The colored American., 1903-02-14
THE YONKER NE vs..
Negroes at the 4" hite House
Bruce Grit takes Issue with
Capt. mebane-Coiored People
r ally Not i" ented at =" hit
House Rec ptions

Bruce WIZ AICAIAOA
nor "redouble,' renews to Capt. II. A.
w. Mebane, the son of a gallant sire.
who was his friend, the assurances OF
his DISTINGUISHED consideration, ana
begs TO saw that there will be no con-
troversv between the captain and hlm-
self "touchin' upon and app6Ttaln1n
to the recent attendance at WnlCe
House reception of a number OF emlh-
emily respectable and influential breth-
rem.
The wisom or the unwisdom of that
performance is not going to be deter
mined by a controversy in Whlch Che
controversialists have opinions about
it which they have the courage 10 eA-
press.
ontimistic view of the matter, because
I am not smart enough, nor old enough
TO see it in the same light that he sees
if I do not believe what he says ne
believes. will be the logical outcom
of this business. | have merely eH-
pressed my opinion as venerable
American citizen at the same time
conceding to every other American
citizen the right to express his. There
is always bound to be more OF less
diversity of opinion on this suDJect
among colored and white citizens, and
does
they are either cowardly or unmanly.
I have always had the courage of my
convictions and | have generally sue
ceeded in saying what l have wanted to
saw without reference to popular com
mendation of my utterances- L have
done so in this instance, and under
stood perfectly what l was saying,
and how it would be regarded by those
who would take the trouble TO read 1t
What | said on this subject was no1
said with the purpose of condemnlne
the attendance of colored people al
White House receptions-for nc
amount of criticism or condemnation
of the practice could deter our socially
inclined colored citizens from attend
ing these receptions when invited 10
do so. / merely question the wisdom
of it at this particular Crisis, In view
of that fact that the race question Is
inst now more acute than it has ever
been before in this country SO rhat'
when / said, quoting St PauIs words.
"All things lawful are not eXpedlent,
| was clearly within my rights, as
were also those to whom my criticism
applied, when they availed themselves
of the opportunity to bask in the
smiles and grasp the good right hand
of the President. AS to the ultimate
effect of the presence of these dear
10 COL AMERISAN
brethren at the White House, there VIII
of course. as my learned, gOod-looklng,
youthful and able critic agree, always
be differing opinions. l am not SO
hopeful as he seems to be on this
particular point l don't believe that
the barrier is going to be broken down
as easily as he says it will be. D1plo-
mas bank accounts, education and re
finement are all of them most com
mendable especially when they are
possessed by Negroes who are one re
move from slavery and about three
removes from barbarism- Those who
are outside the breastwOrkS, are not
brilliant enough TO jump into the social
swim with the alacrity of the educated
sons and daughters of horny-handed
slave fathers and mothers. | fear that
some of the elect who have pride IN
their mental and material assets viii
find before a great while that the
present pace" is a little too swift for
good and lasting results. True the
White House belongs to the people and
the Negroes are part of the people, and
they have as much right there as any
other people; still l think it is a
mistake in the present crisis when
there is so much more at stake. than
tho mere qualification CT our desire 10
shine socially among the big wigs of