The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-05-08

foundries, and while living in the new
world he began to hear of Garrison
and he very soon subscribed tor the
Liberator.'
He read what books he could
reach-among them SCOTS Lady OF
the Lake" Charmed in the charas.
ter of the noble maid, he cast away
the name Of his former bondage, and
henceforth called himself Frederick
Douglass name whose renowr
will long linger among men.
1t was here that he married and
began to plant family OF his own.
fle mingled with the lcolored people
that had gathered under the northern
stars. He ventured to speak in their
meetings, and the fire of his elo.
quence kindled to flame. In 1871
great convention assembled at Nan.
tucket; Douglass appeared and ad-
dressed the throng. From that time
his course was upward. He was
Immediately employed as an agent
of the American Anti-Slavery Socie-
ty, and thus his long career as the
champion Of freedom for his race be-.
gan. Though in danger OF recap
,ure he lectured everywhere in the
North. He went to England, where
his course was an ovation. There
he found friends who gave the funds
(el5O) to purchase the bond of his
liberty. Returning TO America he
settled in Rochester, western New
York, and started his paper, which
became power in the cause to which
he had devoted hl, life.
lie saw the rising storm of civil
war, which the madness of slavery
finally brought on. lie heard the first
thunders Of that awful tempest, and
sent two of his sons into the strife,
who bore themselves bravely till the
day was won.
He was the personal friend OF Lin
coin, and when Johnson succeeded to
the White House, Douglass came to
plead with him TO- those civil rights
OF the black men which were still
withheld. His speech on that occa.
sion will live in the history OF those
days. AS he and his associates turn
ed away he said" Mr.. President we
will take our appeal to the people,"
II was noble answer to the sophism
with which the delegation had been
mocked; 1t was IN the winter of &c;
Douglass remained in the city, and
was invited to deliver his famous
lecture OH the Assassination of Pres.
ident Lincoln He stood on the
platform of the old First Presby teri
an Church, then the only place in the
city where he could speak unmolest.
ed, and swayed the vast and crowded
audience with Websterian power
The only allusion to the course OF
President Johnson which escaped
him was climax of one of his mas
terly passages, which thrilled every
heart when he said Had Mr.. Lin
coin lived, he would have been the
friend and counselor of the black
man. He would not have begun by
playing the role of Moses and ended
by playing the role Of Pharoah.n
Mr.. Douglass was subsequently
designated to accompany the famous
commission to Santa Domingo at the
instance Of President Grant, and
when he returned he added the weight
of his great influence to the views OF
the commissioners, and in support Of
the patriotic sentiments and efforts Of
the Administration.
He stands to-day among his peo-
pie, and among all Americans, one
OF the foremost men. In the new
arrangements for the Presidential
term before us, he deserves some
recognition commensurate with his
great abilities aud his distinguished
labors.