The Portland daily press., 1890-07-01
YESTERDAYS DEBATE.
Southern oratory and Northern Eio-
uuence In the House.

WASHINGTON, June 30.-The debate on
the federal election bill was resumed in the
House today. Mr. Herbert of Alabama was
accorded the floor. One chapter in the
history of the country, he said. was so full
of bitter memories every American citizen
would gladly forget it If he could. 1t was
the era Of reconstruction. 1t was necessary
to look into that chapter and learn some Of
the lessons 1t taught. The passions OF war
were then still fresh and the people Of the
North were driven to approve reconstruction
legislation by just such speeches as were
made here in advocacy Of this bill The re-
suit had been that all reconstruction govern
ments, except that Of Virginia, had passed
under negro domination. Taxes had been
increased and every dollar Of the Increase
MT. Houk of Tennessee said his advocacy
of the national election law did not grow out
of any supposed emergency or necessity not
withdrawing the variety OF reasons now that
the power of the government should be as
serted. 1t had been his conviction since his
earliest reading of the constitution
THAT IT WAS A PARADOX,
inconsistent with the harmony Of the ma
| tlonal government, to leave to the states the
control of the election Of national officers. A
national election law could in no possible
way promote his political fortunes. In his
| district there was absolutely a fair cleo
| tion. The Democrats of this country did
| not want dishonest elections. False count
| ing or stuffing ballot baxes in the second dis
| trict of Tennessee would conhne the perpe-
| traitors within the walls OF .penltentiary:
| Strangers listening to this debate might
| think the object Of this measure was to ar
| rest the whole Democratic party. 1t was
| said this bill would revive race prejudice.
| He undertook to say that no race prejudice
/ xvac in nvnlvnd In this hill IL was mot race
| prejudice the Democrats were combating
| 1t was political prejudice The objection
| was not that the colOred man was black, hut
| that he voted the Republican ticket
Mr.. Coleman of Louisiana announced him
self a Republican, both from conviction and
principle, and Southern man by birth,
| education and association. He was elected
to the House as Republican. He was op'
posed to the enactment of federal election
law at this time, notwithstanding the fact
that the promoters Of this measure aimed to
secure the great desideration of a free ballot
and fair count. He did not think that this
was proper time to make this political ex-
pertinent He would heartily support 8
pationai election bill il he thought its enact
ment would secure an honest ballot but the
supposition that the passage of such meas
ure at this time would have this effect wa
based on false impressions and on Ignorance
of the true state OF affairs In some portions Of
the South. Why should the memories Of The
reconstruction period be stirred up? Thi
was not following the advice of that wonder
full statesman, Abraham Lincoln. He op
posed any legislation calculated to Great
trouble and friction between the races. III
did not wish to stimulate any trouble. III
| was as certain trouble and
BLooDsHED WOULD FOLLOW
the enactment OF this legislation and tina
the law would fail in its purpose. as he wa
that he would vote against it in this HOUSE
Ua and nrOcnarifx =
Mr.. Waddell Of Virginia said If the bi
would do only small extent Of what II
supporters claimed, it was a bill whi'
should be hailed with delight by all mel
The cry of Southern men that all they wan
ed was to be left alone, was the cry made /
) | 1861. He warned them that the nulliticatio
[ | of the colOred vote and of the constitution
, in 1890 might do for them what secession di
in 1861, and the white Republicans of th
South would not submit to be ruled by fore
] The supervisors system, he declared, wa
D | only a show for honest elections in tl
r | South. There had been more election frauC
Q in his state since 1888 than in all the yea
the last election demanded this bill. I'll
wronged people of the South whose voice
were hushed here, demanded 1t. The Inn
cent blood of John NJ. Clayton cried aloU
from the grave and demanded it.
/ Mr.. Barrows Of Michigan said that whe
q the popular vote was tampered with, re
? resentative government existed but in nam
Il Referring to the small vote by which mar
: Southern Representatives were elected
Congress, he admitted that the election
were quiet. So was a cemetery quiet
there was anything in the bill which owe
stepped the bounds Of the Constitution let
be stricken out, but let all stand together
maintaining free ballot and a fair count
q the only safety Of this republic. A erin
l. against the ballot box was the crime
q crimes. He had rather the government HI
been taken by force in 1S6i-65 than tax
/ now by fraud. He could forgive man W
J. in a moment of passion, or the hour Of rev
|. luton, fired on his flag, but the man W
v crawled to the ballot box, where repOsed I
latest born offspring Of the sovereign wi