New-York tribune., 1890-06-27
FOR A FAIR AND FREE NOIE.

FOR "A FAlR AND + REE W. lh'
THE DEBATE on THE FEDERAL ELECTION
BILL OPENED IN THE HOUSE.
CoGEST AND LOGICAL ARGUMENTS OF Mb>sh>'
LODGE AND R-wELL IN SUPPORT OF THE
yiLL-MR. HEMPHILL's FRANK DELLA
RATIoN-MR. RowELL woR>TING
DEMOCRATIC OBJECT RS.
,rr TELEGRAPH TO THE TErBUNEH
washington Inn. oe-The debate in the House
on the Elections bill opened to-day with 'hree
speeches which really noteworthy wv" VI ''Vi
were delvere,. BY Republicans, and one by Deilo
crat-Mr. Hcmphill. Of South Carolina. IL hus' w
said that cogcnt and logical as were the arguments VI
Chairman Lodge and Mr.. Rowell in favor of the bhi'
neither OF them gave stronger reason why II shouu
be enacted than Mr. Hemphill, when. with much dra-
matte action and in solemn tones, he declared, III SUB
stance il not in words: We realize that the negro
Is our equal before the law. We also rcaile ih"''
he be allowed freely to vote, and to have MS Vote
honestly counted and returned, we, the whte Peopio
Of South Carolina, will be in q minority: we must SUD-
nit to that or quit the state and, In all reverence we
declaration was greeted with uproarlous Democratic
applause which lasted full minute II was declara
ton which must have been welcome to the ear OF
every who appreciated candor ana courage anu
who therefore reoiced to the gallant south caro-
linian brushing away with one bold, natural stroke
the fimSy cObwebs Of pettfoggery which he had spun
In the second half OF his speech.
The debate opened by Chairman Lodge, IN d
speech to which no abstract however fll and care
full, do justice; speech which surprised some
even Os Mr. lodges nearest friends In the House Dy
It's breadth and comprehenSveness and the force OF
its logic; a speech which was replcc with pertinent
facts and information exhibited without a trace OF
partisanship passion, a speech winch commanded
the respect of criuca! political opponents, and
awakened the warmcst enthusiasm Of political friends
H. as has been alleged any considerable lumber of
Rebublcans felt lukcwarm, that feeling had been en-
trcly dpellcd before the Massachusetts, Representa-
tive sat down: his clear analys Of the provisions OF
the BILL and the array OF facts he brought to provo
It's necessity were so convincing that its critics and
opponents in despair: and 1t was evident that no
amount of sophistry beating about the bush could
counteract the impression made. The panic into
which Mr. Flower and General Spinoa were thrown by
that part of Mr.. Lodges speech In which he dwclt
upon the practices in the city Of New York, which
were largely instrumental in Shaping The present cleo
ton law was noticeable: 1t extremely difficult
for them 70 keep still. when Mr. Lodge sought 70
In case should say that this Is the
substitution OF Of officers In the nt"rcs: of one
party another set Of officers In the interest of another
and that :he results reliable in the
than in the other desire call the attention Of the
House 70 the fact that be shown that
legal been ntorfcred wi:h In his right to
by the law appointing United States Supervisors No
be presented but in further proof Of the
that this system has not only done HARM but has
done great good :be figures which have just cited
here the OF
public who never listened u in this House With
aught but respect and who the head oi committee
which made careful examination into this very subject In
1877 The Hon. s. s. Cox. In his rcpor: chairman Of
the committee alleged fraudulent registration and fraud
ucnt voting the cities OF New.York. Philadelphia,
Brooklyn and Jersey City. took occasion to say;
whatever may be said about the United States law
elections their supervision by United States author
ity; whatever may be said the right OF State TO
regulate IN all ways such elections this must be SAID
that the administration OF the law by Commissioners Dav
export Murhcad and Allen the United States function
aries subordnaes cminently just and wise
and conducive 70 fair public expression In Presidential
year OF unusual excitement and great temptation. The
testimony Of Mr.. Davenport, the United States Com
missioner for the Southern District Of NewYok. is re-
murkabie statement which the committee would adopt
the basis Of their report to the three cities"
think no enc will look these cold figures. showing
enormous frauds committed the city New.York
fore the United States stood guard the elections
refuse say that such Legislation of
eminent which honest voting alone produce.
Mr.. Lodge then paid his respects 10 the south. in
calm, nOn-partisan statement which must have
made the OF honest Southern tngle with
shame. II was dong without particle Of feeling
which made ii all the more effective. some Of the
statements and comparisons were new For example,
in the last Congress each one Of 1jl Representatives
was backed by more votes cast and returned than
were the ten Representatives Of Georgia taken alto.
gether; and from each OF thirty Congress Districts
in the States which engaged in the Rebellion the
average returned vote was only 1.l67 votes. IN
other words, the thirty districts, with thirty votes
in the House of Representatives, cast and returned
a total Of l25, ,O15 votes, which 900 les than
the returned vote Of the three districts Of Nebraska
1000 votes less than tho returned vote of the
four districts Of Maine; nearly 10000 votes less than
the returned vote Of the Six districts of California
only 1000 than the returned vote Of Che
four districts OF Connecticut; less than half O
the returned vote OF the seven districts Of Kansas
10000 less than the returned vote Of the twelve dis
ucts Of Massacl clusetts; less than oncthiId Of Tho
returned vote Of the eleven districts of Michigan
20 900 votes less the returned vote Of the hv,
districts Of Minnesota; 100000 votes less than tn,
returned vote Of the districts of New Jersey
considerably less than one-sevcnth OF the returned
vote Of tho thirty four districts Of the state Of New
York; little more than sixth OF the returned
vote Of the twenty districts Of Ohio. and consld
eraby less than onehalf Of the returned vote Of h
nine districts Of Wisconsin
Moreover it was $4,000 votes less than the returned
vote Of the ten districts of Virginia IO7 900 votes
than the returDed vote OF the ten districts Of Ten
nessec; $4,000 votes less than the returned vote o
the nine districts Of North Carolina 10000 less thar
| the returned vote of the Six districts Of Maryland
5000 less than the returned vote Of the four district
Of West Virginia, and 293,000 votes less than the re
| turned vote OF the fourteen districts Of Missouri
1 In nd fo
excrtcd in the last Congress by the states in whcl
there reasonably full VOTE and by states who's
people, 10 a favoritc phrase OF Georgia Democrats
have lost interest in poltlcs' these facts pre-
| sented IN the Lth Congress Georgia furnished th
| chairmcn OF the following House committees: Ecc
tions (Mr. Crisp, whose district had returned 40
| votes; Postofces and Post Roads. Educatlon Re