Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-05
ELECTIONS
The Repeal Bill Debated in the Sen
ate Today.
Mr.. CHANDLER CONTINUES TO ARGUE
Why the Laws Now Operating
Should Stand.
A LIV ELY COLLOQU Y

In the opening Of the Senate this morning,
DR.. Milburn, the blind chaplain. in his
prayer. made a most touching allusion to
the life, services and death of George W.
Childs, the Philadelphia philanthropist.
while the tolling bell tells Of the passing
Of noble soul from EARTH" said he. I'VE
bless Thee for the country and national
life in which and through which boy born
in poverty and obscurity, by industry, tenn
perance and frugality. lifted himself to af-
fluence and power and shed beneficence
upon every hand. yielding happiness by the
grace and kindness Of his nature. enrich
ing all mems lives with whom he came in
contact. We render to Thee devout graft
tude that there is a land that produces under
the blessing Of Thy fatherly love. through
Jesus Christ. such types and elements Of
character. We pray that the lesson of this
mans life may be read with kindly and
reverent hearts by the young men of the
whole nation; and so may the mans death
be richer In its effects than even the beneH-
cence and sweetness of his nfe."
Resolutions from the Massachusetts, leg
isiature protesting against the cotton
schedule of the Wilson bill were laid be-
fore the Senate by the Vice President and
read and referred.
For Tariff Hearings.
Senator Hale CMe.) presented a resolu-
ton reclting that representatives Of various
Industries and Of laboring men desire to
be heard for the purpose Of presenting
their objections to the Wilson tariff bill
and directing the finance committee to give
opportunity to all pers ,ns representing
interests affected and the Industries and
labor Of the people of the United States to
be heard by the committee before 1t shall
report its action to the Senate.
Il do not ask for immediate action on
the resolution" said Senator Hale, "and
i do not know that there will be any ne
act upon it. Whatever may be reported
am not going to assume that the Senate
committee on finance in treating with the
gravest subject that comes before the Sem
ate will decline hearings. Therefore / will
ask that the resolution lie upon the table
and 1 will call 1t up in the near future for
the purpose Of making some remarks on
it,"
As to the Anti-Option Bill.
Ser rator Berry (Ark.). in order to explain
his position on the anti-option bill. made a
statement in which he declared himself
favorable to an antt-option bill which
would be Constitutional" and for that rea-
son was favorable to the George bill rather
than to the Hatch bill. If Mr.. Hatch
CudHSeS the Diip dS has OccH dAhOuhScOp 81
as to relieve 1t of its ur unconstitutional meas
ures he would gladly support 1t.
In regard to the same subject Mr.. WASH
burn (Minn) said he was not last Congress
in favor of the bill of Senator George. but
he should vote for 1t, IL 1t Is the strongest
bill that can be reported to the Senate. Il
believe now more strongly than ever, said
he. in the necessity OF a measure OF this
kind. But believe now. as / did last Con-
gress. that 1t must be dealt with under the
taxing power of the government. and that
1t must, therefore, a revenue measure,
come from the other side OF the CAPITOL.
The Federal Repeal Bill.
The bill repeating the federal election
laws then came up. and Senator Chandler
IN H. took the floor in opposition to the
measure.
question of money to the superior question
Of man and his liberty. Banks and tariffs
and stocks and trade-let them rise or let
them fall freedom is a common heritage
Controversies over silver and bonds are
incidental and ephemeral: vigilance to pro-
tect the lives Of citizens and the freedom,
purity and honesty Of the suffrage Is vital
and must be eternal, If the republic is to
live. 1 wish to speak briefly in behalf of the
colored people of the country. who stand
sadly in need Of national consideration and
national protection"
A COllOQuy With Senator Palmer.
"will the Senator say" interrupted SEN
ator Palmer Qlk). that the laws wnicn
are now sought to be repealed nave secured
to the colored people the rights which he
claims for them?'
"They have not
Then what is the use Of retaining them %
when the senator from Illinois, at the
head of the forces OF the Union army
which he commanded. failed to win a VIC
tory it certainly would have been a singular
argument to have insisted that his forces
should be disbanded and he himself dis
missed from the service"
when defeated under the circumstances
to which the Senator refers" replied Sem
ator Palmer, Il waited until I received re-
Inducements and found more favorable
opportunity for the struggle One Of the
reasons why 1 oppose these laws Is because
they are utterly useless"
II do not commend the reasoning of the
Senator that because having deliberately
adopted the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution as the last Of the victories
which the north wrested from the south
and having enacted laws which have failed
to effect the intentions Of the fifteenth
amendment, we should therefore blot them
from the statute book. and do what the
Senator from Illinois does in his new as
ment and leave the colored people Of the
southern states without ballot by which
they can protect themselves
1.-THE Senator from New Hampshire"
said Mr.. Palmer, 'is in favor Of the ff-
teenth amendment, as I take IT, but lie
favors the retention upon the statute books
Of the laws which he admits, as respects
the colored race. are worthless"
II do not admit that"
Useless then"
mo. that they have not accomplished the
desired result"
That they have failed; why retain that
which has failed?"
IF laws to carry into effect a constitu-
uonal provision have failed, the way to do
Is to continue to pass laws for its enforce
ment and to go on until that clause Ia read
Is the Senator in favor of blotting the 18th
amendment from the Constitution?
Il would no more abandon the 18th
claration Of Independence" said Senator
Palmer.
Where IL 1t to StopS
Senator Chandler, continuing his argu-
ment, reviewed the ante-war history of the
country. and then. alluding to the attempts
made by the democratic party In recent
years to secure the repeal Of the federal
election laws, said:
Where is the democratic party to stop
If tomorrow ifrepeals the election law which
was adopted to carry into effect the 18th
amendment? Will they not repeal the 18th
amendment also? II they take away the
suffrage from the black man will they not
also, little by little, in this reaction and
retrogression, come to reduce the black man