New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-22
ATALK WITH BLANCHE K. BRUCE
THE APPOINTMENT OF CoLoRED REPUB
LICANS TO OFFICE.

TON WITH REGARD TO COLORED PEOPLE,
Washington, April 81 (speciall Ex-senator Bruce
of Mississippi, recently called the attention OF The
Tribune correspondent to Washington dispaton 10
The New-Orleans Times Democrat in which IL wa
stated that the policy of the Administration was MOI
to appoint colored Republicans to office In PROOF OF
this 1t was further stated that ex-senator Bruce anu
ex Congressman Lynch, of Mississippi, called AZ to
Postoice Department last week to RECOMMENDS oi0
appointment OF certain fourthci postmaster u
that State and that the First Assistant fos'~''oi
General was about to order the papers mSoe OUT
when he suddenly asked 80
"By the way, is this man white or 'coioreo'
GHe IS a colored man." replied Mr. Lynch
GWell, can't appoint him, then; no coloreo man
can get q postofhce In the South"
Mr.. Bruce said
As matter Of Justice 10 the Administration as wen as
N myself wish you would that there Is not sem
am :, ,.rh IN that statement; that such interview,
aa q alleged has place. and that rom no member
az the Cabinet or other oeer under this Administration
haye heard or received intmaton that any man Is 70
b Aabarred from once simply because he Is person OF
color do not believe that any such purpose exists In
the mind of President Harrison or any member OF his
Administration. , ,,, -.
Tits subject from prominent coored men throughout the
counry So numerous have been these inquiries that
woud be glad 10 have an opportunity to answer them
through The Tribune In brief, my answer Is this;
have every TO believe that in choosing men 70 MI
honesy capacity and efficiency OF the applicant and II ne
be man Of any race he will not be rejected simply io
that reason regard all the published statements 70 tne
contrary az no more nor than device Of Democrats
70 create discomfort among cooed Republicans In the hope
thereby OF reapng partisan advantage do not believe
that tho scheme will succeed 1t is roosed In efror'
There is - danger that this Administration "nlon 20
sound the will repudate one Of the cardinal p
cipes OF the Republican party and Initiate the DemoersIo
marty by trying TO establish color line 1t is an insu'
To President Harrison and the tried and stanch hepuoh-
cans whom called into his Cabinet ana appointed "
other oces 10 suggest that any OF them is doing sueh
thing do not expect to see men appointed 20 once
simply because they are men Of color am Certain NAV
none will DO rejected on that ground alone
The pont Is made that few or no colored men have
been thus far appointed" suggested the correspondents
Oh YES but It IS not well taken In mississippi TOT
examnle only one appointment has been made and that
enc ,roa "a All vacancy I'm once OF United States
Marshal 'No colored Republican has been appointed
That is true and IL is likewise true that except 70 inc
SINGLE ONCE mentioned white Republican has been ap-
o,red IN Mississippi by this Administration am glad
-. tho p,es,dent is taking time careful Investigation
ana consideration Of the matter Of appointments especially
an the South. II BODIES well for me fu-
,pre In the past the number OF colored
Republicans who have held ONCE has been relatively
ana a. NAV be largely increased The colorod voters
"a mass are Republicans not "for revenue only, nor
for the sake of holding Olce, but from principle They
.re not greedy they tickle During the last four
wears OF Democratic ascendsncy they remained seaasL
N
reaI,e that vote for the Republican party s vote for
the political emancipation Of men OF their race In the
sou In the South they realize that political equality
and stee can be secured only through the acendaney OF
the Republican party.
what do you think of the movement IN favor OF
the white Republican party in the SouthP
Well frankly don't suppose the leaders OF IL expect
,ha, e. will amount TO much 4 political force unless
II has the cordial cooperation and support OF the eooeo
voters 1 confess that DO not quite understand IL
unless It's object Is 70 obtain possession OF inc OMEGA
7, that be the object the movement OF course WIN De
failure I have movements OF the sort Deiore
do not say that such Is the sole motive OF this move
pent hut cannot understand the desire, II II DC mo
desire to attempt organize select and separate epuD
uean PARTY in Alabama any other Southern State
from which are TO be excluded because Of their color
fans n, thousands Of Republicans who Is arm friends
ot proscton to American Industries - the authors ana
promoters Of what, for the sake OF convenience call
tho alabama movement" For my part am WILING
nav eager TO welcome every man. whatever may De MS
political sntecedents who desires to join the Republican
ranks and fight for honest and free elections and pro-
lection to American Industries do not believe
in the sincerity Of nsn, as Republican, who
profess to be Proteetonsts, but who are willing
that the bailotbox shall be violated We can
tell more about Alabama movement after the Admins
tsatlon has filled the ohcos in that State. may men
ton as rather significant fact that one Of the pro
noers Of that movement came 10 me several days ago
and asked me TO lndorse his application for an ONCE
said 70 him, why do you ask that1 ~ uhosfsb1no
t. you do desire that cGord men shall hold any ocs
or have anything to DO with ofncial patronage"
"oh, WELL" he replied shat does not mean you, you
know you al! right"
"ButH said /, sit Is not +. 1t Is the principle In
volveA II color is TO be applied It must be ap
piled to all"
Ny friend Lynch informed me that he hal been ap
proached by another advocate OF the movement who
is an applicant once, in the same manner He de-
clined as 1 aid, 10 make any recommendation Those
two incidents have caused TO suspect that the Wh
Republican movement" IN the South may be only designed
TO promote organized raid on the kederal omeos
hone my suspicious will turn out 10 be unfounoed'