National Republican., 1883-09-04
TROUNOING TUCKER.
Ex-senator Bruce Replies to a Ministerial
Libel on His Race.
His Views Touching tho Future OF the
Coiored People of tho South.


Episcopal church, held in Richmond last fall,
Rev. DIR. Tucker, rector of st. Andrews
church, Jackson, Miss, delivered an address
upon the moral and educational status of the
colored people of the south. The doctor was
SO severe and extreme in the opinion ex-
pressed relative to the condition and progress
of the black race, and the picture he
drew was so dreadful, that he was cut
off in the midst of his address
by the presiding officer and his indignant
associates on the floor. Nothing daunted,
the ministerial libeler Of struggling race
published his speech in full in pamphlet
form with supplemental remarks. This
pamphlet was circulated quite generally and
provoked reply from Rev. c. X. Marshall,
pastor of tho NJ. l.. church south, of Vicks-
burg. Dr. Marshall wrote ex-senator B. X.
Bruce for criticism on his work and for his
views on the race problem. Following Is
Senator Bruces answer, which has just been
mailed to DIR. Marshall:
REV. C. X. MARSHALL, Vicksburg Miss
Some days since l received your reply to Rev.
DIR. Tucker, of jackson, Miss, entitled, "The
Colored Race Weighed in tho Balance" l
had previously read the speech Of DIR. Tucker,
and formed my own conclusions thereon. L
have, however, read your able review Of the
production of that gentleman with great in
self-respecting colored man can for moment
concedo the correctness of the portrature Of
tho colored race, or tho truthfulness
of their history as set forth by
DIR. Tucker. We have no exceptional
virtues nor any exceptional vices-we stand
for humanity y,spresenting 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 circum-
stances, and with like environments.
We are not race of libertines, liars, thieves,
and hypocrites, the allegation of the reverend
gentlemen to the contrary Notwithstanding
But with entire fraukness, permit me to say
that the Misrepresentation and villitication SO
recklessly leveled against the colored race,
are not the most unsatisfactory features of
this remarkable production. 1t is super
fetal, crude, exaggerated, incongruous
in its presentation of the subject with
which he processes to deal. 1t ex-
hibits misconception of tho character
of people, caricatures their religious
convictions and practices, and libels their
common life. For these reasons / cannot
conceive how any thoughtful man of either
race can find satisfaction in the speech of DR..
Tucker. But further than this, and to me
incalculably more unsatisfactory, DIR. Tucker
misconceives, not a race, but human nature
ITSELF burlesques not the worship of people,
but the sanctities and verities of that Chris
tian system which he processes to believe tho
necessary agent for human elevation and
progress and declares that system insult
cient and q practical failure, in that the col
ored people, in direct contact with the most
intellectual representatives of that system,
have made no sensible progress in practical
morals, and find their best religious type in
the penitentiary in the person of convicted
murderer.
You are aware that am not q member of
any religious society, nor supposed to be in
formed in matters theological, but confess,
layinan and unconverted though be, the ex-
hibition of the Christian system by DIR.
Tucker, its scope and powers shocks me, and
the colored race, but the equally revolving
picture of the white race of the south that
furnishes the back ground of this dark por-
traiture. If you concede tho truth of this
gentlemans utterances relative to the
colored people of the south, logically
aeter to the white race than even
to them, because the license, abuse, and
revolving vices alleged to be characteristic
of the colored, sprang not only from a sys-
TEN inaugurated and maintained by tho
whites, but found their development and
growth in the connivance and active co-opera-
tion of the white race. Whatever may be
the infrmities or Irregularities of the colored
and white people of tho south, the specific
portraiture Of one and implied portraiture of
the other are alike unjust and untrue. Cap
tured subordinated, liberated, and enfran-
chised within two hundred years, there is
something of the character of romance in the
history Of the colored people and their for
tunes. The changes in relation and condi-
tion have been 80 rapid and radical that
they seem not only to be wonderful, but
magical. But, after all, the negro is not
mystery, and there is nothing mysterious or
incomprehensible either in his character, con-
dition, or progress. He is simply q man
crude, it may be- few centuries back, but
now, under the influence of free institutions
and the powerful elevating forces of Chris
tian civilization. he is multiplying, prosper
ing, and improving as the vigorous plant un-
der careful culture, in fertile soil, will de-
velop. This and nothing more can be said of
the race problem, and the things lacking and
to be supplied will bo found by this people,
as they have been found by other races of tho
great American republic, through diligence,
foresight thrift, and honest and hopeful
toll. The gospel will meet the needs of this
as it meets the needs of all people, when pre-
sented in its simplicity, integrity, and
grandeur. Six million five hundred thousand
people and a million voters are we. Now
upholding and girding the industries f
thirteen great states; always diligent, and
now learning prudence and thrift; becoming
self-reliant and consequently self respectful,
and gradually but steadily accommodating the
worldly gear needful to give leisure for study
and the means of social comfort and refine
mont. We propose to learn tho 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. un-
balance us, or divert us from our purpose
and work. started to write page or two,
but have written seven.
/ owe you an apology for so long letter;
with all my heart for myself and people, |
thank you for the Christian manliness with
which you have come to our defense, and be-
lieve that your fair minded and frank dis
cussion of the question before you will not
only encourage the colored race to increased
efforts for improvement, but will do much to
compact and perfect the kindly feeling and
good understanding now rapidly springng up
between the better classes of the white and
colored people of the SOUTH am, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
b. X. BRUCE.
1t might not be out Of place to remark in
this connection that Drs. Tucker and Mar
shall are both democrats.