The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-22
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
RACE QUESTION DISCUSSED BY
MESSRS. GILBERT AND GILLETT.
Former Governor Taylor Also De-
nOunced by the kentuckian
Assassin.
BAY STATE MANS ANSWER
TREATMENT OF NEGROES IN THE
NORTH BETTER THAN IN SOUTH.
West Point ..Extravagance" Criticised
by Cannon-S7O,O0O,OO 900 Voted by
senate without Debate.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-The House to-
day entered on consideration of the military
academy bill. In addition to the regular
items, it contains provisions for the extern
sive Improvement of the grounds and
buildings at West Point. These improve
ments are to cost So 500. 600. of which a little
over S3,OOO.OOO is appropriated in the bill.
Twenty-four of the thirty pages of the bill
were completed Mr.. Cannon. chairman of
the committee on appropriations. character
lied expenditure at West Point the
''rankest kind of rank extravaganza"
During the general debate on the military
academy bill Mr.. Gilbert. of Kentucky. pre-
cipitated a discussion on the race question
which was participated in by Mr.. Gillett of
Massachusetts, Blackburn and w. w.
Kitchin. of North Carolina. and Mr.. Gaines,
of Tennessee. Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri,
and Mr.. Gillett discussed the question of the
alleged violation of the neutrality laws in
connection with the shipment of mules and
horses to South Africa.
Mr.. Gilbert took occasion to reply to some
remarks recently made by Mr.. Gillett of
Massachusetts, Mr.. Bromwel, of Ohio and
General Funston, which he thought re-
fiected upon his State. In the course of his
remarks Mr.. Gilbert said that in Kentucky
and. in fact, in all the South, they looked
with supreme contempt upon the social
equality of the races. The most ignorant
white girl i'm his State, he said, would in
finitely prefer to marry the lowest mean
est. most ignorant white man in the world
TO the most cultivated negro in America
Gentlemen on the other side could not cry
down the faint in the blood" He recalled
the fact that when a colored man sat on
the other side not one of his colleagues in
vited him to his house. The prejudice
against social equality was as strong in the
North as in the South, he declared, and
all talk 20 the contrary was "hypocritical
rot and rant" Mr.. Gilbert then turned to
Mr.. Bromwell's fling at Kentucky politics
and gave his version of Taylors fight from
the State after the murder of Goebel He
described Mr.. Taylor's appearance at the
Philadelphia convention. chara cterizing HIM
as AN assassin who was made IAN idol in
the North"
Mr.. Gilbert's remarks drew a reply from
Mr.. Gillett of Massachusetts,. Mr.. Gilett
said he was willing to admit the prejudice
against the negro in New England He
thought that perhaps there was a greater
physical repugnance toward the negro there
than in the South. But because one man
personally felt a prejudice against the
negro he did not think he had right to
attempt TO enforce them upon others.
Mr. Bartlett, of Georgia, interrupted to
ingtOn was not refused lodgings at the
hotels of Boston.
Mr.. Gillett replied that the incident re-
ferred to occurred at Springfield, not Bos-
ton. and he explained that Mr.. Washington
was refused lodging at two hotels because
they were full and could not accommodate
him. But. he said. the proprietor OF one
of them made every effort TO secure lodg-
ing for him elsewhere and invited him TO
come to his hotel for his meals.
Mr.. Gaines, Of Tennessee, asked If the
Governor of Massachusetts when he went
to the Nashville exposition declined to take
with him member of his staff who was a
negro.
IF he did" replied Mr. Glllett. sit was
because he did not want to wound the sensi-
bilties of the people of Nashville"
Proceeding, Mr.. Gillett explained that in
New England they could understand the
prejudices against the negro and against
negro domination, but the people OF hts sec
ton insisted that social Ostracism should
not be visited on those who did not share
these ,prejudices. When negro man raised
himself above his fellows and led a pure
clean. manly life he thought his worth
should be recognized. He did not sympa-
thiZe with state of society which accepted
a man whose hands were stained with the
blood Of lynching or with election frauds
but who rejected worthy. pure man sim
ply because his color was black. He OBJ
jected to making objectionable the crime OF
color
DO not dodge the issue" cried Mr.. Gil
bert. Ibid you ever invite a negro TO your
tablet"
Il never have replied Mr. Gillett but
/ never have been mean enough 10 criticise
a man who has done so" Republican ap-
plause.l
Mr. Gillett went on 10 tell Of the high hon
ors won in New England by colored men Of
worth. including the selection of a colored
man as class orator az Harvard this year.
and concluded by saying that he did not
ask the people OF the South to put aside
their pre1udices but he did insist that they
should not ostracise others who did not be
ieve as they did.
Mr.. Patterson. of Tennessee. said he
blushed for the honor OF Massachusetts
when he heard a defense made of social
equality OF the negro and white man.
Mr.. Blackburn. OF North Carolina. made
a vehement speech protesting against the
constant Injection OF the race question into
politics in the South.