The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-19
Political sfairs.
A Bombshell thrown among the Republicans.

substance Of the speech Of the colored sepa.
tor, Bruce, of Mississippi, in Executive
Session on Thursday, the 10th instant
which has occasioned SO much excitement
In the Republican party:
The facts are that Mr.. Bruce, the col.
ored Senator from Mississippi, did make
an earnest and animated protest against
what he regarded as the injustice perpe.
tratcd upon his race. Mr.. Bruce said
that he doubted the sincerity of the pro-
fessious of the Republican party as to the
interest which it claimed to feel for his
race. He said that while the Republican
party professed to believe in equality, he
experienced in his own person the hollow
ness Of such pretense He experienced
that no was looked upon as an inferior.
There was no real concern felt for the
welfare Of his race. Nothing done at
Washington Injured to their benefit, and
the Republican party at the South, which
was mainly composed Of his race, was
dying from neglect. They had no protec-
ton. In his State Of Mississippi the
Republican party was largely in the ma.
jority, but they were oyerawed and init.
Undated so by the master race that they
could not assert themselves.
Three times last fall he had applied to
the President of the United States and
asked that troops be employed to protect
his people in their rights. The President
had received him in the coolest manner,
and told him that he could do nothing
and that he would not use the troops. He
believed that this man Ulysses s. Grant
was responsible almost entirely for the
plight and the woes which had come upon
the Republican party and the colored peo-
pie Of the South. The Federal appoint
ments in the South were of the worst pos
sible character-corrupt, selfish and de-
signing men, who cared nothing for the
colored people but only to further their
own ends. As for himself he was sick Of
politics. He loathed and despised the
Democratic party, but he saw no alterna-
tive but to submit to it. 1t was of no
benefit to him nor to his race that he
should continue to hold his seat in the
Senate. He did not know that he would
hold it, did not know but he would follow
his impulses, resign his seat, go home to
his people, advise them to submit to their
destiny, surrender to the Democratic party,
give up politics and any claim to the hold.
ing of Offices, and ask only of the master
race that they be permitted to earn their
living and make money if they can.
Mr.. Alcorn said that he agreed with
his colleague in much that had been said,
but he did not agree with him in his cen.
sures upon the President because Of his
refusal to use troops in the South. The
President in this matter had no alternative
but to pursue the course which he had.
As to the Federal appointments in the
South, Mr.. Alcorn said they were of q
very improper character generally, and of
men whose acts were calculated to bring
the Republican party into disgrace and
disrepute.
He was asked why then did he not rec
ommend Democrats for appointment 20
the Federal Offices
He responded with much emphasis that
the present race Of Democratic politicians
in the South were men as corrupt and as
unworthy Of confidence as could be found
anywhere. He also said that Mississippi
was Republican State; that the last
election had been carried by violence,
fraud and intimidation. He said that de-
serted as they were by the Republican
party Of the North, the negroes in the
South would doubtless have to 90 to the
wall in the end, but in his opinion they
would make one desperate effort more for
their rights, as would be attested by the
lighting Of the torch and the drawing of
tho blade.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke in n conciliatory
strain. He said the Republican party in
the North was sincere in its profession for
the colored people Of the South, and would
do all in its power for their protection.
He said to Mr.. Bruce that the Senator
must remember that whenever any attempt
was made to use troops in the South it
was met with almost universal denuncia-
ton from the press of the country and
that in such matter the president ana
the Republican marty mnst nrocaed a.
cordipr to the forms Of the cons,;,n,;o,
and the laws He symnatb;,ed with ~
wrongs Of the colored neonle an, with ,hs
vron9s visited mon tbs neonla of Me-.
s;nni and II tba ;nvest;rstion wh;sh -.
% take Mace ON tho election there h.
hoped n remedy would be nrov;ded -
Mr.. Bruce said he had undoub,sd ev;
Hence which could moi he d;snrovoS ~.
.bree hundred of b;s racs had baan n s..
lered m the last camna;on in M;ss;..;nn;
IA naked in God's name wbers en,,la X X
,olored neonle loot fnr nro,ect;on 10 ~.
hi pres;dept and ,be Rsnuhl;oan 80, as
The New yorI T.:b,,ass oorra.,a paay
avs The sneecb of NJ Rruop = ,hs
Eyecutiye session os The Senate $500 - .e
WHICH nrovoLed 90 mrch a~e;..maa. "a
,reated 40 mucb con.tern.,;on smoas ~
lsaders grsw ON. &c ~ ~ se
yiction that Msssrs Was, Kal,on,. III
Packard who hal besn seerstlv fo- vsa,s
AGAINST M P;ncbbacI wa.s A.
,ermined 70 postnona ! settlsmsn. os ~
[ouisjana Senatorial arsst;on hao.aso
bav foarad ,h.t an III a--