The New York freeman., 1885-03-07

numbet tbn the school committee of the city.
The Del iocratic aldermen kept their pledges.
The Re Mahlon Vanhorn was elected to
the coz 1aittee, and he has served several
terms.
Mr.. Downing labored to have repeated the
law agai fst the inter marriage of the races,
and thatpimiting to property qualification
the franc jise of naturalized citizens. He took
| decided stand against discrimination in the
| re-ogaplSstion of the Rhode Island militia.
The Go rnor commissioned him captain Of
colore& company of the State militia. MIR.
| Downing Immediately returned the commits
| sion WITH letter protesting against the dis
| criminati&a. The governor, be it said to his
credit, p1 mptly sent new one with no
qualifying phrase.
In theaAst campaign, Mr. Downing re-
| fused to Spport Mr.. Blaine. He was made
the targdF Of much private and some public
critieismS but he believed that the Republi-
can pastyA mad proven faithless to the col
ored peoH and that neither the party nor
It's unfortAnase candidate was worthy of the
suffrages Raf the former unainching and
! Mr. Doybhing Had come to feel thas -Ihe
Democratic party of to-day is not what ii
was twentE five years ago. After Repub-
lican Supteme Court declared Civil Rights
legislation null and void, he conferred per-
sonally i'll some cases and by letter with
leading Democrats in New Jersey, Connecti-
cut and Ohio, and found them ready to ac-
cord equal and exact justice to all men. He
found Democrats voting for and passing
laws for the enforcement of Civil Rights. II
: was no difficult thing for him to oppose
Blaine.
Mr.. Downing sees the necessity and wisdom
, for a division of the colored vote. He hopes
that the, Democrats who do not enjoy the
r confidence of the colored people may so act
, now thai they have the power, as to make 4
f possible for colored men to support thei
) public policy without a sacrifice Of self re
. spect or compromise of manhood. From
what ha is reading in newspapers, from
9 what he gathers by personal contract with
1 and frpm letters written him by leading
DEMOCRATS in high official position, MI
!, Downing believes that this party will adop
= his vnws and will seek to conciliate, wi
: over at least a part Of the colored vote, an
: thus take the color question out Of politics
y and e1rIancipate the race from political serf
- dom.
= By nature, an independent and Dol
? thinker; by nature having the courage
: his convictions, his contact on terms {
- personal intimacy with Summer, Phillip!
- Garrison, Theodore Parker, and the earl
abolitionists, has made Mr.. Downing fea
4 less leader sans peur ct sans reproche. ID
L acquaintance with the public men OF OF
IN country was very wide. He knew PERSONAL
es Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John j. Cri
lie tendon, Silas Wright, Stephen A. D0ugla
TO Henry A. Wise, Thurlow Weed, Hora'
IL Greely, William Cullen Bryant, Ralp
D. Waldo Emerson, John g. Whittier, ct
We Mr.. Downing has not only succeeded as
ct public man, but has also shown marked bus
at ness ability. He owns very valuable esta
o. proIainently located on the most fashionab
ne thofoughfare of Newport. The DowniT
J. and Casino stores are the most fashlonab
ne of the city. Mr.. Downing, having retire
n from business, has placed the burden of n
Se;; old establishment upon other shoulders
nd past at least is secure, and all over 1t ne n
ne written the grand word, success.
mt But, pause! This is not the time or pla
ger for eulogy. l leave the analysis of NJ
to Downing irreproachable public and priva
orS character to the mind and pen of his biogl
for pher. l have simply sketched the leadi
OF events of his glorious life. He needs no la
re- rel wreath from my feeble mind; no g
land of words from my hasty pen. His
ted speaks with matchless eloquence Of
et- greatness of his intellect and the nobility
rus his soul; and simple statement of
vas work would be the brightest crown OF glt
ars that could be placed upon his brow, VIII
DRY ever God sees fit to end his .eventtul a
re- ilustrious career. T. MCCANTs STEWART