Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-18
ELECTIONS BILL
Causes Lively Debate in the Senate-Mr.
Dolph Taken to Task.

WASHINGTON, December li.-Ine
Senate, with small attendance of
members, proceeded with the usual
routine business of the morning hour.
When Mr.. Quay called up the bill
providing for the sale of the old Gus
tom House building at Erie, Pa, Mr..
Blair protested against giving time to
such unimportant matters while so
many bills of national Importance were
pending, and said If the Senate could
do nothing else during the present ses-
sion but change its rules it should do
that, and future Senators could then
proceed to do something for the cpun-
try.
Mr.. Teller remarked that if the gen
tleman was desirous Of changing the
rules he had so FAR given no intimation
of it except by getting up and reading
lectures to the Senate.
Mr.. Ioar asked unanimous consent
that on Friday next, at 3 p. M. the de-
bate on the election bill should be con-
sidered closed. This was met by a
chorus of objections from the Demo
Gratis.
Mr.. Hoar-I would like to inquire
what Senator objected.
Mr.. Cockrell-I did for one.
Mr.. Hoar-Will the Senator agree
upon time?
Mr.. Cockrell-Not now.
The morning hour having expired,
the Senate resumed the consideration OF
the Election bill.
Mr.. Dolph continued his speech OF
Yesterday on the subject. Mr. Dolph
held it TO be the duty of Congress, with
malice toward none, and with charity to
all =" TO exercise To their fullest extent
its powers under the Constitution TO Sc
cure to every citizen OF the United
States, native or foreign born, white or
black, rich or psor, the free exercise OF
his rights under the Constitution.
Mr.. EuSts said he would put ques-
tion to the Senator from Oregon, ana
would ask a frank answer to it. The
question was whether, il the immigra-
tion of Chinese has been prohibited, II
there were not million and hall
Cinnamon in Oregon who had the right
of suffrage, and who established in
Oregon Chinese State Government,
and the people Of Oregon had over
thrown that Chinese Government, and
had re-eStablished white political supre-
macy, would he. (Mr. Dolph), in such
case advocate the passage OF law by
Congress, the intent and effect of which
would be to encourage, TO stimulate and
/ to sustain those Cinnamon in their effort
to recover political power on race lines?
/ Mr.. Dolph said that that was precise
/ ly the argument made on the Demo-
cratic side of the chamber.
Mr.. Eustis-Will the Senator answer
my question.
Mr.. Dolph-I am not going to be in
terrupted.
Mr.. Eustis-But | request the Sena-
tor from Oregon TO answer my ques-
tion.
Mr.. Dolph-I will answer it in my
own way, but will not stand up to be
catechiSed. | repeat that that queS-
tion or that speech is precisely the ar
gument used on the other side of the
chamber by almost every Senator who
has discussed this bill. | simply tell
the Senator from Louisiana that the
proposition itself is prcpoStcrous.
The Chinese do not ask to become citi-
zenS Of the United States. They do
not come here for the purpose OF becom-
ing residents of the country. But |
will tell the Senator from Louisiana
that the people OF Oregon will never
raise a hand against the government OF
the United States. They never will
undertake. to destroy this Union. They
will never night against the flag of their
country. The Son,ttor cannot conceive
of a contingency in which they VIII not
stand by the flag. Now ! will ask the
Senator n question.
Mr. Eustis-I would prefer that you
answer my question.
Mr.. Dolph-I have answered it salts
factorily to myself.
Mr.. Eustis persisted inohiS efforts to
have his question answered more direct
ly. but without any more success.
Then Mr.. Morgan took the floor, and
quoted a clause from the Constitution
of Oregon, restricting the suffrage to
white citizens, and section from the
statutes of that State prohibiting the
linter-marrage of whites and negroes,
Indians or Chinese, and he closed with
AN exclamation against hypocrisy.
''If Fred Douglass" he said, "the
ablest and most respectable colored man
in the country, were to go to Oregon
with his white wife, whom he had mar
ried in the District of Columbia, the re-
lations between him and his wife would
be pronounced by the courts of Oregon
as adulterOuS, and he would go to the
penitentiary (and his wife along with
HIM for violating the law of that hui
name and lovely State"
After arguments against the bill by
MesSrs. Kenna, Reagan and Butler, Mr..
Coke obtained the floor, and the Sen
ate adjourned.