The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-09
SENATOR T|LLMAN
HIS SENSATIONAL SPEECH ON
NEGRO QUESTION.
FILIPINOS and NEGROES
He Compares the Attitude of Repub-
Iican Party Toward These Two
Races-He Declares That White
Supremacy Shall Prevail at the
South-Senate Takes up Bill for n
Lighthouse OF Diamond Shoals.
House Considers Bill for Admis
sion of Three New States.

House Considers Bill for Admis-
sion of Three New States.
Washington. May discussion of
the Philippine Dill in the senate took a
sensational turn again today. Senator
McComas. OF Maryland, referring to
the alleged cruelties of American SOL
which he deeply deplored-told of some
of the crualties which had occurred on
both sides during the civil war.
Neither side. ne said, vas to be held
responsible for these regrettable oc-
currences. az neither side approved
them
Referring to elections in the south.
Senator McCoinas sal that the sena-
| tors from South Carolina and Missis-
| sippi, Tillman and Money, cried out
| against the small percentage of voters
in the early elections in the Philippines.
the state referred to he said: I'VE be-
the state referred to he said: I'VE be-
hold senators from the two states
where there is less popular liberty than
in any others shouting loudest for con-
stitutional liberty O. the other side Of
the globe"
These remarks drew a sensational
reply from Seoator Tillman, of South
Carolina. He charged that Senator
McComas had passed over with COM
placency the 'outrages and ~iniQuities
and barbaritieS'' which had been, he
said, committed by American soldiers.
He stated tha. when light had been
turned on in full upon the Philippine
situation the American people would
see to it next November that the ma
jority in one ranch of congress would
not be committed to this Infamous
policy"
IF / can have my way" Senator
Tillman declai I'd, you shall not pass
this bill unit full light has been turned
on the Philippine situation. He de-
clared that it was no longer possible
to sneer away The responsibility for the
cruelties and :nfamies committed by
h American soldiers in the Philip
pines.
Referring TO the situation of the col
ored people in the south, Senator Till
man declared the senators from those
state were prepared to meet any legis-
lation which might be trough into
congress upon that question. He dis
cussed the situation i'll the south dur
ing n subsequent to the civil war
and declared that if it had been known
prior to the conclusion of the war that
in the south the reins of government
were to be turned over to the negroes
there would lave been inaugurated a
guerrilla warfare in The sWan1pS of the
south that would have been kept up
indefinitely.
AS he discussed the question he aid
he was scarcely able to contain him
self when he recalled the indignities
and humiliat1ons to which the people
of his state were subjected during the
reconstruction period, from 1868 to 1876
In his WI state, he said, there were
zoe, 900 more negroes than whites and
in Mississippi there were 3OO,O GOO more
colored than white people. In order to
maintain their self-respect the whites,
he declared, were obliged to take the
reins of government in the south by
whatever means they uld-eve the
shotgun a one Of the means
Referring to the reinauguration of
white supremacy in South Carolina, he
said the whites had secured a majority
OF $500. 1t might just as easily have
been, he said, $4,000 of SO, 900. They
simply got such a majority as was nee
essary.
He referring to the outrages in the
Philippines and then said he had heard
only of the application of the "sand
cure in the south. He thought the
sand cure as described was mild
When" he declared, I'VE get ready t.
put a negro's face in the sand, we put
his body there, too"
, He insisted mat the republican con.
tention vas that the negroes Of the
: south were fitted to govern in this
/ country, but that the Fi1ipinoS wer:
/ not fitted to govern themselves in the
| Philippines. In the United States he
maintained a serious problem con.
[ fronted the government-the Negro
problem-and We might better try tc
solve that thar to hunt for trouble in
the Philippines.
Throughout the SOUTH he said
there is a horror hanging over every
household for this awful fear of rapine;
and yet you turn your back upon il
and march to the east, where o muir.
der and butcher and torture the pool
!, Filipinos. AnC you are doing all this
in the name of Christianity and hui
mainly and liberty. I can see thu
5 hypocrisy oozing out Of you all over
A confedei ates," the senator de.
clared. I'VE cannot think it right to e
into the Philippines and desolate TIT
islands with fire n sword"
= Adverting further along to the situa
: ton in the south. Senator Tillman as
serted: We will not submit to negro
domination and he sooner you under
; stand that the better"
He urged That discussion OF tn,
southern race question should cease
= You are haunting u.s." said he, "abou
treatment Of the negroes Of tn,
south. hoping at the same time tina
we win not interfere with your gam,
|, OF deviltry In the Philippines. We hop,
you win help US OF the south to get rit
/. of the threaten negro domination which
hangs over US like the sword OF Damo
cles. Lynchings will continue as lonl
: as those hends rape our wives AM
daughters"