Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-27
MR. BRUCE's TRIBUTE.
What the Recorder of Deed. Says About
HE Former Colleague In the senate.

What the Recorder of Deeds SAYS About
His Former Colleague In the senate.
Ex-senator Bruce. who was the colleague of
Justice Lamar while in the Senate and between
whom and the deceased juris: there has always
been a strong personal friendship, in speaking
Of the matter 10 . STAR reporter today said:
Yes. have known Justice Lamar for a quar-
ter Of Aeentury. during which time I have been
brought almost constantly into close personal
relations with him and have been as intimate
with him probably ~ men could be who held
different political opinions. He Was always my
friend He was Q large-souled. kind-hearted,
generous man. simple in his manners A. Q
child and heartily beloved by all who knew
him He Was not always understood; some
Who knew little of the man regarded
him - a dreamer, but this was q mis-
take. He vas really one Of the most practical
men Of our times. On this point Mr.. Blaine
In his Twenty Years Of Congress, gives Q true
portraiture OF Mr.. Lamar. substantially in these
words: He is q remarkable man; full Of re-
lection and imagination; seemingly careless,
vet always closely observant: apparently
dreamy, yet thoroughly practical in every
thing
II once heard Mat Carpenter saw, after
listening to one Of Mr.. Lamar's great speeches
IN the senate: He never touches a subject
that be doesn't exhaust He was not only
great legislator. but eminently a man OF affairs,
q. svinced by his able management of the diff
cult and delicate duties devolving upon him
Secretary Of the Interior. His elevation to the
bench % the Supreme Court came late in
life and partly on this account was at first
slightly criticised, but the verdict of the bar
and the country today is that the appointment
was a wise and judiciOus one; in fact, was told
BY one Of the associate justices recently that
M Lamar was one Of the sblest and most clear
headed members OF that august court He was
80, ct a Nj
needy often more than his income warranted.
"As said before. he was kind-hearted
mar. remember during Mr.. Cleveland's ad-
nainistratiOn that was frequently appealed to
bv cOlored employees in the Interior Depart
nent as well a. in other departments OF the gov
eminent. 20 use NV influence with Mr. Lamar to
have them retained in the places they then held
/ never besitated to approach him in behalf of
these worthy people. and he never failed TO re-
syond, going 30 far sometimes as to make per-
sonsl visits TO his brother cabinet officers
urging them to retain the parties IN their de-
partrnents in whose interest had called upon
him.
recall many instances Of his generosity.
When after the election OF Mr.. Cleveland. il
was announced through the newspapers that
Mr.. Lamar would be called into the cabinet of
the new President. q cO!ored clerk employed in
one of the bureaus OF the Interior Department,
openly denounced the proposed appointment
and referred to Mr.. Lamar, then a Senator from
Mississippi. in terms not at all complimentary
TO that gentleman When a few weeks after
ward hs became Secretary of the Interior the
aforesaid clerk felt that he would soon lose his
place and urged me 20 do what could to mol
lfy the Secretary. / presented the case with
great earnestness, and after e1hausting all the
argument at INV command / said: Colonel
this being the familiar title by which we Mis-
sissippians usually addressed him-"this man
has wronged you; justice says cut him down.
but mercy saws spare him He has
an invalid wife and two or three
helpless children and his dismissal would mean
starvation 70 them" Raising both hands to
his head a. was his custom when in deep
thought. he said. after a moments pause: This
mans language has been reported to me. but
IL seems that the assault made upon Senator
and no; upon Secretary Lamar. and nv knowl-
edge Of the Senator Is such a. to justify the be-
lief that he can take care of himself, but If he
can't am sure the Secretary will not help him
out of his Difficulty" The result was the clerk
was not disturbed.
On another occasion a poor old colored
woman. who held a minor position IN the de-
parrment-char woman, sweeper or something
Of this sort; do not now remember which
was dismissed without his knowledge and her
place given to another. She appealed TO me
and l early the next morning called at the Sec
retarv residence and urged her restoration.
He said. Bruce tell the woman to come to me
twice each month and she shall receive her
salary" I learned afterward that her salary
came out OF the pocket Of the kind-hearted
Secretary and not out Of the public treasury.
"A profound scholar. an experienced legis-
la.or an able iurist, his loss will be mourned
By the American people generally.