The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-01-31

lAIemnhis Co.nmereiaLl

George of Mississippi. though none
have done as much as he nor quite so
we'll Advanced in wars as some of
them are, they, nevertheless. in the
very serious bout that occurred in the
Senate took turn in the debate which.
lasted for thirty-six hours, with the
baoyaney and alacrity of Young men.
Early in its inception senator Hamp-
ton whose approaching retirement
from public life every thoughtful per-
son regrets, made avery telling speech.
upon which The Charleston News aud
Courier compliments him in terms of
deserved approval and eulogy. ut
was not long speech it says, "but
it was devoted to point to which lit
tie attention had previously been
directed /; to-wit, the disastrous effect
of the measure on the safety and pros
perity of the colored people. lie
showed that, while the bill was calcu-
lated to work mischief to all sections
of the country, aud to imperil the lib
critics of all the people, the eolored
people, especially at the South, would
suffer more than any other class.
The TINES quotes the close of Sena-
tor Hampton's speech, the patriotic
fervor of which will deeply move all
hearts not distorted by partisanship or
soured by sectional hate. No purer
patriot, no one with higher sense Of
public duty, nor warmer friend of the
negro race lives than Gen. Hampton
BY the side of these sentiments all
other influences and motives, personal
ambition, love of high station, are as
nothing to him:
The fears that express as TO the
effect the passage of this bill would
have are neither idle nor groundlcss,
aud 10 show that they are shared by
others quote a recent utterance OF a
distinguished divine, and an earnest
friend of the colored people, the Right
Reverend Bishop Northrop, of the
Catholic Church. Speaking in oppo-
sition to this bill, he used the follow
ing language:
"Ihe race prejudice is excessive aud
wrong. But prejudice is unreasoning
aud unreasonable. Social ayersions
are more likely to be obliterated by
time and education than by coercion
Social aflnities or antagonisms, moral
mental, or physical, cannot be annulled
by Federal interference. The pending
bill would prove a harmful irrlIant
tending to solidify the South, even in
the border States, where the Republi-
can party has been gaining ground
until this discussion induced the late
reaction. Tie best men of the South
are showing a growing appreciation
of the schools and colleges for the col
ored race. Never in the hist ory ol
the world did any nation have within
itself the opportunity of uplifting such
a mass of Ignorance, SO plastic, dOcile
and receptive, an opportunity which
is more and more appreciated in Tho
South. The whites are the natural
friends and helpers of the blacks. The
call of Providence is for the South and
the North heartily TO cooperate IN
this great work. A school like that
at Hampton is II splendid object lesson
to the South, an institution which Vir
ginians now commend as cordially ~
New Englanders. Let well enough
alonew
Mr.. President, these are words oI
soberness aud of truth, and II will be
well to heed them while there is yel
time to do SO. | concur fully In the
opinions so admirably expressed by
this reverend gentleman, aud | trus
that they may have due weight here
for he knows whereof he speaks. /
the people demand the passage of thiI
bill or one of a similar character, yot
may be sure, sir, that their demant
will be obeyed by their Representa-
tives. But If the statement made re
Gently by Repub lican paper is cor
rect, of the sixteen hundred and ninety
eight petitions and memorials in rcla
ton to this bill sent to this Congress
only nine have been IN favor of 1T
passage if we are to judge of popular
sentiment by these petitions we mus
conclude that there is an overwhelming
public opinion in opposition to thi'
measure, and | have no doubt tina
such is the case.
Many of my constituents have urget
me in their behalf and for the sake o
peace in the State to oppose this bill
know not, sir, If anything have sale
or might say can exercise any innu
ence on the determination of this ques
ton, but | express the fervent hop
that the people of both races whom
represent here may be spared the evil
which would inevitably result shoult
the bill pass.
Mr.. President, my public career will
in all human probability soon clos
forever. During its long continuance
have never sought Office. ! have &C
cepted il only when my people calle'
on me to serve them, and shall retir'
to private life without one regret, saw
that caused by the severance of th'
many ties of friendship formed here
No political ambition can animate IN
In the future, as none has done in th'
,aet Tho sole ambition that has pvpl
stirred my heart has been to scry,
faithfully the people, who, in that pas
honored me by their confidence ant
support, and, while doing this, to pro
mote the welfare of our common coun
try.
During the time | have had th'
honor to represent my State In thi
body not one word of recrimlnation
nor one calculated to keep alive sec
tional animosity, has escaped my lips
The thunders of war had scarcely
J ceased TO reverberate when l., in oppo
sition to the feelings and apprehen
sions of many of my fellow-citizena
urged them, not only to deal justly
with the negroes, but to accord Il
them all the rights which would nee
cssarily follow their enfranchisement
From that day to the present l hav'
steadily and constantly advocated th'
same policy, not because 1t was polite
but because it was right. Any iunu
cnce which may be able 10 exercise