The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-01-08

A Declaration of Principles and a Course
of Action for Every American to Follow.
To the Editor of The SENTINEL
Dear Sr-On my return from
Washington, D. c., whittier I had
gone on important business, and
where, in the private office of the
Executive Mansion, while calling on
President Hayes, l had the honor to
meet and exchange greetings with that
distinguished representative of your
race, the Hon. Frederick Douglass,
the present efficient United States
Marshal for the District of Columbia,
received your paper for December
4th, 1880, and read s'W." reply to
my article of a few weeks previous.
Not to know "W." may be to argue
ones self unknown, but | am not
aware that have ever even seen him,
and only your editorial endorsement
that he is "a man of intelligence and
character induces me at this late day
to refer to his "reply" at all. 1t par
took of the nature of personal at
tack. That might have been due to
a belligerent disposition, sense of
disappointment over the result of the
National contest, and the carrying of
a Republican Legislature in New Jer-
sey; to a feeling of aggrievement
over some real or fancied wrong indi-
vidual to himself, or applicable to his
race, or to a severe attack of indiges-
ton. Whatever the cause, the barbed
arrows of his rhetoric have not either
wounded my good nature or disturbed
my sense of fair play and courteous
treatment. So, in all candor, let lis
see pf what ssW." accuses me.
First says that l am ''sophis-
tal'' in the article which has evoked
his personalities. Let us analyze that
article: In it | first commended the
sentiment to which you gave editorial
expression, to wit /: that the action of
intelligent colored men, politically,
should be ascribed to something higher
than a greed for office; and then
commended you and those who la
bored with you, because you and they
had striven to "deSerOe", even if you
did not command, success" Is that
''sophistry"? Secondly gave cred
it, by name, to some of your race,
whose characters and labors tended to
break down the color prejudice, to
advance the great party which we be-
lieve is allied to the best development
Of our whole country and to win
recognition for their fellows, from which
would come the opportunity, out of
which incalculable benefits would flow
to the colored race itself. This /
claimed was better than the crumbs in
the way of office that might now fall
from the Republican table. At most,
this was nothing further than the ex-
preston of an opinion. But does
"W." find anything "sophistical " in
it?
Thirdly-I proclaimed, that as
rule, the colored man had been faith
full as a slave, as a soldier, and as
citizen, and that the nation owed him
a debt of gratitude I trusted it might
fully pay. Does "W." object to the
"sophistry" contained in this?
Fourthly-I uttered the truism, that
much depended upon the race itself
before it could be lifted to the full
standard of its possible usefulness.
Surely 'W.", subjecting this express
sion even to microscopic test, will not
proclaim it sophistical.
And, lastly, quoted from speech
of President-elect Garfield, in which
ne said that cit is the purpose of the
best men on this continent to give
your race an equal chanee." Even if
"W." sh0uM pronounce this "sophis-
try" the colored race should all turn
Oliver Twists, and "c,y fer more"
Having analysed and epitomized
the article in question (and | will leave
1t to any unparalleled reader to deter
nine whether fairly or not), l ask
you, Mr.. Editor, whether or not you
had to "gulp down" to borrow
w. language, "the 'S0phtSky' OF
Mr.. Throckmorton"?
But then "W." says, very kindly,
that | said ga good many pleasant
things, and goes on to impure if they
are true (does "W." dare to say they
are talse?) and then asks number of
questions. He wants to know what
MIR. /. will do towards giving the
colored man political recognition, and
what he has ever done towards it p
questions as easy for Mr.. T. to answer
as Tor "W." to ask. Mr.. T. will in
the future, as he has ever done in the
past, advocate the giving to the negro,
IN every part of this land, every right
mat belongs to any American citizen