The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-26
Fred. Douglass On San Domingo.
his LECTURE IN BALTIMORE.

Frederick Douglass delivered lecture on
San Domingo, before large audience,
half of whom were white. The exer-
cises commenced with prayer by the Rev.
DIR. Dennison, (white,) enc of the editors
of the Washington Neas Era who, among
other things, returned thanks to God that
Congress had performed the great deed on
the last day Of its session, (the passage OF
the Ku-Klux BILL, and invoked the
Almighty to provide strong hands and
stout hearts to carry out the provisions OF
that great crowning act of the session.
The lecturer of the evening, Mr.. Frederick
Douglass, was then introduced, and spoke
upwards of two hours and half.
He said he had heretofore been in the
habit of speaking extemporaneously, but
as this lecture was on an important sub
ject-one engrossing the minds of all men
and as he designed 1t somewhat as his
report on the late commission to San Do
mingo, he had put his thoughts on paper.
He was in favor of annexation, but as that
subject was no longer new one, it would
be difficult for him or any one. else at this
day to say aught that was new. AS to
its propriety, every one had a right to his
own opinion-he loved free expression
of opinion, and all men, especially the
colored, should carefully canvass every
public measure. The colored race was no
longer chattels, but men and citizens, with
all the rights and privileges of men, able
to appear at the ballot-box as we'll as the
cartridge-box, and also, when properly
qualified, to sit in the jury-box. There
fore, all should endeavor to qualify for the
new state opened to the race. he rejoiced
to see white men well informed, and at the
same time he desired to see the colored
man but little behind his white brother.
He regretted to see Charles Sumner, one
of the brightest statesmen of the age, diff
fer with the President on the question OF
annexation. Mr.. Sumner had done more
than any man living for the colored race,
and be was still largely in their interest,
but be should consider that there was a
wide difference between the present time
and twenty years ago. Then the lecturer
bitterly opposed the annexation of any
more territory, for the simple reason that
extension of territory meant extension of
slavery. He and his party opposed the
annexation of Canada because at that time
that province was a convenient place to
visit when the colored man Of the slave
States desired to travel. They opposed
annexing Cuba and Mexico, because that
would have been an extension of slavery |;
but now the great stumbling block being
removed, they were in favor of extending
the protecting arm of this country in every
direction.
Thousands upon thousands from the
European countries were coming here
every year, and why not admit the hand
full of Dominicans who desire to become
citizens of the great Republic. Mr.. Doug
lass said he went to San Domingo to see
and hear, and here came in the remarkable
fact that colored man should have been
selected as one of the commissioners. The
very man who had been snubbed on board
of steamboats, and railroad cars on account
of his color, had dined with the command
er of United States frigate and with the
attached to it, and had been their daily
companion for weeks. Things have
changed wonderfully, but still the fools
were not yet all dead, although many Of
them were improving.
Of all the West India islands San Do
mingo was the largest, richest and most
beautiful, embracing an area of $4,000
square miles, with summer lasting all
the year round, and with mountains COW
cred with the richest verdure and the most
valuable of woods. He said one Of the
principal questions asked him by the col
ored people on his return was, "what dc
the people out there eat ?" and he then pro.
ceeded to narrate the products of the soil
Sc. The great difficulty with the people
Of San Domingo was that nature had done
too much for them, and it was a truism
that where nature does all man very rarely
does anything. He had seen and talked
with men engaged in saving hard wood 10
the sun, and they were contented and hap
Ply, and enjoyed the best of health. 1t was
all nonsense to say the climate was too hot
One of the pleasant incidents Of bis
trip was meeting at SANTANA colony Of
colored people who he had seen depart
from Baltimore forty.seven years ago
Six of the original number are still living
at ripe old age; but with their descend
ants and the descendants of those deceased
the colony now numbers more than six
hundred. Although these people lived
alongside of the Spanish Catholics, they
still maintained their old Methodist re-
ligion, and had their own church and
schools.
he then went on to speak of the morals
of the people. During three weeks
stay in San Domingo city he had seen but
one drunken man, and be was an Ameri.
can, and but one street difficulty, and that
between colored policeman and one Of
the crew of the Tennessee. He spoke Of
the colleges and public and private schools,
remarking that he witnessed lady teach
ing school of children and smoking a
cigar at the same time. The lecturer con-
cluded by indicating the course of the adj
ministration in the San Domingo matter,
and claiming that the people of the island
must have the protection of the United
States government.
How GEN. FAIDHERBE Cor HIS WIFE.
Gen. Faidherbe was formerly Governor of
Senegal, and was at one time much an
noyed by the continual attacks of a certain
African chief who controlled band of