Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-07
THE CoLoRED MAN ON POLITICS.
Mr.. Bruce's Talk to the Harrison and Morton
Lesgue-Colored Omceholders.

Mr.. Bruce's Talk to the Harrison and Morton
Lesgue-Colored Omceholders.
The feature Of the meeting Of the Harrison
and Morton League at the armory of the Wash.
ington Cadet Corps last evening was a speech
by ex-senator Bruce, the recorder of the Dis
trict. MIR. W. Calvin Chase presided and Mr.
W. II. Jones acted as secretary. On motion OF
Mr.. Jones the club decided to attend the
emancipation exercises ut the Metropolitan
Baptist Church, Thursday, April 16.
Mr.. Chase in introducing ex-senator Bruce
spoke Of him as having "a record which is an
honor to the American negro"
MR.. BRUcE's TALK.
Mr.. Bruce in beginning his speech congratu.
lated the club upon its name of Harrison and
Morton. He reviewed the history of political
parties and gave instances of what he charac-
terized as the inadequacy of democratic judg-
ments at critical periods in the history Of the
country.
He said the Harrison administration is firm,
progressive, sagacious and impartial; it stands
for popular education, free and fair elections
and the equal rights of all classes of American
citizens
CoLORED MEN N OFFICE.
Referring to appointments to office he said
There is laudable desire among all classes
OF Americans to occupy positions Of trust and
honor. The colored people of the country are
not exceptions to this general rule. nor have
their claims in this regard been overlooked. II
Is well-known fact that a greater number OF
colored men hold official positions under the
present administration than under any of its
predecessors and yet the administration is but
two years old. To the credit Of the President
and TO the credit of the colored people them
selves, be it said, that these appointments have
not been made because of the color or race of
fh.a, a - - -
their merit and capacity. Another fact worthy
OF note is that not a single colored man holding
presidential Office under this administration
not one as far as L am advised, and have taken
some pains to inform myself in this regard
has shown by his conduct, personal or official,
that he didn't freely appreciate the dignity and
responsibility of his trust"
THE DISTRICT MILITIA.
What about the militia?" called out one of
Mr.. Bruce's auditors.
''Oh, yes, the militia" said Mr. Bruce, "well,
now, that is a question which l prefer not to
discuss to night. 1t is one of the settled ques-
tions, and 80 settled that the four colored COM
panles Will remain as a permanent part of the
National Guard of the District of Columbia
The gentlemen constituting the committee who
called on the President recently in the interest
OF these troops can tell you how the President
III single sentence-a sentence which is worthy
to become historical-settled that question"
A voice:
Harrison is all rightr
Yes, went on Mr.. Bruce, ''and the colored
militia is all right, too. Instead of disband-
ment, it stands tonight upon the same footing
as the other District militia
He approved the republican tariff measures
as wise and said few men even among the OPP
ponents OF the republican party were reckless
enough to deny the advantages that would re-
suit to the country at large from reciprocity.
He spoke hopefully of the progress of the col
ored people since emancipation, both intellect
ually and materially
Mr.. j. X. Ballard made a short address COM
pllmentlng Mr.. Bruce for the stand that he has
taken in the interest of the colored race.
Addresses were also made by Messrs. A. st. A.
Smith, W. H. Jones and others