The Washington bee., 1888-02-11
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

lied by the American people as a
great man and recognized as the
foremost negro in the land, but
there are certain traits in the
personal of this American citizen
that would make a county democ-
racy politicisn blush. Frederick
Douglass of to-day is Frederick
Douglass of the past nothing great
about him, but possessing charac-
teristics which are small.
Had a meeting been called by
others to condemn the action of
the Willard hall convention, it
may have had some effect. But
when it is remembered that Mr..
Douglass, in connection with the
'ditor of the BEE, devised and
planned a mode to defeat that
class of citizens, who have been
characterized a mob by MIR. Doug
lass, it Is In bad task for him to
rise up as a "god of purity" to
eliminate that to which he was a
party and resort to methods 10
satisfy his personal ambition. So
far as the editor of the BEE is
concerned, he acted in good faith
with Mr.. Douglass. Mr.. Douglass
made three visits to the office; the
first one was to draw up protest
against the action of the New
Central Republican Committee, he
with ourselves dictated the
manifesto to Hon. A. M. Clapp.
after we had consulted with him
at his residence 1t was after this
consultation that Mr.. Douglass
agreed to meet the editor of the
BEE at his Office, which he did.
The next two meetings were
held at the BEE office and it was
agreed. that the convention should
be bolted ifit were necessary, be
(Mr. Douglass) deposited the mon
ey according to his own admission,
for the rental of hall, the receipt
of which the editor of the BEE
has in his possession. The
conventiass convened, and not
vgssss.ing, an attempt was
made by the opposition to keep
legally elected delegates out of
the hall, it was ascertained that
the opposition was in the minority
and a bolt was not Lecessary. At
this convention Mr.. Douglass
called the editor of the BEE aside
and said, "Chase tell Dyson to
hold the chair" and also said to
Dyson to hold the chair. An
organization was perfected under
the Craftsmanship of Mr.. Dyson,
afterwhich MIR. Chase nominated
Messrs. Shellabarger and Douglass.
as delegates, and Holland and
Adams as alternates.
There was opposition to the
nomination of Mr.. Douglass, hence
it was necessary to withdraw it.
After the withdrawal of Mr..
Douglass nomination the follow
ing was offered and elected
Shellabsrger aud Dyson, Chase
and Holland. Mr.. Douglass did
not leave the hall, until after or
little before the election of the
Carson delegation. Mr.. Douglass
was nominated by Mr.. William
Beckett at the Carson meeting, to
which he made no objections
nor did any of his friends who
participated in the regular organ
izatlon make any objections to
the name of Mr., Douglass when
1t was presented at the Carson
meeting. At the meeting called
by Mr.. Douglass, his son Louis
and others, the editor of the BEE
attended the meeting, and while
there Mr.. Douglass left his seat
and approached the editor and
said, "Did you say that I gave
you money to rent hall? 81
did," said the editor of the BEE
"You are a scoundrel," said
Mr.. Douglass" You are another"
said the editor of the BEE. What
did the editor of the BEE do to
warrant such a remark from Mr..
Douglass The editor of the BEE
has always respected Mr.. Douglass,
but he will not allow any man,
great or small to do an injury to
him without defending himself.
This is the editors answer, and
let the public decide whether Mr..
Douglass was justified in applying
the approbious epithet for which
he was justly rebuked.