The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-18
Plantation Manners.

Since the beginning of the tariff debate
there have been some exhibitions Of bad
temper in the House. and on one or two
occasions southern democrats, when they
have denied. with considerable show Of feel
ing, statements which were not true, and
which were intended to create the impress
sion that they had not acted in a
straightforward and honorable way,
have been charged with trying to
intimidate their opponents by an
exhibition of plantation Manners
The northern congressman doesn't know
anything about plantation manners. The
idea he has Of them has been formed from
the brutal picture which Mast used to pre-
sent in Harper's Weekly as the typical
southerner, and from what he reads in the
columns Of the extreme republican papers.
As matter Of fact the manners of those
who lived upon plantations before the civil
war, and OF those who live upon planta-
tions now, are as nearly perfect as those
of any people in the civilized world. They
are the manners of gentle and
refined people, who love their neighbors and
who are always ready to do kind and chart
table acts. The people who live upon plan
tations not only have a high sense of honor
and great regard for the feelings of others,
but they are unequaled in those delica.e at
tentions to strangers and friends which
are the manifestations of a good heart and
a generous nature.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, was one of those
who made use Of the term plantation man
ners." He made charge against Mr..
Mills, OF Texas, which was not true. Mr..
Mills replied to the charge in pretty strong
terms, because his integrity had been at
tackled. But, assuming that his reply was
not as courteous as it might have been, was
his otfense, if offense he committed, any
where near as great rs that of Mr. Grosve-
nor? IL Mr.. Grosvenor had desired to do
only what was honorable he would not have
made so grave charge upon mere rumor.
A day or two afterward Mr. Walker, of
Massachusetts, became excited in debate,
and gave an exhibition of what, at the
time, were called manufacturers man
ners." 1t is worthy of notice that neither
Mr.. Grosvenor nor any other northern man
took exception to Mr. Walkers manners.
They were ready to applaud that in Mr..
Walkers manners which they condemned
in Mr. Mills.
On Friday Mr.. Grosvenor presided over
the committee of the whole, and he con-
stantly Disseminated against the democrats
and in favor of the republicans. Each one
who gained the floor should have been per-
mitted under the rule to speak five minutes.
MIR. Grosvenor stopped democrats before
they had spoken their full time, and per-
mitted republicans to speak longer than five
minutes By such unfair means he came
very nearly getting into trouble with MIR.
Mansur, of Missouri. Would any southern
man have been guilty of such injusticeq
Was Mr.. Carlisle, during his three terms as
speaker, ever guilty of any little meanness
like that charged against Mr.. Grosvenors
Two republican senator's gave an exhibit
tion In the Senate the other day of north
ern manners. Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts,.
wanted to have a resolution considered at
once, and Mr.. Plumb, of Kansas, refused to
permit the regular order to be suspended Mr..
Hoar declared that he had never sesn such
boorisbness, and Mr.. Plumb replied that
Mr.. Hoar should consult looking-glass at
once. What an exhibition of bad manners
and low wit for dignified senator's to makel
BY plantation manners the northern con-
gressmen mean southern manners. Those
who watch the proceedings of congress
have no difficulty in reaching the conclusion
that northern manners, as exhibited there.
are in no respect superior to southern man.
ners.