The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-01
CONGRESSMAN GEORGE TOMBSTONE
Makes q Thrilling Speech In Congress and
Is highly Commended.
ISnecial to News and Courier. |

Especial to News and Courier
WASHINGTON, May 25.-While the
politicians in the Senate were strug-
Cling with the silver question the
members OF the House were fighting
phantom force bill. On the PROPOSE
ton to appropriate 100000 for the col
ored mans department at the Worlds
Fair bitter partisan discussion en-
sued.
Representative Johnston, Of Indiana,
a young Republican who represents
President Harrison's district in Con-
gress, made a regular "bloody' shirt"
speech, with the probable intention of
reminding the Southern delegates to
Minneapolis that it is their duty to
stand by President Harrison, the cham
pion of the force bill. Gen. Hooker,
of Mississippi, made patriotic speech,
defending the Southern people, black
and white, and denounced the effort of
the young man from Indiana to revive
sectional feeling at this late day.
For some time there was considera-
BILE excitement in the House, and a
number of stormy scenes occurred.
The more prudent Republicans con-
demned the course of Johnston as i'm
polite and uncalled for. On the other
hand it gave the Democrats an oppor-
tunity to appeal to their Farmers Alli-
ance friends, who are disposed to drift
away from the Democratic moorings.
Thousands of copies of Johnston's
speech will be Immediately printed
and distributed throughout the South
ern States for campaign effect.
After Gen. Hooker was through with
the Indiana Johnston, Representative
George Johnstone, of South Carolina,
challenged certain statements which
his Republican uamesake had made
rejecting upon the people of the Pal
metto State. Mr.. Johnstone was al
lowed but three minutes to speak, but
in that brief period he delivered one OF
the most scathing rebukes to the lndI-
ana Congressman ever heard in the
House OF Representatives. With con
siderable feeling in his voice and ges-
lures that could not be misunderstood
the South Carolinian proceeded to ar
raign the protege of President Har-
rison. Said he:
"My conception, Mr.. Chairman, Of
the grandeur and the destiny of this
country and my conception of the dig
nifty of man forbid me to reply to the
gentleman from Indiana in the terms
! in which he addressed this House.
He assumes to speak for the Republi-
can Administration. AS an American
citizen I deny the fact that he does. /
do not believe that there exists to-day
a Republican Administration which
would allow the gentleman from Indi-
ana, in the terms which he used, to be-
come spokesman. They are peace
makers, the sworn protectors of the
liberties and rights of the American
people, not disseminators Of discord.
But, sir, to show how far he has gone
! wrong, how far he is trespassing upon
the courtesy of the Democratic House,
and has permitted bis viperous tongue
to SANDER the people of the section
that I represent, the State which l
represent, I beg but moments time
to call the attention Of the House to
the facts underlying his words and to
give hiR and the country the true his
tory of that which he seeks to detail.
I challenge him, sir, here and now in
the face of the American people to de-
ny that it was Republican Supreme
Court, composed of a Republican ma
tive Carolinian, a Republican negro,
and a Republican imported from tie
North, which determined the question
Of the validity Of the vote of South
Carolina in 1876. If that be so, and l
challenge him now and here to rise in
bis place and deny it, his slander, com
ing with the venom that it did from
his serpent tongue, falls back with its
malignity buried in his own bosom"
Mr.. Johnston, of Indiana: THAT is
I understand the gentleman to deny
the allegation and defy the alligator j
Mr.. Johnstone, of South Carolina
There is no alligator here; hear but
the serpent's hiss. All, Mr. Chairman
permit me to state that the gentleman
from indiana, after having INDUCED
in the bitterest vituperation against tht
, Democratic party throughout America
has been able to instance but one place
the 7th district of South Carolina, il
which he says specifically that th'
rights of the colored man have beer
subverted, and in the same breath il
which he makes that statement he tell
, the country that at the time to which
be alludes Democratic House seated
the Republican nominee upon the con
test made.
lone word more, Mr.. Chairman.
had imagined that the judicial oflic
! is a sacred one. I had imagined tha
: no Judge with the spirit Of right i'm
8 planted in his bosom, with a broa'
T conception of the judicial character
= would permit himself to sit in judg
E ment upon case not yet heard and t.
t deliver decree therein. But that i
the position in which the gertlemal
from Indiana stands. He is mem
Der of the committee on elections witt
t contest pending in the 7th district
South Carolins with not a syllable G
{ testimony. Yet before the committee
With the case urheard, he violates tn