The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-12
REPUBLICANS MUST BE PRESENT.

DuI ne WOULD insist on having the COM
pany OF bis friends on the other side. They
could not expect u 20 TO their committee
rooms or their houses. and smoke their
cigars In peace and comfort, whiis the dem
ocrauc senator's were at their post OF duty
On the picket line" They would have TO
have company, and if the republican sen
ators adopted the resolution, they would
nave to expect TO carry it
OUT. And 50 he gave notice
now that whenever he believed that quo
rum was absent from the Senate chamber
he should make that point, and have the
absent senators brought back from their
places OF delightful retirement, 50 that they
should be at the pains OF listening to the
arguments which it cost the democratic SEN
ators SO much pains to make. That was
fair ami right, and he had merely risen
Tor the purpose of serving that notice.
The discussion on Mr.. Plumb's resolution
was Kept up (amld considerable excitement
on the floor and in the galleries. until
O'CLOCK when u went over without action.
THE ELECTIONS BILL TAKEN UP.
The elections bill was then taken 10 and
Mr. wilson Of Iowa addressed the Senate in
It's advocacy. When the people had given
their Endorsement to the fourteenth amend
ment to the constitution, he said
which declared that all men were
created equal, they had provided
Tor the observance and enforcement
OF the amendment by giving congress the
power to enforce its provisions. Was the
question now presented a race question?
NO. What was it which forced itself upon
the attention of congressl The answer
would come with directness and force in
one word-duty. Why dutyl Because the
constitution had eliminated from the
case all of the elements of race, color
or previous condition of servitude. II the
rights OF United States citizen guaranteed
to him by the constitution were abridged
by a foreign nation, the power Of uegotia-
ton or, If necessary, of war would be ap-
piled. If it We're done within our own
jurisdiction, then duty and legislative oaths
demanded legislation on the subject.
THE OLD CHESTNUT REPEATED.
In several Of the states the right of suf-
frage had been abridged, and thus, not only
the right of the individual cit zen had beel
outraged, but the equality Of the states in
the matter of representation had been in
vaded and, in fact, denied. Mississippi and
South Carolina, with vote of 1871, 1879, sent
fourteen members to the House of Repre-
sentatives, while Iowa, with voting popu-
lation of $685. sent but eleven mem
oers. In the name not only of
the state of Iowa, but, of its individual citi-
zaus, he hoped that en- earnest effort
would be made Co remedy this fragrant in>
justice The people or the country would
not believe that the people Of Mississippi
and South Carolina were as free to use
the ballot as were the people
of Iowa. Nor would the people
be content until absolute safety was assured
to the citizen in his use of the ballet. aad
until fairness and good faith were shown in
the counting of the same in every state in
the union. When this end should have been
reached, then the country would have a
free ballot aud a fair count; and not until
then.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE.
The interests of parties and the fortunes
OF political leaders sank into utter insig-
nif1cance in the presence of such an issue
No more important subject now COM
mended the attention OF the people of the
republic. How would congress deal with
the subjectg Would partisan passion aid
in this solution? He thought not. A little
conserN alive consideration would disclose
that the perplexitfes which surround the
subject had their origin in this character
ana passion, and ms cad of being a help.
would prove hindrance to their solution.
The constitution had determined who were
citizens, and the character and extent of
their rights and privileges
OBEDIENCE TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Obedience to the constitution was the
duty of the citizen; it was the duty OF the
state. The republic would not abandon the
principle of equality upon which it rested,
and to which it owned its Phenomenal
progress. Fraud, intimidation, force and
assassination might for a time prevent free
and equal use of the ballot. Such instru-
mentality might prolong the journey the
republic must take before it reached the
end which would give it peace.
MUST DO RIGHT.
What must the country do3 1t must do
right. Let every citizen, be no white or
colored, cast his vote as is his right and
have it counted as it is cast. IL congress
obeyed the dictates OF duty it would estab-
lish peace throughout the republic. If it
refused it would but involve the country in
the perils Of retributive justice, which was
ever the ally Of the oppressed.
BAYoNET FOR LIVERY BALLOT.
Mr.. Frye said that in his speech of
few days ago the senator from Virginia (Ar.
Daniel, had made reference to the Lynde
report. The reference to it seemed to point
to the conclusion that he (Mr. Frye Joined
in the report. Mr.. Frye explained that him
self, Mr.. Fornev. and Mr.. Lynde hal COM
posed the subcommittee sent to New York
by the For5y-ffth congress to inyesti-
gate Supervisor Davenport. Mr.. Lynde had
drawn up and signed a report, containing
his own views. II had been presented to
the House, ordered printed and RECON-
mitted. 1t had never seen the light of day
from that hour to this. Mr. Frye then
passed high euloRium upon Supervisor
Davenport, and went on to say that the
pending bill was not one-tsnth part string
ent enough, not one-tenth part drastic
enough in its provisions. II in
order to secure the right of
the American citizen TO freely
cast his ballot and have it counted as cast,
it was necessary to put bayonet behind
every ballot, he would put a bayones be-
hind it. Mingled applause ana misses in tho
galleries, which was promptly suppressed
by the Vice President.
DANIEL TAKES UP THE POINT.
Mr.. Daniel commented upon Mr.. Frye's
declaration as TO aSsociating a bayonet with
every ballot, and that suffragej should be
deposited at the muzzle of gus. That, he
said, was the senator's Mr.. Fryes) concep-
ton of n epublic-bayonet and ballot side
by side. But that was not the conception
of republic which its founders had, and
was not the conception Of a republic which
the American people had to-day.
Mr.. Frye-I said IF it was necessary to
secure a free ballot"
Mr.. paniel-There is much virtue in an
eff" This bill has got n bayonet with
every voter, if the supervisor of elections
chooses to put it there.
GoTHAM's ELECTION Reform.