er,
I believe, with the entire respect of his associates on both
sides. He was afterward Register of the Treasury. His speech
and vote on the Chinese question were in contrast with those
of Senator Jonas, of the neighboring State of Louisiana. In
my speech in opposition to the Chinese bill, or that on the
Chinese Treaty, I alluded at some length to the treatment
of the Jews in the dark ages and down to a very recent time.
Senator Jonas, who was a Jew, paid me some compliments about
my speech. I said: "Why will you not remember the terrible
history of the men of your own race and blood, and help me
resist a like savage treatment of another race?" Mr. Jonas
rejected the suggestion with a great emphasis, and said: "Mr.
Hoar, the Jews are a superior race. They are not to be classed
with the Chinese."

There were several negro Representatives from the South when
I was in the House of Representatives. All of them behaved
with great propriety. They were men who took care of themselves
and the interests of their people in any debate. Mr. Rainey,
of South Carolina, had a spirited tilt with S. S. Cox, one
of the most brilliant of the Democratic leaders, in which
he left Cox unhorsed and on his back in the arena. None of
them ever said an indiscreet thing, no one of them ever lost
his temper or gave any opportunity for an angry or intolerant
or contemptuous reply.

Soon after Alexander Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy,
came to the House, in the Congress of 1875-7, unanimous consent
was asked that he might address the House at length, without
being limited by the hour rule. Judge Hoar, then a member
of the House, stipulated that Mr. Elliott, of South Carolina,
should, if he liked, have leave to reply. This could not
decently be refused, and that was granted also. Thereupon
Stephens made a powerful speech, for which he had doubtless
made most careful preparation. Robert B. Elliott then made,
on the instant that Stephens got through, an admirable reply,
of which it is great praise and still not saying too much
that it deserves to rank with the speech of Mr. Stephens.

Elliott delivered an excellent eulogy on Charles Sumner,
in Boston, which was published with those of Carl Schurz
and George William Curtis, and was entirely worthy of the
companionship.

Perhaps, on the whole, the ablest of the colored men who
served with me in Congress, although each of the gentlemen
I have named deserves high commen