The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-05-24
THE GREAT RACE PROBLEM.
A SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTY IN
PROGRESS.
Register Bruce's Views of the Situation in
mississippi, Arkansas and Other South
ern States-A Hopeful Outlook for
the ColOred Man-Great Hopes
for the Fusion Movement
THE RACE PROBLEM IN THE SOUTH.
The Question Rapidly Approaching SoIu-
tIOn-NieMs of Register Bruce.


uon-Niews of Register Bruce.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-Hon. Branch
K. Bruce, of Mississippi, Register of the
Treasury and formerly Senator of the
United States, and perhaps one of the
most courtly, intelligent and experienced
leaders OF the colored race in the South,
has returned from six weeks absence in
Arkansas and Mississippi. Mr.. Bruce, in
narratlng the incidents and lessons of his
recent experiences among old friends of
his own race and the people generally,
said:
Il went to the Hot Springs for medical
treatment, and to avoid the appearance of
having other objects in view, delayed
my arrival until after certain political mat
tiers in Arkansas had been disposed Of
You can imagine my surprise, when |
reached Hot Springs, to find large as
semblage at the station, fully one thou
sand persons, more than one half Of them
white citizens, who had gathered there to
give me cordial welcome | must say
was overwhelmed with emotion when /
looked in retrospect over the past quarter
Of century and saw in that gathering
the tangible evidences of progress in the
elevation of my race.
Il tell you we are fastsolving the prob
lem of the white and the black race in the
South"
Glow do you account for this %
The causes which have brought about
these results are many. First | found in
Mississippi and Arkansas and I believe it
exists elsewhere in the South, great
improvement in public sentiment. The
causes which led to race troubles
are gradually diminishing or disappear
ing. There exists greater liberation
not only between the races but
among the better class of whites.
| have great hopes of the fusion move
ment in Mississippi Last year this plan
was tried in at least fifteen or twenty
counties in the State, and was great sue
cess. 1t was brought about by colored
and white men of influence standing side
by side The young men are doing this
1t IS perhaps too much to expect an old
time Democrat, and especially a politician
trained IN the old-time methods, to have
much TO do with such q movement
but the young men are ripe for
revolution in political methods
They are discovering the suicidal
policy of keeping up these race prejudices
for the benefit of a set of men who make
opposition of progress and the clinging to
the absolute ideas of the past the main
spring Of public duty. The young men
appreciate the situation and are prOfiting
by it. Let me mention the county Of
Hines. There we had fusion ticket So
many Republicans, so many Democrats,
and distributed also by races, were placed
upon the ticket. the scheme worked OK
cellently. The same thing has now been
tried in most Of the co1nties with eminent
success. The best men of both races and
parties are getting tired of ballot box
stufliing"
care the colored people accommodating
any property, said the writer. 80 yes,
the most thrifty Of them are rapidly be-
coming possessed ofthe soil The planters
have no means, so by a cooperative ar
rangement the white planter and the
cOlOred laborer share the losses and the
proceeds Of the crops. In that way both
become interested in the soil and its
crops. But many cOlOred men own their
own farms and the number is increasing
every year.
"What is the political outlook"
THE results of my inquiries lead me to
think that the hostility to the National tick
ct will not be so great as heretofore. 1t is
generally conceded that n Northern man
must be elected, and the young men say
give us give us good man and we will
support him. think there are names of
candidates mentioned among the Repub.
licans who would poll a very strong vote
in the South, and might, where the Re-
publican majority on fair ballot is I'M
doubted, produce satisfactory results. |
was chosen delegate by the recent con-
vention. The delegation consists
of nine. white men and nine
colored That is what we are
doing now. The two races divide the
honors. In the convention the question
Of preferences was not discussed, and we
therefore did not think it wise to instruct.
|, for one, and l hope all the Southern
delegates will go to Chicago to select the
man who can carry the pivotal States of
the North and can bring out the Repub-
lcan vote of the South. AS l have said,
there is large floating vote which could
be brought over, if we get the right man.
| shall do all can to aid in the nomina-
ton of the best candidate for the whole
country. Noise in the interest of a can
didate is not always the indication of
strength - X