The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-05
The Utah Commission Complains
About Newspaper Falsehoods.
The San Francisco Pueblo Case-Telegraph
Wires Must Go Under Ground-Re-
port the Hill Investigation.
A RACE CONTROVERSY.
Ex-senator Bruce on the Condition and Pros
poets of the COlored Race.
riaI IN tba

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-Some months ago
Rev DIR. Tucker, an Episcopal minister, of
Jackson, Miss, delivered a speech in Rich
mond, before convention of Episcopal min
listers, in which he treated of the condition
of the southern negro and of the future OF
the black race. In that speech which was
cut off in the middle by the presiding officer,
but which was subsequently published in
pamphlet form and circulated generally and
generously, DR.. Tucker drew dreadful pic
ture of the immortality of the colored people
and held that they could not be Christian
lied or educated. Among other things he
said that the only Christian negro he had
ever seen was condemned murderer
Rev. c. K. Marshall, an eminent Methodist
divine of Vicksburg, has replied to DR..
fuckers atrocious libel in fifty-page pamph-
let. The author sent his reply to ex-senator
Blanche K. Bruce, with request that he
write criticism thereon. Mr.. Bruce has
complied with the friendly request and in a
letter addressed to Mr.. Marshall, enters into
discussion of the subject, which is at once
interesting and valuable Mr.. Bruce has de-
voted years of intelligent study ana observa-
ton to the problem of the future of the
negro race, and no man in the country is
better qualified to talk and write upon the
subject. In his letter Mr.. Bruce says:
mo intelligent, self-respecting colored
man can fora moment concede the correct
ness of the portraiture of the colored race or
the truthfulness of their history as set
forth by DIR. Tucker. We have
no exceptional virtues, nor any exceptional
vices-we stand for humanity, presenting
the good tendencies and the bad, as they
would be presented, on an average, by any
other race, no matter what the tint of its
skin, under similar circumstances and with
like environments. We are not race of
hbertines liars, hypocrites and thieves, the
allegations of the reverend gentlemen to the
contrary, Notwithstanding. But, with en-
tire frankness permit me to say that the
miSrepresen ntations and vilification so reck-
lessly leveled against the colored race are
not the most satisfactory features of this
most remarkable production. 1t is super
hclal, crude, exaggerated, incongrUous in its
presentation of the subject with
which be processes to deal 1t
exhibits misconception of the character of
people, caricatures their religious convic-
tions and practices, and lbels their common
life. DR.. Tucker msconceves not a race,
but human nature itself; burlesques not the
worship of a people, but the sanctities and
NSIltltS Vi tIldI OllflSldn system Wnlcn ne
processes to believe the necessary agent for
human elevation and progress and declares
that system insufficient and a practical fail
ure, i'll that the colored people, in direct con-
tact with the most intellectual representa-
tives of that SYSTEM have made no sensible
progress in practical morals, and find their
best religious type in the penitentiary, in the
person of a convicted murderer.
You are aware that l am not member of
any religious society, nor supposed to be in
formed in matters theological; but
confess, layman, and unconverted though |
be, that this exhibition of the Christian sys-
tem its scope and powers, shocks me, and
reject not only the picture that he gives
of the colored race, but the equally revolt |
ing picture of the white race OF the South
that furnishes the background of this dark
portraiture. If you concede the truth of
this gentleman's utteranceS relative to the |
colored people of the South, logically you
must give more revolving character to the |
white race than even to them; because the |
license, abuse and revolving vices alleged to |
be characteristic of the colored people |
sprang, not only from a system inaugurated |
and maintained by the whites, but found |
their development and growth in the con-
nivance and active cooperation of the white |
race Whatever may be the infrmities or |
irregularities of the colored and the white |
races of the South this specific portraiture of |
one and the implied portraiture of the |
Captured, subordinated, liberated and |
enfranshised within two hundred years
there is something in the character of ro-
nance in the history of the colored people |
and their fortunes. The changes in relation
and condition have been so rapid and radi-
cal that they seem not only to be wonder
full but magical But after all, the negro is
not mystery and there is nothing myste-
rious or incom mprehensible either in his char
acter, condition or progress. He is simply
a man-crude, it may be- few centuries
back-but now, under the influences of free
institutions, and the powerful, elevating
forces of Christian civilization, he is null
tiplying. prosperng and improving, as the
vigorous plant under careful culture in
fertile soil will develop. This and nothing
more can be said of the race problem; amp
the things lacking, and to be supplied, will
be found by this people as they have been
found by other races of the great
American republic through diligence, fore
sight thrift, and honest and hopeful toll.
The gospel will meet the needs of this, as it
does the needs of all people, when presented
in its simplicity, integrity, and grandeur.
Six millions and half of people, and mil
lion of voters, we are now upholding and
girding the industries of thirteen great
States; always diligent, and now learning
prudence and thrift, becoming self-reliant,
and consequently self-respecting and SELF
respectful, and gradually but steadily accu-
the worldly gear needful to give
leisure for study and the means of social
comfort and refinement. We propose to
learn the lessons yet unlearned, and to do |
the work yet undone, and the episodical and
periodical attacks of superficial, sensational
reformers will not be permitted to anger us,
embarrass us, or divert us from our purpose
and our work."
The letter closes with an EXPRESSION of