Huntsville gazette., 1890-11-01
nOUGLASS TO HIS RACE.
NotabIe Address DELIVERED by the
CoIored Statesman.
uo niscusses the So-Called Race Problem
and Deplores the Failure of Congress
90 Pass the Blair Educational and
Federal Election Bills.
~. wosbinyton Post, Oct. %.


elaborate and interesting address by
Uor Frederick Douglass on the ''Negro
pnob,an An audience composed of
,bo most thoughtful and progressive
so.,Iors Of the race listened to Mr..
nouclass with the most profound atten-
+ion frequently interrupting him with
applause.
Tbe audience was very large and the
church was crowded in every part. The
assemblage was so large, in fact, that
the aisles we're crowded and number
of narsons were obliged to stand out in
the hall and catch a glimpse OF the
sneaker over the heads of those stand
inr up. The greatest enthusiasm was
manifested, each point in Mr.. Douglass
sDeech receiving loud and continued ap-
plause. Mr.. Douglass said:
Members and Friends of the Bethel Literary
and Historical Association: | esteem it a
rreat privilege to be with you and assist in
this your first meeting since the close of your
last winters term. The organization OF your
association was an important step in the pro-
rress of the colored people in this city. 1t is
an institution well fitted to improve the
minds and elevate the sentiments not only or
its members, but Of the general public NO
where else outside of the courts of law and
the Congress Of the United States have
heard vital public questions more seriously
discuss The men selected to address you
know very well that what they may utter is
subjected to close scrutiny and severe discus
son. Mere rant, Domhast. and self-infiation
may pass elsewhere, but not here. For this
reas n, and for my own sef-respect l shall
endeavor to say only what believe to be the
truth upon what is popularity clled The Ne
gro Problem
My first thought respects the Importance OF
calling things by their true names. This i'm
portance cannot be Over-estinateI or over
sta ed Truth Is the fundamental, indispen-
sable ana everlasting re yuirement in obtain
ing rightIesut No department of human
life can afford to dispense with truth The
carpenter cannot Join his tlmbers without
having the parts Of contact perfectly true to
each other. Tie mason cannot build wall
that will stand The test of time and gravita-
ton without applying the plumb and making
the wall vertical and true. No train of cars
is safe on the road where the rails are not
true. No shot is certain of its aim where the
gun barrel is not true. AS in mechanics, SO
in politics. morals, manners, metaphysics and
phiosophies; nothing can stand the test OF
time and experience that does not stand on
the unaSsailable, indestructa5le, uncbange-
able. and, considering how important this
truth is, eternal foundation OF truth. 1t
seems strange that falsehood should hold
such sway in the world. One main advantage
by which error is able to darken, blight and
dominate the minds Of men is the skill of its
votaries in using language deceitfuliy, in
pandering to prejudice py misstating and
misappyng terms to the existing relations of
men. 1t has been wei said that i'll an impor-
tant sense words are things. They are
especially such when they are employed to
express the popular sentiment concerning
the Negro; to couple mis- name with anything
in this world seems to damage it and damage
him likewise. Hence / object to characteriz-
ing the relation suhSisting between the white
and coored people of this country as the
Negro problem, as if the Negro had precpi-
tated that problem, ard as if he were in any
way responsible for tie problem. Though a
roe by any other name may smell as sweet,
IL IS not in good taste to give it name that
suggests offensive associations There are,
on the other hand, things that are in them
selves revolving, and should not be given fair
stood this principle well enough. Slavery
lost something of its offensive aspect when
It was called domestic institution or a social
system and other like names Emancipation
was made TO look dangerous when it got
itelt called an experiment, although slavery
Itself was an experiment, AMI liberty is the
normal condition of man. 1.-The Negroes
were the cause of the war; sad Mr.. Lincoln,
and straightway the loyal soldiers of the Re-
puoAc began to kick and beat the poor Ne
groeS on the banks of the Potomac, and the
lllSn began TO hang, stab and murder the Ne
grOeS IN New Pork. 1t is dangerous even to
adog to he given a bad name. / am. there
lore IN favor of empl ying the truest and
dud most grceabe names to describe the
IeaJion which at present svbsists between
ourselves and the other people of the
country
AGAIN another advantage to error and one
WEleh is often employed with marked skill
"uu eHect Is the presentation to the minds of
men OF what may be called half truths for
'aoe truths, and thus making a sweet and
SAoesome truth The cover for bitter lalse-
Hood. counterfeit nearest in likeness to
"lat IS genuine is always most likely to inn
Pose upon the unskillful. A lie ceases to be
very dangerous when it parts with its ability
aeceNe The devil is less dangerous as a
roaring lion than when transformed as an
angel Of light
me application of these honey truths and
.ahlliar examples will become apparent in
,Ht discussion l propose OF what is popularity
ou' improperly called the race problem 1t
ssehS mat the American people have a
9pecal liking for this mathematical formula
applied 10 the Negro. They seem deter
1'1eu 10 keep his brain forever employed
a-'u MS time forever occupied in solving a
Ecu ECU variety of problems. and generally to
-S u.sadyantage. AS soon as he solves one
Ioiuer is propoanded to him. and when he
--.lAs' 5000, easy soul, his work is done he
's new one invented, new burden i'm
po9eu' ana a new hardship inflicted. There
10y @@l oe rest for the weary. but there seems at
-esent no rest for the Negro. He has been
ing problems during all his history.
AVE before referred in this place. | think.
'-e lset that the Negro was confronted 20
"So oy what was considered great le-
us problem, one which was very difficult
solution That problem was: Ought the
'eF9 70 be baptized in water and admitted to