The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-27
TILLMAN TIRED OF TAUNTS.
WARMED UP IN THE HAWAIIAN
BILL DISCUSSION.

inc Hropefty Quahhcati0n Pro-
vision for the Benefit of the Ne
grO-Formal Discussion of the
Quay Matter Begun by MIR. TurIey
of Tennessee Opposing the Seating
of Mr.. Quay.
Washington, Feb. 26-Formal discuss ion
of the right of former Senator QUAY to
seat in the Senate as a member from
Pennsylvania was begun to-day by Mr.
Iuriey of Tennessee in a constitutional ar
Sument against the seating of Mr.. Quay.
Consideration of the Hawaiian govern
ment bill brought out lively discussion
between Mr.. Tilman of South Carolina
and Mr. Speoner of Wisconsin, in which
the former admitted the ballot boxes had
been stuffed. and negroes had been shot
in the South to maintain white domina-
ton. An amendment was made to the
bill striking out the property qualification
for voters for members of the legislature
but little other progress was made.
Mr. Frye of Maine reported the shipping
subsidy bill.
The Quay Resolution.
Mr.. Turley, who prepared the majority
report of the committee on the Quay reso-
luSon, then spoke. He said The Governor
under the constitution, was powerless to
fill the vacancy, and his action was 'in
the teeth of every provision of the Con-
stitution bearing ON the subject"
Mr.. Turley agreed that the representa-
tion in the Senate from each state ought
at all times be kept full, but he did not
believe she trainers of the constitution had
intended deliberately to confer upon some
body else the duty to fill the vacancy in
case the Legislature failed to perform its
duty.
1T is not possible" he said, ''to coerce
the Legislature or to coerce the people, and
when they fail of their duty its place
where our system breaks down.
Mr. Turley then entered upon a detailed
discussion of the constitutional and tech
nicai points involved in the case, his de-
sire being, he said, to present every legal
phase of the question.
Should BE Put on Notice.
"Bvery state" he said, "should be noti-
fed in language that cannot be mistaken,
that its permanent representation In this
body shall depend upon its electing a Leg
islature that win do It's duty /
Let it once be understood" he conlin-
ued " that these contests are not personal
questions, and will be decided on legal and
constitutional grounds, ana the bringing
of contests will soon cease. In my expert
ence | cannot now recall an honest diyIs-
ion Of a Legislature on party lines There
are nearly always three or more ambit ious
ilot IN, ~,
ali the trouble. In not one single instance
in seventy-five years has a senator been
admitted here who was appointed by the
state executive after the Legislature had
had an opportunity TO elect; and never in
the history of the government has can
didate been seated when the vacancy oc-
Cured during the session of the Legisla-
ture."
On unanimous consent the case was
then postponed
The Hawaiian Bill.
When the Hawaiian bill was taken up
Mr.. Cullom offered several minor amend
ments, and one. striking out the property
qualifications of those who desired to vote
for representa- tives and senators in the
Hawaiian Legislature.
Mr. Tilman argued that his amendment,
substituting the suffrage provisions of the
constitution of South Carolina, was in all
senses a better provision than that Of
Tered by the committee reporting the bill
What South CarOIininns Have Done.
Mr. Tillman said: "The people of South
Carolina, in their constitution have done
their level best to prevent the 'niggers'
from voting. What / now ask you TO
do is to give the Kanakas and Portuguese
of the Hawaiian Islands the same power
of suffrage as we in South Carolina have
given the 'niggers.' "
a ~ Mr.
Mr.. Tillman said that the $500 property
qualification had been put into the South
Carolina constitution for the benefit of the
negro. mo provision was needed for the
whites" said Mr. Tillman, because the
whites would get through. anyhow. We
have some conscience in the South as to
the treatment of the 'nigger' You have
been sneering at us a long time, and l
don't like it,
Mr. Spooner deprecated a discussion of
the racial question, and added:
THE Senator has sold that the people
of South Carolina have seduously exclud-
ed the negro vote. They are now accom-
piishing their purpose through the. state
constitution, but they did not always do
IL by constitutional amendment"
Adverting 90 the pending amendment of
Mr. Cullom, Mr.. Spooner said:
Lay Aside the Bloody shirt.
II don't like a property qualification FOR
voters. There is something of reason in
an educational qualification, but manhood
suffrage is one thing and dollar suffrage
is quite another" He then appealed to
Mr. Tillman to lay aside the bloody shirt
Mr.. Tillman replied that his only rea-
son for rehabilitating the bloody shirt
before it was finally and irrevocably laid
at rest was that he wanted the position
of the Southern people to be understood
I'm getting tired OF these taunts and
sneers," said he. you won't let us
alone"
"The Senator won't let us let him
alone" suggested Mr.. Spooner amid
laughter.
In every state where the whites have
divided politics between the Democrats
and Populists-and IL is so In every South
ern state except South Carolina, the mig
gers held the balance Of power. As such
they stand there as menace to a pure
suffrage and 70 good government, because
they are purchaseable quantity, educated
or uneducated.
I'VE are charged with fraud and cor
rup;on and ballot box stufiing. Finally.