The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-28
DOUGLASS BRIDE.
The Distinguished Bridegroom Elk
presses Himself
He Thinks His Marriage Is Not the
PubIle's Affair --SOrsse Re
marks on the sub
Ieet of Race.

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. q. The Wash
ington Post has the following; When Mr..
Douglass appeared in the parlor of his resi-
dence Friday night in response to a reporters
call he did not appear in the least disturbed
by the excitement which his marriage had
occasioned Il don't see why there should be
any COMMENT said he 1t is certainly not
any event OF public moment | have simply
exercised the rights which the laws
accord to every citizan, and | am as
tonished that city 50 large as | consider
Washington to be should become at once SO
small. 1t seems that the newspapers would
present to the eye of public curiosity and to
thoae, too, which every man holds most dear
and sacred, the affairs of the family. What
would You have me say can give 10 ex-
planation. / can make no apology
The opinion has been expressed that the
coloTed p sO3le, who look to you as a leader.
viii consider your position in the light of
your present action as equivocal."
81 do not presume 10 be a leader" an
swered Mr. Douglass, but if | have adyo-
Gated the cause of the coloTed people it is not
because | am a negro. but because | am a
man. The same iinpulSa which would move
me TO jump into the water to save a white
child from drowning causes me to espouse the
cause of the down-troiden and oppressed
wherever | tint theEl. Mr.. lincoln
and Mr. Sumner were leaders of the
colored people far greater than I, an
humble citizen, can ever hone to be They
were both white men. What effect then,
can the affairs OF MY private life have upon
my principles OF JUSTICE want for the
Al
of citizenship. and Tor those objects | am
stall working just as earnestly ana shall con-
tinue to do so until the end
1t Is said that your action reflects unfavor-
ably upon the women of the coiored race,
and will consequently nave ruinous effect
upon your political future"
Il have 10 political aspirations. am get
ting we'll along in years now and | wish only
to live quietly ami peaceabiy, doing all the
good | can All this excitement, then, Is
CAUSED by a marriage OF a woman few
shades lighter than myself Ii | had married
a black woman there would have been moth
ing said abnat j. Yet the disparity i'll our
comilt&;ons wolii have been the same
am no. an African, as may b.
seen from my features and hair, and
it is eqadiy easy t. discern that
am not Caucasian. There ar many col
orei la lies of my acquaintance who are as
as good as |, an who are a great deal better
edIca,ei, get IN Affairs of this nature who
is to decide tn, why AMI Wherafore' | have
b2en associated with the lady who has be
come my y. Tor some ti=ae past. / came
10 know he. web and pleased with her,
aad she, nope, with me. conceive said
he III conclusion, ''th I there is no division Of
races Col Aimi IA made hut one
raye. l adopt the tn.ory that in tine the
varieties Of races will be blended into one
Let Us look baci. wien the black and the
white people We're distinct in this country
In 30 years there has hs,n growa up d mill
ion of intsIln-llat- AMI ms VIII continue
You may say that Frederick Douglass CON
siders himself member OF the one race which
exists
Mr. Douglass stated that the disparity in
ages had been exaggerated The lady has at
tanned her 10Th year.
Themarriase has created profound sensa-
ton among colored people, With the com
mon class, the BARRIERS, w.sitars, and loaferS,
there is nothing but the severest condemna-
ton They say the leader of the colored
race should have married a colored woman,
and that b. failing to do So he has shown his
contempt for his own race and his uniitness
for LEADING them. Such leaders as Bruce,
Professor e4-ee~er, and Rainey have been in
terviewed, and they think Ii is all right As
Rainey said: IF a coiored gentleman
chances 10 select a white woman for u wife
it's nohodv's business