Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-28
he Explains the Indefinite POST
pOnement of the Fed
eral Election Bill.
AN ANSWER TO THE AFRICANS,
Who Are Inclined to be Much Displeased
by the Failure of Their
Favorite Measure.
OBSTACLES WHICH COULD NOT BE MET.
Several Other Senators Discuss the Situation in Its
Various Phases
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsrArcu.l

NEW YORK, August 27.-In accordance
with request made by many negroes, the
Afro-American News Company sent out a
circular letter to several United States Sen
Rtors for the purpose of securing such infor-
nation as would enable it to ascertain the
true meaning which attaches to the sup
posed opposition of Republican Senators to
the passage of the Lodge Federal election
bill, as follows:
The probability that the Lodge Federal cleo
tion bill will not pass the Senate this session of
Congress is causing an uneasy excitement
among Afro-Americars all over the country,
and comments of displeasure are frequently
heard, many OF them being full of possible
mischief inasmuch as they attack the present
administration, and through it the Republican
party-seemingly showing disposition on the
part of the cOlored people to hold the party
guilty of being false to the pledges which they
claim it made to them.
THEIR CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT.
They refer to the attitude taken by the Ma
tional Republican legislators in the matter of
the Blair educational bill as well as the Lodge
bill being illustrative of the Republican
party's regard for the negroes rights. These
murmurs of discomfort, in many instances are
but disguised threats, which, it is promised,
will find opportunity to be made good before
1892
The Afro-American News Company is in re-
ceIpt of numerous letters from prominent
negroes which show that they are at sea as to
the meaning which is to be attached to the ac-
tion Of the Republican Senators who are oppos-
ing the passage of the Lodge bill, bill which
these negroes claim would, if passed. be of ma
tional benefit to their race. We have been re-
quested to correspond with you and ask you to
give such information pertinent to the matter
IN hand as will enable the Afro-Amerlcans to
understand the true causes underlying this op-
position to their supposed interests-why the
Lodge bill should not be made law. This is
desired so that the negroes who are becoming
dissatisfied with the Republican party's meth
ods may be made to understand that the action
OF the partys representative and great leaders
is In harmony with good faith and regard for
the peoples needs.
LETTER FROM QUAY.
the above circular letter, writes under the
caption, Personal" as follows:
know of no disposition on the part of Re-
publican Senators to antagonize the Federal
election bill. The situation is simply this:
While the majority In the Senate is not ruled
by the minority, nevertheless the latter is
strongly intrenched behind the rules and prec-
edents of the Senate; and if you will remember
the experiences of the war in attacking in
rrenched lines, you will remember that very |
decisive, courageous and united majority was |
required TO insure success on the part of the |
assaulting party. Even then it is within mill |
tary experience that five out of six such at |
tacks were failures. The Democrats can be |
ulslodged only by a change of the rules. To |
change the rules the continued presence for a |
considerable term OF AZ Republican Senators |
In favor OF change of the rules is required. |
Senator Stanford is absent in Europe. Two or |
three others of the Republican Senators are de- |
tanned at home by i'll health. OF the remainder.
some four or fve can be counted upon as hostile
10 any change in the rules You understand
Pf course, that the Senate STANDS AZ Repub.
1cans to 81 Democrats. In this condition of af- |
1alrs 1t is. to my mind impossible to effect any
Legislation for the tariff or for a revision of the
election laws except by some compromise such
as is in the order of business of resolution
which have introduced in the Senate at the |
present session. The time from now until the |
nrst Monday in December can, and undoubtedly |
VIII, be occupied in the discussion and voting |
upon the tariff bill In the
PRESENT POSTURE OF AFFAIRS
it seems to me to be of good policy to secure
what We can. The tariff bill is of vital import.
ence to the country and to the party, and if we
do not arrange to secure it now we will lose
both 1t and the election bill A very interest
ing, and in my judgment. a speech fully appre-
piative of the situation here, was delivered by |
Senator Frye yesterday, which appears in this |
mornings Record, and beg leave to call your
attention to it. While this letter is not in
tended for publication, have no objection to |
your advising your correspondents as to my DO
Etion.
The response written by Senator James
McMillin is as follows:
do not think that Republican Senators who |
are being quoted as inimical to the passage of |
an election bill are quite understood. The stu |
ton here is a peculiar one. We have under |
consideration the tariff bill the APPROPRIATION |
oils ana much other important and imperative |
legislation. By postponing the Consideration |
of the election bill until the next session of |
congress we hope to be able to secure the pass
age OF the bills referred to: Should it be de-
eided to consider the election bill now it would /
pc impossible TO secure either Its passage or
that of other bills referred to. The demand /
from the country for action on the tariff bill
may be illustrated by quotation of one of /
many letters on this subject which find on |
my table to-day, the writer being particularly
able and aggressive Republican. He says:
S"It is hard to estimate the injury that the
iRepubl blican party is suffering from the mac
F1on and Indifference OF the Senate relative to
the Mckinley bill. After its passage by the
House In the positive and
ALMOST HEROIC MANNER
IN which it was done every Republican was
9ubilant. There was life and animation |
to be seen in the face of every Republican.
THAT was over two months ago. The DELAYS
and obstacles it has met in Republican Sem
ete with Republican majority relatively much
stronger than the House, has astonished every
one. They don't and can't understand it |
Have they forgotten that the last campaign
was fought entirely on that issue; nothing else
had any hold of any importance on the public
mind"
You will see that my correspondent slludes
70 the fact that the last campaign was fought
entirely upon the tariff issue. AS party meas
ure the tariff bill is, in the judgment Of many
leading Republicans of ofparamount Importance. |
But it does not follow because the election bill
may be postponed until next December that
every Senator who favors that course will op-
pose the bill when it is considered, for the fact
Is that large majority of the Senators who |
favor the Quay resolution are also in favor Of
an election bill
Senator George F. Hoar has also written
us q letter. He says:
, / have your letter Of August lS asking me to |
give such information as will enable the Afro |
Americans to understand the true cause under |
lying the opposition to their supposed interest. |
think that such a communication had better |
be made, If at all, after the close of the session
Of Congress than at this moment. The action |
of Congress is not yet finally taken, and the
attitude OF particular persons is not as vet |
known. am much distressed at the failure of
this Congress to pass the education bill and at
the attempt to defeat the election bill. But
you must remember that every Republican
Representative, with one or two exceptions, |
was on your side. and that every Democratic
Representative, without exception, was against
You. think, when the final vote comes If the
election bill shall be lost there will be but few
Republicans against II, with the solid Demo
cratic vote their instrument. The proper
tiOn of colored Republicans who have sepa-
rated from us this matter will turn out to
be as great as the proportion of white Repub-
licans. But, as said do not want TO 60 fully
into the discussion just now.
THE NEXT SESSION.
The letter written by Senator John
Sherman, reads as follows:
During my absence an arrangement has been
made which think will secure, without doubt.