The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-23
FREDERICK HIMSELF AGAIN3

Frederick Douglass always was a
talented man, but our Bourbon negro
haters are only just finding it out. The
truth, however, has at last dawned upon
the average Democratic mind, and the
startling fact been made apparent, that
he is one of the talented men the East
ern Shore has produced This is GER
tainlv quite confession for so truthful
and respectable an authority as the
" Baltimore Sun" Douglass has very
recently delivered two addresses in
Maryland. One in Baltimore short
time ago, and the other at St. Michaels,
on Sunday last For one the Democ-
racy cursed, for the other they blessed
him. Equally truthful on both occa-
sions; yet for the one he is compliment
ed, for the other damned
At Baltimore, he took Washington
under old Bourbon Democratic rule, as
a subject. He painted it to the life
The pencil of the artist never transferred
to canvas the landscapes varying lights
and shades with more consummate skill
than Douglass drew his word-picture of
the social lights and shadows of old
Washington life. 1t was no allegory
be painted; but life, actual and real, as
he and his race had experienced it
Scarcely had the echo of his voice
ceased to resound within the walls of
Douglass Institute than the indignant
Bourbons set Washington in blaze of
Indignation. The otlense lay not SO
much in what was said, as in the hui
initiating fact that black man had said
it. Washington had been traduced and
a negro was it's traducer. That was
the unkndest cut of all. Democratic
papers the country over poured out
their anathemas on his devoted head.
Local aristOcrats demanded his official
determination, and hysterical old maids
tainted in disgust at the indignity put
upon them and their families. Petitions
poured in asking his removal in dis
grace, as Marshal of the District. Even
his sureties threatened to withdraw
from his bond A black cloud of uni
versal trouble shut out the "societv :"
sun of Washington. inspired by a single
sable son Of Africn. Washington, how
ever, slept night during its allliction
and awakened to the humiliating dis
coverv that two years before Douglass
had delivered the self-same address,
without comment or discussion, in their
verv midst. Then returning reason
brought many man to grief, as he
viewed by sober daylight the miserable
proportions of the mole-hil that passion
had magniiied into mountain. The
reaction was fearful. The mercury in
the social thermometer fell to zero, and
protesting petitions, penned in plaintive
phrase, were stolen quietly from their
files. Indignation had destroyed itself
by its own violence.
After reasonable period of dignifed
silence, Douglass speaks again. This
time at St. Michaels, on Sunday last.
The occasion is his visit to his old mas
ter, who received him with fearful eye
and falterng tongue The Baltimore
Sun says that both wept. Forty-one
long years had elapsed since last they
met, or rather since Fred had departed
by the method of the French. Grown
candid by years, the old master declared
him too smart ever to be slave The
prediction was safe one, and which
time has well verified. Mellowed by
the overlooking recollections of early
slave days, Douglass improved the
occasion to address words of counsel
and wisdom to the Sunday excursion
loving brothers, who had accompanied
their distinguished teacher His adj
dress was most admirable Its lessons
were the suggestion Of sense, and his
counsels the best of the season Com
menting on them the Sun ~ declares,
"thev did honor to his head and heart" "
Speaks of him as the former slave now
returning covered with honors," and
eulogizes him as one of the talented
Eastern Shoremeu of the period Verify,
verify, can it all be true2 And vet the
Sun hath said it. Truly it matters
much what man saith, and where he
says it. But Douglass is redeemed
and his star is again in the ascendant
Not until he shall again utter disagree.
able truths and recall painful recolIec.
tions of Washington aristocrats, will