The Washington bee., 1889-03-30
BRUCE GRIT INTERVIEWS
REV. DR.W. b. DERRICK,
OF NEW YORK.
WHAT THE DISTINGUISHED ORATOR
sAYs-A NEW LEADERSHIP WHAT
HE SUGGESTS THE PRESIDENT TO
Do.


the BEE stinger to the Doctors
thought case, and the following
information leaked out of the
aperture:
@ DO yeu not think. DR.. Der.
rick, that it would be better for
the negro race generally. if they
are given more smaller offices by
this administration than the ap-
pointment of half dozen or 30 of
big leaders Nho have come to re-
gaId public office as private trust?
Ans.-I heartily indorse the
idea for many reasons chief among
which is, it would decrease the
number of incompetent aspirants
for POSITIONS which they are not
fitted for; 1t would provide them
employment in other directions;
it would give general satisfaction
to the great mass of our race
throughout the country, and COM
pei the self-appointed leaders to
60 out of the business of leading
where they have no following.
Q.-Don't you think that col
ored men should aspire to posi-
tions other than those heretofore
held by them under former ad-
ministrations?
Ans.-Certainly, [ do. Color
ed men who are equipped intel
lectually, who have experience
and character, should aspire not
as colored men but as American
citizens ha7ing the right to fill any
pos ton within the gift of the
executive.
I depreciate the idea which
obtains in some quarters that we
should be recognized on account
of color. The spectacle OF a dozen
or more colored men clamoring
for the same paItry Office, as In
the case OF the Haytian missisn, is
not pleasant to think of. One of
the reasons for this is to be found
in the fact that under previeus
administrations, party obligations
to the negro have been paid off in
this way, and the receiver of the
debt thus paid was believed to be
a bona fide representative of the
race.
What do you think will
be the policy of this administra-
ton toward the colored race?
Ans.-I believe thet it will aim
to mete out equal and exact JUS
to all without reference to race or
color. [ have an abiding faith in
the honesty and integrity of Pres.
ident Harrison. and [ believe that
if he is allowed to pursue his own
course in solving the 80 called
negro problem we shall be more
largely benefited than we will be
if we continue to annoy him with
delegations and petitions.
Q-You are, of course, in favor
of the appointment of colored men
of ability 10 positions of trust and
responsibility?
Ans.-Most assuredly I am,
but I am opposed to this seeking
of Office as a colored race. There
are 100000 offices within the gift
of the administration. Party
managers are not ignorant of the
fact that the negro holds the bal
ance ofpower in New l ork, Penn.
Ohio and Conn; that we represent
one eighth of the population of
this country. I do not consider
that we would be asking too much
as Jealous republicans for at least
one sixteenth of this immense
patronage. The people are getting
their eyes open and l am glad to
know it.
Q.-How would you have this
patronage distributed?
Ans.-Throughout the entire
country where there are govern
ment Offices to be filled requiring
competent and respectable public
servants to ELL them. l think the
negro would be equal to the emer.
gency, and be would better appre-
cate the republican party for this
stroke of practical politics.
Q.-Do you think that any
distinguished eolored men will be
recognized BY the administration
without the usual letter of intro
duction?
Ans.-I do. The President is
well informed in respect to the
worth, capacity and ability OF
distinguished republicans, black
or white, and he has means at
his command for ascertalning who
is, or who is not. entitled to rec