The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-01-19
A PATRIOTIC REPUBLICAN

lin giving honor to whom honor is due
regardless of who may be affected
thereby. 1t is pleasure as we'll as
duty to applaud the action of Re.
publican Congressman from the rock
ribed Republican state of Maine
Democrats are as scarce in Maine as
the proverbal hens teeth-at least
they are few and far between.
But the other day in Congress when
the anti-lynching bill was under con-
sideration Congressman Ira G. Her
sey, a staunch Republican from Maine
astounded his fellow Republicans by
denouncing it in the severest terms,
arguing that it was not only unconsti-
tutional but that it was aimed at the
South and that It was urwise and un-
fair.
1t is impossible to give space to
the speech in detail but these extracts
will show the tenor and spirit of the
Maine statesman's remarkable effort:
Referring to the proposed bill as
it referred to the South Mr.. Hersey
said:
"The Southern states are enforc-
ing Jaws today similar to the one pro-
vided in this bill, and better than
many of the northern states are do
ing. 1t is their duty to so enact and
enforce such laws. 1t is not the duty
of congress to interfere in the work
ing out of this great problem by the
. states of the union."
. The Maine Congressman quoted
I'm Henry Grady in which that
.hless Southern orator said it was
SQuth's problem to settle the race
.on.
He continued, "since the days of
q Blaine and Grady, the sons of the
Z Blue and Gray, have fought side by
side on land and on sea, first to lib
crate the slaves of Spain, then next
the soldiers of the north and the
south, forgetting partisanship and Sec
tionalism, have borne the old flag of
the fathers to triumphant victory on
the blood-red fields of France, and
while l am speaking to you together,
the sons of the Blue and Gray sleep
side by side under the poppies of
Flanders field. Only yesterday the
path of the president was strewn
with flowers by the people of the
south. Never was this naticn more
happily united. Here in the pital
\ q reacf-l we have been spendinr
months with the great
-" civilized world. We
TO demonstrate how
rs for nations to dwell
'drden no other people bears
on none hath it ever rested
deat precedent or companionship
= south must bear this problem, the
wful responsibility of which should
ON the sympathy of all human kind,
fhe =he protecting watchfullness of
mr. alone, even unto the end
"In the afterglow of happy Christ
mas hours through which We have
est passed, when our hearts cry out
4 peace on earth, good will toward
n, men, it is no time to enact this mon
~
PTefect or result, than to fan into
lanes cane the expiring embers of race
To- Mako thc tired and bring back again
LLInterestin. .utiful southland the awful
coor, o. those days of darkness that
Byd the civil war. God help us as
biicans to forget the doubtful
rtical value of this bill and work
isether, north and south, east and
best for peace, prosperity, glory and
grandeur of united republic"
AS the speech was concluded all the
Democratic congressman rose to tehir
feet and cheered Mr.. Hersey. That
gentleman showed how deeply he
felt his responsibility and duty in op-
& posing measure that was sponsored
~ men of his own party, tears flow
ing from his eyes as he took his
neat.