Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
SOUTHERN REPUBLICAN,
Mr.. Bruce Talks About His Recent Trip to
the Gulf.

| A Proposition to Have Delegates Go
to the Convention. Uncommitted-
Vice Presidential Candidates.
| Ex-Recorder Blanche X. Bruce, who was the
| last negro United States Senator, and who
was register of the treasury by appointment
| of President Garfield, has just returned to
Washington after an extended trip through
| the south. 1t began by visit to his PLAN
| tation in Mississippi. and thence he went
| to various states bordering on the gulf and
| on the Mississippi river. His object to
| investigate the political conditions, from a
| republican standpoint. and to consult with
| the party leaders as to the course to be
pursued by them in relation to the next
| national convention. The results and i'm
p1essicns of the trip were stated in an in
| terestng manner by Mr.. Bruce to a Star
| reporter at Mr.. Bruoes home, on R street
Delegates to previous republican con-
ventions," he said, have gone from the
| southern states making considerable noise
| in behalf of certain candidates, and, in my
| opinion, have prejudiced the chances for
success of the meI they favored. In the
conventions of 1884 and 1888, you may
reollect, many of the southern delegates
were for John Sherman, and We're not at
| all backward in expressing their prefer
| ence. l do rot say that Mr.. Sherman fail
| ed to be nominated because of the support
given him by the delegates from the states
| south of Mason and Dxon's line. but there
was feeling among the delegates from
| the north that they didn't want the nomi-
nation forced upon them by section of
| the country that could give the candidate
OF the convention not solitary electoral
vote. That feeling became so strong in
| 1872 az Minneapolis that proposition was
| seriously discussed to disfranchis us in
national conventions by reducing the ratio
| of representation in accordance with the
vote of the states.
To Go Unpledsed.
ut occurred to me that it would be wise
| for the southern delegates to so to the con-
| vention next year without having commit
| ted themselves to any candidate, and with
out expressing a preference for any. and
after learning the preponderance of senti-
ment among the northern delegates, fall in
| with that so far as it was possible to do
| so. This view l set before, the leaders in
the southern states as far as 1t was pos
| sible for me to see them, and l was both
| surprised and gratified to learn that they
| held the same view, that 1t was not a new
| proposition. So l feel that the southern re-
| publicans will go to the next national con-
vention prepared to exercise more influence
| than ever before. and at the same time
arousing no undue prejudice against them
selves. OF course, there may, and probably
will, be some of the young fellows who
will make a noise-theyd do that any
where-but the conservative men of the
| party, generally, hold the opinion that
| do, and will conduct themselves in accord
| ance with 1t"
The Vice Presidency.
will the southern republicans push the
| claims Of one of their number for the nomi-
nation for Vice President?" was asked of
Mr. Bruce.
There is some talk of 1t now, you KNOW
! he answered. Henry Clay Evans, who
was elected governor Of Tennessee and
was cheated out Of the office; ex-senator
| tative John w. Moore of the same state
and Judge Nathan Golf of West Virginia
| have all been mentioned for the honor But
my advice to the southern republicans Is,
electoral votes from your section before
asking representation on the national
| ticket"
rs there any probability of the republic
| cans carrying any southern states at the
| election in 1852"
Viewed in the light Of present condi-
TONS" replied Mr.. Bruce, II expect that
| they will carry Tennessee and North Caro-
| lima. They carried the former last year.
and the rape of the state by the demo-
Gratis in itself is enough to insure republic
can success next year. Then, If the pres
| ent division in the democratic party in
! son why we should not carry that state.
| I confidently rely upon adding these three
| states to the republican column in 1896.
| Arkansas republicans say they will carry
| that state also, but I have. no idea that
| the count will show republican majority,
| even were there a majority of republican
| tickets in the ballot box.
What Democrats Told Him.
IT found many democrats all over the
south outspoken in their criticism of the
party management and expressing a de-
! termination not to vote the national ticket
again. Never, in all my experience, have
| found such a condition of things. Business
| men said to me that they were disguised
with democratic administration of national
affairs; that with full control of all branch
es of the government they had so admins
tered the trust committed to them as to re-
duce business men in the south, at least, to
| a worse condition than they were even in
| the years just after the war. Then, they
said, they had something; now they are
utterly Frustrated. We do not agree with
| your party in many things they said, but
We like your tariff policy and believe The
republicans can successfully manage the
| national finances. The democrats certainly
cannot. Therefore; as business men, and
for business reasons, we shall support the
republican tisket?"
"Did the proposition to nominate a presi-
Dental candidate from the south create any
impression there?"
"Only an unfavorable one,' replied Mr..
Bruce. II had considerable fun with my
democratic friends on that subject.
quoted the plea for southern man at the
head of the ticket and discanted upon the
advantages Of Carlisle ands Crisp. But they
didn't take kindly to it. fhey said: You
| party with any such PROPOSITION as that.
| You know that all our pfohninent men were
connected with the war of secession Ghey
never refer to 1t as the war of the rebellion
| now. I think that comes from the effect Of
Bryces American commonwealth" which
denominates 1t the war of secession), and
| that there is not the slightest probability Of
States who was engaged in fighting against
| it. The southern democrat recognizes, as
| well as any one, the presence OF sentiment
| in politics. and realizes its force in influence
| ing results"