The crusader., 1890-07-19
Speech of Hon. Henry Demas,
on the Separate Car Bill,
Delivered i'm the Senate, at
Baton Rouge, La, July 8, 80.

Delivered i'm the Senate, at
Baton Rouge, La, July 8, 80.
House Bill No. AZ, known as the
separate car bill, being called up on
final passage in the Senate, Senator
Demas took the floor and spoke
against it as follows
1t was my intention, Mr. President, not
to enter into discussion upon this bill,
but to send up my reasons for voting
against it III writing. | feel, however,
that can express my views much more
fully and forcibly orally, than | could in
a written document.
Mr.. President, the bill which we now
have under consideration is one that, in
my opinion, has not been properly framed.
This is obvious to all who will read it
carefully over. 1t places the entire Ne
gro race upon one common level and
makes no distinction between the igno-
rant and the illiterate, and those who,
by education, refinement and culture, have
raised themselves above the standard of
their race. This bill, also, Mr. President,
panders to class legislation, that most
evil species of legislation, and, by two
sharply drawing the line between the two
races, destroys that harmony which
should exist at all times between them.
1t is an undeserved stigma upon the Ne
gro. The prosperity of Louisiana depends
LII q great measure upon his industry and
toll. 1t is to him we owe our vast fields of
waving cane it is to him we are indebted
for our broad expanse of feecy cotton
and to him must be credited our far-reach-
ing acres of wholesome rice. He is the
bone and sinew of the agricultural inter
ests of our State. 1t is by his persistent
efforts that our forests have been cleared.
The white people of Louisiana, Mr..
President, control the wealth of the
State. To them belong our railroads,
steamboats, and manufactures; they rep
resent the capital of the State and exclu-
S1vely direct our commercial and indus
trial affairs. Every thing is theirs. This
does not alter the fact that the Negro, in
his own humble capacity, has been fac
tor in the progress of this State, and,
while contending against almost insur-
mountable obstacles, has steadily elevated
himself above the plane of twenty five
years ago. His advancement challenges
the admiration of even those who are
prejudiced against him, and the highest
honors are to-day being accorded him in
the educational institutions of this
country.
Mr. President this State is peopled by
far larger number of cultured and
wealthy colored people than is coniec-
tured, and, owing to the intermingling
Of the races, it is not frequently difficult
matter to determine, from standpoint
of color,-the white from the Negro.
Would it not be unjust, ask, to relegate
this class to a coach occupied by those
much inferior to them in life, and by
thus doing humiliate people accustomed
to better surroundings. 1t would be fore
ing them to associate with the worst
class of the Negro element and would be
an unmerited rebuke upon the colored
man of finer sensibilities
Mr.. President, make the statement
and deny contradiction that / have per
sonally appealed to Senators on this floor
not to pass this bill. That it was pre-
mature at this time to do so. And, Mr.
President, | have met with the response
from not a few that as the colored man
had sided with the Lottery bill, the
passage Of the separate car measur'
would be urgently pushed by way o.
retaliation. In voting for the Lottery
amendment myself and my colored col
leagues on this Senate floor were actuateC
by the purest motives, and were moved
by what we considered was an imperative
necessity in the present depleted condi
tion of the State treasury The measure
recommended itself to us, was sanctioned
and endorsed by the bulk of the people
both white and colOred, and received tn,
unqualified approval of the press of thi
State. Again, it has been said by som,
that the Negro was the moving spiri
behind the Force bill. | utter d genera
denial to this statement insomuch as
am concerned. When this measure, s,
obnoxious to the South, first saw light, ]
personally went to Washington City ant
exercised all the influence / could brin,
to bear upon the only Republican Con
gressman from the Gulf States to defea
the bill. To his credit be it said despit,
the pressure directed against him by th,
Republican party leaders, he neve
swerved from the stand he took and re
peatedly and continually voted agains
the passage of the bill. He aligned him
self with the Democrats and zealousl,
labored to thwart the purpose sought t.
be accomplished by the Force bill.
But why should we be made to suffer fo
the sins of those who live North of th
Ohio Riverf Is this just, is this fair, i
this equitable 7
Consult your cOnsciences and if the an
swer returned is not in keeping with tn,
tenor Of my remarks, then prejudice mus
have so warped your natures that YOU ar,
not qualified to calmly and deliberatel,
pass upon the question.
Mr.. President, during the exciting time
Of the Confederacy. when the Fedora
troops We're harrassing our people-whos,
homes We're left unprotected by reason o
the absence Of the male population on tn,
field Of battle,-I, personally, shielddd th
loved ones Of my white brethren.
Mr.. President, let us look about tn,
country and see if this innovation o
separating the races is in practice in any
progressive section.
1t was attempted in Texas, and yer,
properly defeated. Mississippi, that grea
and glorious part of the United States
enjoys-all alone and unenvied, the
proud distinction of compelling railroad
traversing her territory to haul a "Jin
Crow car in which the colored people arr
indiscriminately packed, without the
slightest regard for their social and moral
status, or their mental or educational at
tainmeuts. Those places which rank high
in commercial Importance and civilization
are without such law, and they seem tc
be getting along very well without it
This measure is we'll calculated to engen.
der ill-feeling
Again, Mr. President, should like the
Senators to review the history of this
State during the past twenty years. Has
1t not been clearly and prominently shown