Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-18
Communicated.
FRED. DOUGLASS.

The recent speech of the new Mar
shall at Baltimore, in which he handled
in his own peculiar style the sensitive
people at Washington, has raised
something Of a stir throughout the
country as we'll as at the Capital, and
the circumstance recalls TO us some OF
the peculiarities OF the irrepressible
Fred. His constant boast on the stand
was his African descent, and which was
always Extensively obtruded upon his
hearers as something worthy of spe-
cial merit something deserving of add
miration and applause-that he, An AT
rican, "dyed in the WOOL" as we heard
him once express it, should possess
such transcendent talent; and Fred.
possesses undoubted talent but a la
mentable lack of modesty. The fault
however is less his than that of a race
of sol disdnt reformers who petted and
spoiled him; men like ''Pigiron Kelly"
who are ready to mount a wave on the
back of any hobby strong enough TO
carry them.
Fred.'s history is we'll known to
the country, and his talent and pluck
generally accorded, but there are per-
soual traits about the man that will
keep him from eve attaining the posi-
ton he so much covets, and any one
knowing him could easily have fore.
told that his o~verweening vanity
would ruin his prospects, and he
seems to have accom- lished that end
in a short space OF time. or course we
must make all allowance for the jeal-
ousy of the people of Baltimore aud
WashiDgtOn; All atmosphere b a a
ma in his position il o likely to
breathe very freely; but while doing
so we are pretty sure that the arrogant
and selfish mulatto has put his foot
pretty deeply into 1t, and it will re-
Quire all his well known cheek to sus-
tain himself. Fred. is VIGOROUSLY sell
fish; a case in point will illustrate
that: Near the close of the war, and
when disabled soldiers were being
sent in crowds to the hospitals North,
there were large numbers OF colored
men among them, aud as they were
much neglected they were cared for
by volunteer nurses. A number
of refined and educated ladies
took charge Of a colored hospital
near an Eastern city, and devoted
much time and money to their
| comfort and education. On one occa.
| sion, when funds were low, a lecture
and concert was planned 10 raise
money, and Fred. Douglass, who was
at hand, was invited 60 lecture. His
note in response to the request is in
the possession of the writer: II shall
be happy to lecture for the benefit of
the colored hospital at - Hill on
the evening you name. My terms are
$50, to be paid before the lecture, which
you will please send to Mr.. Dorsey.
Yours, FRED. DOUGLASS" He lee
tured, and got his money, but we
w took stock in Fred. Douglass
again. His services to the party un-
doubtedly required somea acknowledge
ment, but We doubt the wisdom of his
appointment as Marshal of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, which our big heart
ed President gave him. Fred. COM
plains that he is misrepresented, and
very likely some points were stretched:
but we know the man and just what
he was likely TO say. "Boys," we
heard him say once to a colored regi-
ment, "Uncle Sam has put blue jackets
On your backs, and blue caps on your
heads, and muskets ia your hands.
You are going to fight the battles OF
your country and for your own Free
dom, and when you come back, If they
don't give you the ballot. why, keep the
musketS." And the staid citizens pres.
ent applauded the speech, but would
have been Mortified ii it had become
imminent that the advice might be
taken. v u u