The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-20
NO cOOD CAN COME Of It
Senator Stewart Expresses Some
Sound Opinions on the Parti-
san Election Bill.
1t Would Once More Fan to Life
the Dying Embers of
Sectionalism.
Eminent Republicans Who Opposed the
Force Bill Of '75-Roar Was
Among Them

WASHINGTON. Dec. 19.-In the senate
Stewart made an argument that an attempt
to execute the force bill in the south would
be disastrous to both races. He was
friend of the colored man and deeply SYM
pathized with him, but could not ask him
to put his life in jeapordy in order to fight
u political battle for his (Stewart's) ad-
vantage. He was equally friend to the
white man and desired to refrain from any
act which might justify the white man in
making war upon a defenseless race which
congress enfranchised. Whatever was
done in the matter of the protection of suf-
frage in the south, unless done through
the voluntary action of the people Of that
section. would have to result in one of two
things. If the negro was protected by force.
the same force would inevitably be driven
to the necessity of destroying his enemy.
That involved the enslavement and final ex-
termination of the whites. The employ
ment of force would result ultimately in
the determination of either blacks or whites.
II military power was to be used in execu-
ton of the pending bill, then the bill should
be defeated. If it was to be dead
letter why pass it? Public opin-
ion at the south was entirely
against it. Instead of protecting the colored
man it would bring upon him persecution
and misery, il not death. No assumption
of party necessity could justify suoh an
act. 1t was the plain duty of the senate to
trust to natural causes in the hope that
they would remedy the evil. The bill
ought not pass because it never would be
nfnpCa1 hooQrco ~ xuo11l1 IL ~
southern whites, because it would increase
sectional anlmosity and kindle anew dis
cords of the past.
Stewart recalled speeches in opposition to
the force bill of rs, made by Senators Hoar
and Hawley, then representatives. Among
those voting against that bill Stewart re-
called Foster, Garfield, William Walter
Phelps. kasson and Kellogg. He suggested
that the supervisors and other officers would
become marked men and from the report
of investigating committees and all knowl-
edge obtained during the past twenty years
it was plain that their fate would be, un-
less congress was disposed to proceed tc
remedy under the constitution, that of de-
nying representation on account of exclu-
sion from or obstacle to the exercise OF
AAoAeAAoo. no ouAy Ielueuy tudG eXlSLeQ
was in the enforcement of the laws already
on the statute books, and in the assurance
that no pressure from outside would be ex-
ercised.
In his judgment the solid south was main
tanned by the use of the cry that it was
intended, on the part of those who con-
trolled the general government, to interfere
with their local affairs. The moment such
cry was effectually proved to be without
foundation, the south could not any longer
be kept solid. The sectional party there
had already begun to disintegrate. That
disinteRration must necessarily bring about
protection to the negro vote. The organi-
zation now irresistible in some states in
suppressing that vote would be among the
earliest to bid for it when they found it
necessary for their existence.
Hoar had the provisions of the force bill
of rs read for the purpose of justifying
opposition to it by himself and other repub-
licans and to show that there was no incon-
sistency in his support of the pending
measure.