Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-12

NIX WAS corkryorp AND poIuHyD. But Rn ram
WAS KISKr-HaRp TO ERADICATE OLD pnsyu-
DicEs-s LITTLE HILL DID tr-A roRuza MEET
mo gEcALLKp.
Written for The fr~n,n. star
nNE or THE MOST ENTERTAINING
~'incidents illustrative Of the progress from
poverty 70 position and power in tins republic
was narrated the other day by a former COM
mitiee clerk OF the Senate. he said:
Il went upon the fcor of the Senate one
day to see senator Spencer, who Was chairman
Of the committee OF which I was the clerk
and was present when senator Dogy Of Mis-
sour introduced himself 10 Senator Bruce Of
Mississippi
senator Bogy was q proud. aristocratic
gentleman. descended from one OF the old
pioneer French families OF the Mississippi yal-
ley. lie wasa man Of distinguished presence.
superior ability, extensive travel and social
culture. He was unable 10 accept with grace
the changed conditions which made the negro
equal with the white man before the law IL
was incomprehensble 90 him that the freed
men were human. or 50 approximately human
a. TO attain distinction IN national affairs: aud
yet there Was evidence before has eyes most
eXssH Grating evidence, tina; the negro wac de-
veioplns into citizenship, aud also into states
maEsAir. There. upon the republican side Of
the Senate chamber. sat Blanche N. Bruce Of
Mississippi, member of that body with all
of It's rights. privileges, honors aud emolu-
ments, aud possessing a vote upon all matters
fully equal to his own.
woULDS T RECOGNIZE HIM
"He never recognized Bruce, never spoke 70
him, never associated with him and had even
expressed surprise that has republican col
leagues would recognize the ex-slave To him
Bruce was not elevated 20 his equality bY hsY-
ing been elected TO the Senate by a soyereicu
state On the contrary. although he occupied
a seat on the floor of that august and distin.
Salshed legislative chamber, Bruce Wa 10
Bogy, nothing more nor less than a negro ard
nothing could alter that fact. Has complexion
was light, he was gentiemanly. courteous, con-
his hair kinky.
Although they passed and repassed each
other IN the corridors Of the Capitol in hotel
Hobbies, IN the Senate chamber aud in tie
restaurant, senator Bogy never noticed the
gentleman OF the inferior race In fact have
been told that occasion when senator
Bruco entered the Senate restaurant for lunch
Senator Bogy left the room without finishing
his well-prepared dinner.
Indeed, when Bruce came 20 Washington
his reception WIS such that everybody in the
Senate would have felt more comfortable with
aa overcoat on; Ia was 80 chilly. No man was
ever received more colby. But mr. be stood
before the Vice President and took the cath %
proadest man under the dome OF the Capitol
| and Il WIS soon manifest that he was deter.
mined 70 demonstrate that lie was a peer of the
Proudest aud best. He quiet. handsome,
disttng dished IN appearance and exceptionally
unobtrusive. John sherman and Roscoe
conkiihg we're the only men there who re-
celNed HIM with any degree Of warmth, and
| they were both presidential candidates
AS said. had entered the Scnnte to SEQ
Senator Spencer and was conversing with him
when noticed the distinguished senator from
Missonri walking around the rear of the desks
! TO the republican side. He slowly and deliber-
! ateiy walked down the aisle past me and.
! touching senator Bruce on the shoulder. said.
Senator, believe we have never met before
bat want 10 Introduce Inyself as have some
buslEcss matters TO lay before You. Bruce
arose. with courtly bow. took the offered hand.
ana SAID i am very glad 80 meet with Won,
Senator Bogy, and am at your service 1hey
went together TO tho rear of the desks. sat
down upon one of the big leather-covered
sofas, aud conVersed earnestly for some time
When they parted they shook hands, smiled
ana seemed to be the best Of friends
THE REASON FOR 1T.
well, long time afterward. senator Bruce
told US all about it. He said: 'Bogy had u bill
pending which was of great Importance 10 him
| self. II vas for the Improvement OF tho Mis-
souri, river and. after he had counted noses az
the saying is, he found tn, his bill might be
! defeated by one or two votes, so he wanted 20
get me TO help him through with it, He told
me all about it; how important it was TO him,
aud asked me to vote for the bill at the same
! time assuring me that he would feel under
obligations and wouls do any thing in his power
| for me Whenever called upon. He treated me
as a brother Senator and promptly responded
| in n similar spirit.
~ told him that had considered his bill be-
lieved tnat It was not bad measure, and. ms q
| southwestern Senator, felt that I ought TO
stand by him and that would vote for his bill
| He was delighted and radiant when not only
| promised him my vote. but also agreed 10 helm
him TO couple of other votes as il seemed
| that could do, and rs 1 afterward succeeded
| IN doing. But just rs he was leaving me told
MN that he was mistaken in saying that we had
never met before. That surprised him. and he
| sGt down with me again while told him of our
fret meeting IL is a true story, and has some
thing OF a funny nature, too. 1 said:
| FORMER MEETING
"'Senator Bogy, one hot afternoon about .
dozen years ago. when you were a member OF
Congress and one OF the most distinguished
men IN your state, yoa were hurryiue down
OIlye street, st. Louis. 90 catch a sieparting
steamer. Owing to your avoirdupois YOU
were making slow progress, aud your speed
was diminished also because you we're carving
! a heavy yalise. lou would have missed tho
boat but for the good fortune which threw in
your way a young and athletic Niger boy, 70
| whom you offered quarter OF a dollar TO carry
I Wy 'taAeS W Nht boAl lie DON Jumped al the
chance, for he evidently needed a quarter of a
| dollar. lou hastened on. aud the Young
| Niger shouldered the valise and tagged along
| Close at your heels until the boat was reached.
She Was already pulling out into the stream,
bat her wheels stopped when the captain saw
| that Congressman Bogy was coming, and A
plank was thrown out aud you rushed aboard.
The boat proceeded, but the boy held
! on TO the valise. For no other man
IN 81. Louis would that boat have re-
turned 20 the wharf, but for YOU she
/ turned around and came back. As she neared
her mooring place You shouted, Throw that
| Sailse aboard. .ou black rascal The bow re-
piled: 'iirst throw me my quarter. You threw
him half dollar, with oath. and the vslise
waschuched aboard and the steamer proceeded.
You were very angry, Senator, and shook your
INST at that poor fellow, but he merely laughed
and went away. That poor fellow was hard lp
and that half dollar was As big as a water wheel
| TO him. for II bought him good l0-cept sup
per that n.gst. / the boy, Senator, 90
| you see We have met before
| never was more pleased with ANYTHING in
my life, said senator Bruce. than with tho
1 manner IN which Senator Bogy received NV
story. lie laughed immodorately and told me
| that it Illustrated the possibilities OF this re-
public. He said that L deserved more credit
/ than any white boy would have deserved for 4
had s.ara from Ian