The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-25
BRUCE AND CAPT. LATHERS.
Born a Slave, He Easily Overcame
Race Prejudice.

ssSc AsJouAtN'
On one of his latest visits &, New York
Mr.. Bruce told Of an exrerience which
he had just after he was elected senator
from Mississippi. aud 1t was mn expert
encs which illustrates the tact ana good
sense which always characterized him,
and which explained much of the success
and respect which ho gained by his pub ic
life in Washington. 1t was announced
that the senator would 90 to Washington
from his Mississippi home by one OF the
st. Louis on his way. Ire captain. q
man Of the name Of ,Lathers. was a tvpl-
cal Mississippi St mboat captain, and be
was reported to have said that he would
show the black senator when he got
aboard of HE boat that he would have
to kesp his place on that boat, and IL he
put on any airs because he happened &,
be o senator, the captain would tsach
him manners.
AS soon as Brucs boarded the steam
boat he sought tte captain, and said to
him. Captain Lathers, am .roing to
Washington. and n psrt Of tie way rs
passenger On your steamboat. Ny name
Ia Bruce, and possibly you may have
heard of me. What / wanted to soy Is
that know perfectly we'll what the feel
ing Of many PEOPLE WHO are travellers re-
gsrdinR persons of my color is. They
cannot help it. and i cannot help IL, and
I'm going to give them 10 occasion for
any annoyance while am passenger on
your boat. simply ask you that you
see to it that am made as comfortable
as possible. and assure you that you
will have no reason for complaint"
The bluff captain stepped back pace
or two, looked Bruce over, and then held
out his hand and said, with great empha-
sis, "Dy -, you shall sit at my table;
you shall sit on my light hand on the
entirs trip and IL any man offsets, ne
will have to fight me. A man who can
talk as you have, and who is ms fair as
you are. is - sight better fitted to bs
United States senator than some Of
the whit, senators i have carried en-
this boat, and on that entire trip OF
some tire, days ths captain made Bruce
his guest.
The same quality served Bruce ad-
mirably IL tho enate, and 1t was one CT
the most impressive OF Washington sights
TO soc the mulato senator and his coll
league. the aristccrat Lsmar, walking
daily together mp the avenue to the Capt.
tol. Lamar, the scholar the orator, the
fine type of Souts ern chivalry aud crlti-
vation, had the highest II spscs for Bruce
ana preferred his ecmpanIopsbi i'm the
daily walks to and from tho Capitol to
that OF any other senator. Afterward,
when Lamar became secretary of tte in
terror, Bruce went to see him, and said
that he had procured good many APP
pointments In the interior department;
In fact, good many ore than his
share, and he had come to see his former
colleague so ttat he might take counsel
with him in respect to such action in the
way of removals as Lamar might have
in mind.
Thereupon Lamar said to him:
Bruce. not one, OF the men who have
been appointed i'm this department. at
your recommendation shall be removed
while I am here, except for suoh cause
"a would make you remove them yourself
il you were secretary of the interior. -
philadelnhia pr(ss