census committee, re-.
ported back adversely the hill ~ require
the supcrint, ndcnt of the ccnsps 10 asccr-
tain what percent age OF people own their
farms. The number OF farms under mont
gage and the amount th, ropl. morrill,.
from the finance committee reported con-
current resolution requesting the secretary
uf the treasury moi 10 make new loaso of
the blinds Of 81. rau and 81. George ia
Alaska tor the purpose OF taking fur seals
ihercon and 10 postpone all action in rela-
'iom thereto until after Fob. ~, lsaJ
pissed. Among the bills reported from
committees and placed ON Che cnlcndar We're
the folowing Establishing customs coll
lection district go consist of the states of
North and South Dakola; for the removal
OF Indian prisoners in Geronimo's hand to
Fort Hill. lndiun territory.
The senate then took M
the bill introduced by Buticr to
provide Tor the emigration ui persons of
color from the sooihcrn states. and Butler
proceeded 10 address the senate. This. be-
said, was too grave il subject 10 bo distorted
by patty considerations or confined within
the narrow boundaries and limits of party
lines. Some persons who held high rank IN
the intellectual world held that IN the his
tory OF the African race in TINS country WAS
To he seen the hHnd of God for ihe accom-
plishmtnt Of great purpose in other hem
isphcrcs.
Events appeared 10 I've shaping themselves
IN manner t0 justify such conclusion.
The rare question raised 10y the attitude of
the two races toward cnch other, wns n
lurnfraIs ,.4HsA AYt
confined Ia any locality. section or party.
What was io become of the 2M.0CO Indians
of this country, and Of the lUl0M China
men was difficult problem. but the most
profound inquiry applied directly to the
pending bill. md thni was what was Ia he
the fate of the SiN or eight million
negroes of this country. They were ciii-
zens. they had the ballot. they had all
the civil and y0lltical rights which the
white man had, and which were denied 10
other oolored races. Butler referred 10 the
absence of colored people from all high
positions IN this country and SAW in that
fact proof of unrolcniing. unforgiying, in
curHble race proiudices, III any body, hc
said. hud predict I'd before D war thai the
sOuther states would Vs. ia q few yeara
be nyysenied in both houses OF congress
by men who were their slaves. be would
have been laughed at. II anyone pre-
d.ctcd to-day that within half
century not y fall blOoded
genuine negro would be- found ntbe United
States. he would not ho believed. and vel
there were men who expected that very
thing. The bill. he said. contemplated
gradual, orderly voluntary movement of
the colored people out of the southern
states, and, provided that the government
enables them ~ do 80. While the negfOs
nos. a a.. 4
numbers their white neighbOrs. not only
did the negroes not advance in the scale
of civilization, but actually rctrogradcd
Such NJ least had been his experience.
On the other hand observation and eNpe-
riences had convinced him thai where ile
white man WIS largely N The majority. the
white man WAS better of aud the negro WIS
better on, 80 that no friend of the negro
would oppose the bill because il would be
harmful to the negro. He believed if the
government would do iis duty by the negro,
instead of coaching him and confusing him
with civil rights and rInpiy statutes if il
would render him substantial assistance
in his struggle iur regeneration and real
freedom. he would illumiIc the dark cunil-
nrnl of his fathers with Che light uf
Christianity and law. As tu the effect ON
the southern states. he said il the soulll
cuuld he thus relieved of part. at least, Of
its superintendent chenp labor, there would
he sUch an immigration of white. intelligent
progressive citizens that the prosperity uf
the y tl during the last decade would fall
into inagulicanco AZ compared with lts
future progress.
Mr.. Hoar replied 30 Butler. II seemed 10
him TINT this proposition was the most as
inuishing that had ever been heurd
IN the Legislative history Of the sennte
.as aIs.. L.. .Is.ts tss... a..
civilized and prosperous people. l'Ium nll
climrs under the sun mbofrts Worp thfoue-
ing all one way. ia their onger desire 10
share the harvest ui uHtiOual prospects and
national glory. And yet IN The senate OF
the United states u proposition WIS mndc
that 10y the force Of the nation and hy It's
treasury, eight millions0i labOrcrs. born ON
Anne rlcm soil, every one of them rl'itlcd
to every right, were tO be dcpDTtcd ~ what
the senator had justly styled he dark
region Of The dark continent. nnd which
ia spite Of he recent explanations OF their
illu,trous citizens was less known To the
readers Of history TO-DAY Than II was when
their history attempted description of IL
800 yeats before ihe birth Oi Christ.
Blair spoke against the bill. Ilo thought
that if inst,ud of exporting S,UJJMO of col
Ored people there were lOO0D white people
exported to Africa, aud kept there, The
whole difficulty would bc settled. The dif.
hcultics Of hr Uce problem existed in tho
excited imauMutiOns Hud n oiadicable
pre- tiudices Of q lew white men, not bctwecn
ucps thomsclVcs. A- 10 the idea uf
the senator frum Alabama Morgan
that the choice Nas between numbering the
negroes Or mnrrNiug them, between killing
tbetu orassimileting them. he ihuughl thuta
course Of lectures on the sixth and seventh
commandments would settle the whole
thing, and tlni uU more Would he heard of
a doctrine that WIZ an ubsurdity and an in
suit 10 humanity, lho bjl went over with
out action.
Teller presented The credentials Of Sail
ders ana Power rs scnators-elect from The
state of Montana. They were referred to
the committee ON privileges and oleciiuns
Tho senate bill 10 amend article lil Of
the rules VI uriiclcs 81 war in relation Ia
de-ertcrs wac tak,n from the calendar and
passed. After an executive session the sen.
ate adjourned until Monday.