Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1911-08-04
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Arlstocrat and the Ex-SIase Whs
We're Friends.
Peculiar intimacy That Existed Be-
tween slanehe x. Bruce and l. Q.
c. Lamar From the Time That
Beth Were Elected Senators.
BY z. .. EDWARDS.


In 1875 Blanche X. Bruce, born n
slavery and the first negro to SIT In
the United States senate, was made q
member Of that body by the Missis
sippi legislature. Two years later that
state named as It's other senatorial
representative L. Q. c. Lamar who
had drafted the ordinance Of seces-
sion adopted by Mississippi, led his
regiment at Yorktown and Williams.
burg, and otherwise labored assld.
uously In behalf of the Confederacy.
In color, In antecedents, in training.
In politics, the ex.slave and the man
who was destined to win seat on the
United States Supreme court, were as
lar apart as the poles; yet shortly
after Mr.. Lamar had become senator
II was noticed with more or less aston.
ishment In various quarters that he
and the senior senator from Mlssis-
sippi were on the most friendly terms.
/ There are old residents in Washing
ton Who doubtless can easily recall
how Senator Lamar and Senator
Bruce used to walk arm In arfu about
the residential streets OF the capital
city and through its parks and
squares. Seemingly, II never occur.
red to the white man that the com.
panion Of his outings was of another
race. that his early life had been
spent In bondage, And when Senator
Bruce retired from the senate and be
came registrar Of the treasury in
1881. the intimacy between him and
Senator Lamar continued, their
walks about Washington being ample
outward evidence of their friendship.
Together, during all the period that
both men were in the senate, they
would visit the postofice department
relative to appointments. Whenever
It became necessary for him to go TO
the department, Senator Lamar would
courteously ask his negro colleague to
accompany him, and more than once
they were seen making their way
there arm In arm, as though they were
old cronies. And It was noticed that
the advances invariably came from
Senator Lamar; that Senator Bruce
did not presume upon the official re-
lations that existed between him and
Senator Lamar to force his personal
attentions upon the latter.
At the beginning Of Grover Cleye-
lands first term as president Senator
Lamar became secretary of the inte-
rior. Not long thereafter he sent
word to Senator Bruce, then getting
ready to retire as registrar of the
treasury. that he would like to see
him. A little later the secretary was
receiving the registrar as he would an
old friend. and confessing to him that
he doubted whether he was as well
equipped for an executive Office as he
was for a judicial or legislative post.
But" he said, 81 am going to make
as good secretary of the interior as
| am able" Then he brought I'D a
personal matter.
Senator" he asked, how many ap-
pointees Of yours are there In this de-
Well" replied Bruce, II can't tell
but possibly there Is a larger
number here than should have asked
for"
DO you think So Senator?" queried
Secretary Lamar. We'll, have sent
for you simply to say this: Not one
Of your appointees in this department
shall be touched. You can tell them
all that they need feel no anxiety;
they shall stay here as long as l am
secretary of the interior"
Shortly after Justice Lamar's death.
In 1898. Senator Bruce was reminded
Of this incident.
Judge Lamar was faithful. TO that
self-imposed and unsought for prom.
Ise." said Bruce. "Not an appointee
of the Interior department named on
my recommendation was removed by
him. And when l recall this and all
the other great kindnesses and the
solicitude he showed for me at all
times, do you wonder that | shall
speak OF him as one of the noblest
characters and truest gentlemen I
have ever heard Of or known7"
Copyright. 1910. by =. J. Edwards. An
Rights Reserved.)