The bee., 1883-09-08

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average, by any other race, no matter
what the tint of its skin, under similar
circumstances and with like environ
ments.
We are not race of libertines.
liars. thieves, and hypoerites, the allie
| CATION of the reverned gentlemen to
the contrary Notwithstanding But
with entire frankness, permit NE to
say that the Misrepresentation and
vIllification SO recklessly leveled against
the colored race, are not the most un-
satisfactory features of this remark
able production. 1t is superficial,
crude, exaggerated, incongruous in its
presentation of the subject with which
he processes to deal. 1t exhibits mis-
conception of the character of people,
caricatureS their religious convictions
and practices, and libelS their common
life. For these reasons L cannot con-
celye how any thoughtful man of either
race can find satisfaction in the speech
of DIR. Tucker. But further than this,
and to me intellectually more unsatis-
factory, DR.. Tucker miSconceiveS, not
trace, but human nature itself bur-
lesqueS not the worship of a people,
but the sanctities and verities of that
Christian system which he processes to
believe the necessary agent for human
elevation and progress and declares
that system insufficient and practical
failure, In that the colored people, in
direct contact with the most intellec-
tual 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 a convicted murderer.
You are aware that l am not men,
Der of any religious society, nor sup
posed to be Informed in matters theo-
logical, but l confess, layman and I'M
converted though l be, the exhibition
OF the Christian system by Dr. Tucker.
its scope and powers, shocks me, and
reject, not only the picture that he
gives of the cOlored race, but the
equally revolving picture of the white
race of the South that furnishes the
back ground of this dark portraiture.
If you concede the truth of this gen.
tleman's utterances relative to the
colored people of the South, logically,
you must give more revolving char
acter TO the white race than even. to
them, because the license, abuse and
revolving vices alleged to be charac-
teristic of the colored, sprang not only
from a system inaugurated and main
tanned 10y the whites, but found their
development and growth in the conni-
vance and active cG=GGnerraattii r aation 0f { Il inc
White WhhltGG Iace. Whatever may be the in
firmities or irregularities of the colored
and white people of the South, the
specific portraiture Of one and implied
portraiture of the other are alike un-
just and untrue. Captured, subordin-
ated, liberated, and enfranchised within
two hundred years, there is something
Of the character of romance in the
history Of the colored people and their
fortunes. The changes in relation and
condition have been so rapid and radical
that they seem not only to be wonder
full, but magical. But, after all, the
negro is not mystery, and there is
nothing mysterious or incomprehen-
sible either in his character, condition,
or progress. He is simply mana
crude, it may be, few centuries back,
but now, under the influence of free
institutions and the powerful elevating
forces of Christian civilization, he is
multiplying, prospering, and improv-
ing as the vigorous plant under careful
culture, in a fertile soil, will develop |
This and nothing more can be said of |
the race problem, and the things lack
ing 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, foresight, |
thrift, and honest and hopeful toll. |
The gospel will meet the needs of this
as it meets the needs of all people,
when presented in its simplicity, in
tegrity and grandeur. Six million
five hundred thousand people and a
million voters are we. Now uphold
ing and girding the industries Of thir-
teen great states always diligent, and
now learning prudence and thrift be-
coming self reliant and consequently
self respectful, and gradually but
steadily accumulating the worldly gear
needful to give leisure for study and
the means of social comfort and refine
ment. We propose to learn the les
sons yet unlearned and to do the work
yet undone and the episodical and Pc
riodical attacks on supernatural, SEN
sational reformers will not be permit
ted TO anger us, unbalance us, or di-
vert Us from our purpose and work. l
started to write a page or two, but
have written seven.
| owe you an apology for so long
letter with all my heart for myself
and people. l thank you for the Christ
ian manliness with which you have
come TO our defense, and believe that
your fair minded and frank discussion
of the question before you will not
only encourage the colored race to in
creased efforts for improvement, but
will do much to compact and perfect
the kindly feeling and good under
standing now rapidly springing up
between the better classes of the white
and crlored people of the South. l
am, with great respect, your obedient
servant, B. K. BRUCE.
1t might not be out of place to re-
mark in this connection that Drs.
Tucker and Marshall are both Demo-
Gratis.
THE COLORED PRESS-REGIS-
TER RRT-CF THE EnIT0P OF |