Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-05

fact, incredible as it may appear to the Anne
ricsn reader. His maternal grandfather was
a negro, named Annibal, who was patronized
by the Car, and became an officer in the
marine service. OF his African origin
Pushkin bore in his personal appearance
and mental characteristics, the most unequivo-
cal marks. An article in Blackwood, for the
9th month, 1915, describes him as follows
THE closely curled why hair, the mobile
and irregular features, the darkness Of the
complexion, all betrayed his African descent,
and served as an appropriate outside 10 his
character"
AT an early age, Pushkin became a pupil
In the Imperial Byceum, then recently pstIb-
llshed and richly endowed by Aiexandcr.-
While here, the young man, after f|ecitinr
one OF his pieces on a public occasion. was
pronounced a POsi by the aged Derzhavin. the
author Of that sublime ode to the Supreme.
which has no equal out Of the Book OF Books.
On leaving the Lyceum, in 1917, he was at
tachpd to the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
While In this honorable position. he PUBLISH
ed his FIRST poem. which Immediately attain
ed a high degree of popularity. lie now be-
came a traveller, visiting all the romantic sec.
tons Of the vast empire. His principal 30.
etii work, "Esgenii Oieigin." is said to be
the fullest and most complete embodiment
that exists in Russian literature of the nation
atty Of the country. His small poems and
brief stories or novelties were published in
several volumes in rapid succession. His
tragedy OF BOris G0IuRoF is spoken Of by
the writer in Blackwoud. whom we have
quoted, as belonging to the highest order of
dramatic literature. He had Just finished his
history Of Peter the Great, when he became
involved in the quarrel which resulted in his
death, at the age of thirly-eight.
He was not ashamed Of his negro ancestor.
On the contrary, he seems to have been proud
OF his descent. He has consecrated more
than one Of his smaller poems to the memo
ry Of the black sea captain, and His works
contain frequent illusions to his African
blood.
We have alluded to this remarkable man
for the purpose of exposing the utter folly and
injustice of the emlnon prejudice against the
colored race in this country. Ii is a prejn-
dice wholly Incompatible with enlightened
republicanism and true Christianity. 1t de-
grades the possessor as well as its victim.
With our feet on the neck of the black man,
We nave tainted him with his inferioritv (;
shutting him out from school and college, We
have denied his capacity for intellectual pro-
- 80 : SpullllP iiliI ilOiil tllc llptLilu house
and church communion, we have reproached
him as vicious, and incapable of moral eleva-
ton. What is this, in fact, but the common
subterfuge Of tyranny, seeking an excuse for
its oppression by maligning its unhappy OBJ
jects, and making the consequences of its
own cruelty upon them an apology for its
continuancel With such examples of the
intellectual capacity of the colored man as
are afforded by L'OveGture. and Potion, Of
Hayti; Dumas, of France Pushkin, of Rus.
STA and Placido, the slave poet and marty
of Cuba, to say nothing of such men as James
Mcclure Smith, Frederick Douglass, Henry
IL. Garnet, and Henry Bib, in our owr
country, it is scarcely in good taste for whit
mediocrity to taunt the colored man with ma
r tural inferiority. Do not Toussaint's deed
r for freedom, and Pushkin's songs Of a gres
+ nation, waken within all hearts the sympi
thies of a common nature?
. "There spoke our brother! There OF
fathers grave
!, Did utter forth a voice !"
In the colored mans follics and crime.
: his loves and hatreds, his virtues and weak
nesses, we but recognize our common hu
mainly, and realize the truth of the inspired
! Apostles language" COP HATH MADE Of
ONE BLOOD ALL HI GENERATIONS OF MEN"