Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-10-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
4 Colored Statesman Who Made Friends
Wherever He Went-His First Meet
Ing and Subsequent Interview
with . Proud MissOurtan.


ing and Subsequent Interview
with Proud MissOuFian.
Especial Washington Letter1
1--WE have met before"
Quite a simple sentence that, and yet
it is historic and dramatic. Maj. j. j.
Noah, a leading newspaper writer, in
the rooms of the Press club one evening
recently. told the story in his graphic
style. He said:
''There never was more gentleman
~ and polished statesman in either
house of congress than Blanche K.
Bruce, who at one time was a represen-
tative of the state of Mississippi in the
United States senate. He is a man of
distinguished appearance. with the
physical strength of the African race
and the intellectually of the Caucasian
happily combined His African ances-
tors were of the higher type, and his
father was one of the most cultured of
our best white families You know
there are tribes and families in Africa,
as there are in other continents, and
among other races. Some negroes are
superior men, and their ancestors have
been superior men for many genera
tional advantages, such as modern civil
ization presents, they have steadily de-
veloped, as other races have developed,
by traditional education. Then, again,
there are tribes in Africa whose MEM
bers cannot count more than two, nor
appreciate anything beyond their
aboriginal surroundings. The lower
orders of slaves were bought and sold at
low figures, in the dark days of slavery
in this country, while the higher types
were more valuable. They were re-
garded as chattels, in those days, and
were classified in value according to
their intelligence or lack thereof.
well, as was saying, Senator Bruce
came of one of the best types of the
negro race. on his mothers side, while
his father was a member of distin-
guished and highly cultured family. AT
an early age he left Mississippi, and went
to Missouri, where he resided and sup
ported himself for number of years by
his own labor. When it became posi-
BILE for him to return to Mississippi, in
the days of reconstruction, he did so.
He was elected sheriff of his county,
saved his money, was frugal, and ulti-
mately was elected to the senate by the
legislature of Mississippi, the first negro
ever honored with such a position in the
| history of our country. He came to
Washington, appeared before the vice
president, took the oath Of Office, and
| assumed his seat. He was quiet. I'M
obtrusive, dignifed and handsome. He
| was not very warmly welcomed by all
| of his colleagues of his own party,
while senators on the other side of the
| chamber scarcely recognized him. His
| wife was beautiful woman, intelli-
gent, educated, virtuous and attractive;
yet society did not easily accede to her
the standing which is usually accorded
| in Washington to the wife Of a United
States senator. But neither the senator
| nor his wife seemed to expect immedi-
ate recognition, socially; and they were
certainly not solicitous of recognition,
SO far as could be judged by appear
ances. They did not obtrude them
selves upon a social world which was
dilatory in extending the hand of fell
lowship. They accepted conditions and
surroundings. as they found them. Sen
| ator Bruce, in answer to an interroga-
tory of friend, one day said: L have
been informed by an old adage that
Rome was not builded in a day; and
| do not expect the conditions of the
greatest republic on earth to be changed
| in single generation for the comfort
and happiness of race: certainly not
| for the delectation Of a single member
of that race. l am satisfied And he
| was.
lin the senate chamber, Mr.. Bruce
was always busy. He was writing let
tiers to his constituents, preparing bills
or drafting reports upon bills which had
| been referred to him in the various
committees of which he was member;
and, occasionally, making brief speech
es upon pending measures But in
everything which he said and did he
was almost an ideal senator in dignity,