The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-27

fects to. | simply want MIN 10 reconcile
tho two nositions-his past position and
his present position. If he has arrived
81 tbat point where he is willing to con
cede that the eDfranchlsement OF the
ignorant blacks was a biunder ana
crime. and that the Southern white peo-
nle have been forced TO relieve them
selves of that by such means as they
have had to adopt, then we are not apart
NJ all. but agreed as TO the future policy
which must obtain not only in Hawaii
but also in the United States.
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut. Mr.. Preei-
dent, | do not think that ] should be
diverted from what have TO say about
Hawaii to go back and discuss the pro
priety or the necessity of comforting suf-
frage upon the black people Of the South
at the time it was done.
Mr.. Tillman. | am not discussing that,
and | am not asking the Senator TO dis
cuss it, Mr.. President. l @pIn simply
trying To have him reconcile his present
attitude with his past attitude, or to ac-
knowledge that he was wrong once and
has got right.
Mr. Plat of Connecticut. l do not
need to do either, Mr.. President.
Mr. Tillman. l think the Senator
does.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut 1t seemed
to be, and | believe was, a necessity at
the time of reconstruction that we should
enfranchse the black population and give
them an opportunity TO vote. Having
done that, having conferred the right
of suffrage upon them, we insist that it
should not be taken away.
Nnxp ura 1.orpa hack 70 fh, Question IF
Hawaii
Mr. Tillman. Right there. if the Sen
ator will permit me- Does he object to
the franchise being taken away from
the blacks under constitutional meth
eds?
Mr. Plat Of Connecticut. ! am
afraid you propose TO take II away by
unconstitutional methods.
Mr.. Tillman. Do you object to the
white people of the South having the
same rights to govern their affairs and
maintain their civilization that you in
sist the white population in Hawaii shall
haveI
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut. l insist
that the white people Of the South shall
observe the privileges we have conferred
upon the black people of the South, and
which one of the constitutional amend
ments insists that they shall observe.
But / beg the Senator's pardon. / will
discuss this question with him at some
other time, and it will take a good while
to discuss the question the Senator is
now raising.
Mr.. Tillman. My friend. if you had
not brought my name into the discussion
and said that | would object to the atti-
tude You had taken, | certainly would
not have interrupted you. But | thought
you We're challenging me to discuss this
question, and l am ready to meet you
here or anywhere else on the question as
to whether the Southern white people
shall have the same rights you are giving
to the white people in Hawaii.
We desire to call this debate to the
attention of the people of North Caro-
lima who are now deeply interested in
q contest to determine whether South
ern white people shall have the same
rights you are giving the people in
Hawaii" No man can consistently OPP
pose the Constitutional Amendment who
fayors giving 1000 white people the right
to govern hundred of thousands of blacks
in Hawaii. II negro domination in
Hawaii is not a good thing, why should
the Republicans try to force it upon
the SO1rth?