The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Interesting "reminiscences Of Ex-
Senator Blanche Z. Bruce.
4 Colored Statesman who Made Friends
wherever lie Went-His First Meet
Ing and Subsequent Interview
With . Proud Mlssourian.
Especial Washington Letter.

with . Proud Missourian.
Especial Washington letter.
1--WE have met before"
Quite a simple sentence that, and yet
Il is historic and dramatic. Mai j. j.
Noah, a leading newspaper writer, in
the rooms Of the Press club one evening
recently. told the story in his graphic
style. lie said:
There never was more gentleman
y and polished statesman in either
house Of congress than Blanche X.
Bruce, who at one time was represen-
tative Of the state Of Mississippi in the
United States senate lie 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,
rs there are in other continents, and
among other races. Some negroes are
superior men, and their ancestors have
been superior men for many genera
tions. Albeit they have lacked educa-
tional advantages, such as modern civil
ization presents, they have steadily de-
veloped, rs 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 member of distin-
guished and highly cultured family. At
anearly age he left Mississippi, and went
to Missouri. where he resided and sup
ported himself for a number of years by
his own labor When it became posi-
BILE for him to return to Mississippi. in
UHC udyS III ICCOHSII uCllOHs HC ST.
lie 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 position in the
history Of our country He came to
Washington, appeared before the vic
president. took the oath of Office, and
assumed his seat. He was quiet. un-
obtrusive. dignified and handsome. lie
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 a 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 q United
States senator But neither the senator
nor his wife seemed to expect immedi-
ate recognition, socially; and they were
certainly not SOLICITORS of recognition,
20 far as could be judged by appear
ances. They did not obtrude them
selves upon social world which was
dilatory in extending the hand Of fell
lowship They accepted conditions and
surroundings. as they found them. Sem
ator Bruce, in answer to an interroga-
tory of q friend. one day said: I 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 a single generation for the comfort
and happiness Of q race; certainly not
for the delectation Of single member
of that race. am satisfied And he
was
I'm 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 q 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,