Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-06-30
The Election Bill.

After the GAzE1TE's report Of the Coz
gressional proceedings closed on Saturday
speeches on the federal election bill were
continued in tbs House.
One of the principal speakers on the re-
publican side was the rebid, bloody shirt
orator from Iowa-General Dave Henderson
who made a vile, sanderous speech
against the people of the South. He read q
paragraph from the Washington correspond
ence of the A exandria GAZETTE, in which
Mr.. Mills, Of Texas, is made TO say that if
the election bill passfs it would increase the
death rate largely in the South, the infer
ence being that federal supervisors would
be shot. Mr.. Henderson made great fuss
over this paragraph. Several democrats
arose and said that Mr.. Mills was rot pres
ent. Mr.. Henderson replied that he was
sorry, as he would like to know whether
MIR. Mills said this or not Dir. Henderson
got go radical toward the close OF his fiery
haraneue that he declared he would favor
absolute control of Congressional electione,
and If necessary every ballot should
he cast and counted If it took
killing bullet to do it. Mr.. Her
derson said the object of the bill
was no. to throttle liberty as come
had been bold enough to say, but that
the broadcast liberty shall obtain whenever
a citizen seems to exercise bis higgest right
nnder God. He declared that Grover Glove
land had no right 10 bic seat in the White
House, and that the democratic party had
not had an honest majority in the House in
twenty-five years.
MIR. Ewart, of North Carolina, republican,
opposed the passage OF the bill. He was
aware of the penalty he should pay. Uh-
fortunately, politics had come to such
pass That under the rule of King Caucus
men would vote for measures th&t deep
down in their hearts they did not believe in ,
They knew deep down Ia their hearts that
this was as damnabe and vicious piece OF
| legislation as ever was put on the statute
book As TO the Negroes political rights,
speaking for his own State, he unhesitating
" asserted that no republican in the State,
black or white, was prevented from casting
his vote, The elections there we're absolute
Iy fair. There were men in the South who
hat ed the negroes and abused thom. Some
times they were punished and sometimes
not. But the entire people of the South
should not be blamed for the acts of
few lawess men. He was sick and
! tired OF this sentimental talk OF the
negro problem. There was no such prot
lem. 1t was delusion to suppose the ne
gro was voting the republican ticket solidly.
He was doing nothing OF the kind. Many
Of Them were voting the democratic ticket,
aud it was getting more and more difficult
every year for the republican party to con-
troll the negro. He made strong plea for
the Blair educational bill, and attacked the
republican party for its failure to carry out
its pledges TO the southern republicans.
| no
terest in, and he bad no hesitation in saying
that not tbree-.entbs of the negroes Of the
South would vote with the republican party
if an election were held tomorrow. He az
pssIed to the republicans TO leave the South
alone, il they would not educate it. The
appointment of supervisors ard marshals III
the overwhelmingly black districts would
result in riot, rapine and disorder. 1t was
said that 1t was scandal thu. frauds exist
ed. That was so but it must be remember
ed that the rights of the people were not
protected by the United States, but by the
States, and more especially by their own
ability He should prefer to see more prac-
ticel sympathy and less sentimental gnsh.
| But IL was said Is there 10 remedy.
! There was, and that was to mind your
own eiIairs and treat the coored man with
wise and salutary neglect. As to tho talk
of no republicans coming up here from the
South, why North Carolina sent 80 many
republicans mere "a the great State Of lodi
anna Laughter The votes of the south
ern republicans had organiz ID the House.
More OF them would continue to come here.
and some time they may be- able to secure
something more from he House than the CON-
mit,ee on expenditures in the Postoffice De-
partment. He also asked why the party
had not Kept 10 pledge to remove the tc-
bacco tax. Thess were practical things
which would bsn, fit the southern republl-
cans With a federal election biz. they
might be in ths position OF the Italian On
whose tombstone was this epitaph: Il wa7
well and wanted TO feel better; took
physic, and here am" Laughter
BE road from number OF letters from promi-
mont North Carolina republicans TO show that his
course was endorsed there. He declared, in con-
cusion, that he woud not vote for bill that
would humilate and disgrace his people, and be
csuse of unutterablc woe to them. If that wcre
treason to p ,rty to which no had always been
loyal they conld mako the most Of it.
Mr. Ewart in conclusion said that whilc no
spoko only for himself, yet he knew there we've
other Southern republicans who would vote
against the bill lie knew also of still others who
wanted to do the Same thing, but thoy were
afraid of party pressure, and would probably have
to 90 with the meu who are trying to force
through this unwisc, unjust mcasarc. It was
really perncious measure and ought not to be
pissed He Realised that in taking such posi-
tioa he might have to politically sacrifice him
self in the House, bat it mattered not He would
do his duly, but never by his vote or voice would
he supp ,rt a measure III It tended to opple.s and
h lmiliate his people
The speech of Mr.. Ewart against tho federal cleo
tinn bill is regarded as being thus far the mo
eff, ctivc protest agai 81 the measure
Storms.