The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-05-08
Fay etteville Observer.

Fayetteville Observer.
Our Democratic Senator is already
taking q high stand-which is some
thing remarkable at such an early
stage in his career, when it is remem-
bered that the Senate has the reputa-
tion Of subjecting its new members to
a rigid novitiate. His speech against
the olsomargsrine bill is conceded to
have been tho ablest delivered in that
notable debate; and on Monday he
delivered short eXtemporaneous
speech in explanation Of his vote on
the Chinese exclusion bill which was
distinguished for its conciseness as
we'll as for the cogency OF its treat
ment of difficult subject. He is
said to have sounded the keynote Of 3
policy of far-reaching importance to
the South. He received for it the
thanks Of his Southern Democratic
colleagues and of a number Of West
eru Republican Senators. who recog
nize in his position the basis Of an
alliance between them, having as it's
object Southern support Of the Chi
nese Exclusion Act in return for the
Western opposition to the passage OF
any Federal election laws.
Here is his brief speech:
MIR. President, | do not rise for
the purpose Of making 4 speech upon
tho pending bill, but to make a state
ment in explanation Of the vote which
| shall cast. | shall vote for this
bill, but | shall vote for it reluctantlv
| shall vote for it reluctantly because
| am not at all satisfied that the best
interests of the country, considered
as a whole, requires it's passage.
shall vote for it reluctantly, also, be-
cause the cotton manufacturers Of
my State are appealing to Congress
in protest against it's enactment.
Cotton manufacturing has grown to
great proportions in my State. The
men who are engaged in this work
are among its best citizenship, and
they are doing great work in up
building that State, and want by my
votes here, as far as can consistent
ly and conscientiously, to encourage
and promote this great industry.
Now, the cotton manufacturers Of my
State and the South have in recent
years built up valuable trade, which
| believe is increasing, with China, in
the coarssr grades of this product,
and they believe, or at least fear, that
if this bill is passed it will lead 20
retaliatory action on the part Of
China, which Will Uh-vh if it doc, not
destroy this trade. | do not believe
the passage o: the bill will lead to the
retaliatory action which these manu-
facturcrs apprehend, although must
confess it may possibly have this
effect. On account OF this | shall
vote for this measure reluctantly, as
said before, because / dislike to cast
a vote which may expose this trade
to even possible danger.
! But there is another appeal which
has come to US, which, for one, find
myself una bio to resist. 1t is the ap-
peal Of the people Of the Pacific coast
1t is the people Of that section Of our
! country who have to deal with these
Chinese questions. For years they
have been face to face with it, and
they understand it in all OF its
phases. These people come to u,
and they say that Chinese immigra.
tion and Chinese settlement upon the
Pacific coast involves not only polit.
ical but social question, and tina,
the presence in any great number o.
Cinnamon there menances not only
the peace and order and tranquility
of society, but their very civiliza
ton.
II cannot understand and the peo
pie of the South cannot understand
the pre- judics OF the people OF thu
Pacific coast towards the Chinaman
| both as a man and a laborer. We dc
not share in it. There is no preiu
dice Of that sort in my section, OF
the contrary, there are many in m,
State who would be glad to see th'
Chinese leborers come among them
and supplement at least the very in
efficient farm labor that we have
While we do not understand tn,
rejudice Of the people OF the Pacific
coast towards the Chinese we know
the fact that it exists, and we believ'
.
cause the people Of the Pacific coas
are chiefly concerned in this mxttcr
we are ready to join with them il
any determination Of this question
which their long experience in deal
ing with it may suggest as being il
the interests Of the people Of that sec
ton, and rs just and right.
Mr.. President, we have a problem
in the South, also a great social an
political problem, with which we ar
struggling, and with which we hav
been struggling for the past thirt.
years. The people OF the balance 0
the country cannot understand tn
feelings and the memorable purpos
Of the South with reference TO tn
negro question. They think that ou
attitude towards the negro is in
spired by prejudice and hostility
That is a mistake. We have no pre-
judice, and We have no hostility tC
ward. the negro. Our attitude to
wards him is actuated solely by th
Z desire to preserve our civilization an
to promote the welfare Of both race.
D II we are permitted in the South t
. deal with and to settle the negr
qusstion in our own way, with III
. necessary interference from the ba
0 ance OF the country, We will settle
not only in the interest Of the whit
= man, but We will settle it in the il
z tsrest Of the negro, and we will Sc
tie it in the interest OF the social, tt
:, intellectual, and the materia! pr
t gross, not only OF the South but I
the whole country. II the North An
the West and the East are determin ns