Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-17
Tired, Douglas,

This notorious fugitive slave addressed tht
literary societies Of Western Reserve College
on the occasion Of the annual commencement
on the oath nit. The taste that dictated hi:
election to this post of honor, in preference tc
hundreds of white men, infinitely superior il
! intellectual cndowments, literary requirements
and social status is evidence that the friends o.
Western Reserve College are real republicans
desirous of being, at all times and on all occa
siuns, ftly represented by those whom they may
see as their organs. For this purpose Fred
Douglas answers better than any other person
would, whom they could select, unless we except
perhaps Horace Greeley, Theodore Parker OF
Wendell Phillips. Iimilia Sin,iibue-like to
liIc-sccms to have dictated the appointment oi
J Fred. Douglas, and We have no right 10 quarrel
with the literary societies of Western Reserve
College, for showing him = prefercnce-no more
right Than we would have, if they had appointed
an ass as their mOulhpicce in their commence
ment celebration.
The ball once set in motion, we may confident
" expect that Fred. Douglas will receive the
same mark Of honor and distinction ut the hands
of Harvard or Yale. Certain it is he has admi
rers who ill the PROFESSIONAL chairs of these
institutions of learning, and Southern students
who are wont TO resort to them for instruction
in philosophy. science land morals, may with
confidence expect at no distant day to he enight,
cncd and edited by this sable orator upon
{" the clailns of the negro race"
II Southern parents and guardians will persist
in sending their sons and wards to Northern
colleges 10 be taught moral science by Way
land, and physical science bya SiIliman-both
rank abolilonis;s if they will force their pat
ronage rpon Yale and Harvard in despite of the
declaration of their professors ,ilat they do not
desire Southern patronage, they may reasonably
expect that Fred. Douglass, or Wendell Philips,
or Abby Kelly will favor their sons and wards
with homilies upon s. tho claims Of the negro
race" on commencement days. What IL beaui-
ful finale TO the collegiate career of Il Southern
student in IL Northern college would it be to re-
ceiye his diploma at The hands of Fred Douglass,
the presentation accompanied by an address upon
the >inlIilness vf slavery,
The literary societies of Western Reserve
College did not surely neglect to elect and inti-
ate Fred Douglass, as;an honorary member.
And we presume that the Trustees and Faculty
of the College did not fail to confer upon such
distinguished saram the significant degree of
ASS. If these marks Of regard, alike appro-
PIRATE 10 the recipient and to those who may
confer them, were omitted, we suggest that the
omission be at once repaired. Then the sable
orator and his considerale patrons would all be
branded asses.
The New York Tribuneis very much elated
by this attempt to ennubls Erred. Douglass, for
getting that the inevitable effect will be to de-
grade his friends and lile1S;s patrons to the same
social position that he occupies. 1t forewarns
the politicians and members of Congress from
the South to be prepared to encounter Fred. ere
long in The House Of Representatives. when they
will be forced (" to respect his abilities as they
deserve" So look out for Fred. Douglass I!
But surely Grce!y wiIl'not be so nconsidcrate
as TO expose his friend and protege to the hazards
Of being captured and restored 10 slavery. In
such an event, the literary societies of Western
Rcserve College would never again be favored
with lecture from their sable commencement
orator on the claims of the negro race" What
Il sad misfortune that would be.-Columbia
Times