Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-20
MR.. DOUGLASS ON RACE QUESTIONS.
His Talk to the Colored Camp Meeting ~
Irving Park.

MR.. DOUGLASS ON RACE QUESTIONS.
His Talk to the Colored Camp Meeting ss
Irving Park
The feature Of the day at the Irving Park
camp meeting yesterday was an address by Mr..
Frederick Douglass, ex-minister to Hayti. II
was Temperance day at the camp, fact which
explains some Of the illusions in Mr.. Douglass
address. Mr.. Douglass said:
II did not come here to speak, but to listen.
The people here said they wanted to see me
and I came. not only as a spectator, but as
spectacle. have never made temperance
speech and at first refused to speak at all, but
looked around and saw an old brother, who
ID younger than am, and he reminded me so
forcibly of my old associates in the days gone
by that feel like saying something. I would
like to meet those earnest workers once more
whom used to see near Strawberry alley, on
Fell's Point, sixty years ago. There were
Joseph Wilson, William Douglass. William Wat
kins, Philip Scott, Lewis Wells, Mingo Elsby,
Philip League and Joseph Young.
But do not want to go back to those days.
For fifty years or more have earnestly advo-
Gated the advancement of the colored race, and
urged what have thought were the best means
OF promoting their friendly relations toward
the white people. The best sentiment that
can utter is your sentiment. There is but one
Temperance is good, but whisky proves that
we are all of one race, for it has Just the same
effect upon negro rs it does upon the white
man. II you never drink you will never be
drunk.
Camp meetings are good things. for they
not only call attention to religious matters that
pertain to this world, but also to the other
things that pertain to it. We should grasp the
blessings of the world and develop a perfect
character. If We do not use this world right
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other one right? 1t is important to know how
to make the best of both worlds. If you make
the best Of this world you will be ready for the
next. There are many motives for good con-
duct. Earth, air and sea all preach to US of
what we should do and know. The earth has
no prejudice. The fields will grow just as good
crop for a colored man who will work AZ for
any one else. The sun shines for all and the
rain descends on all. We should add to our
faith virtue and to virtue knowledge.
'Seif-indulgence is what they blame us for,
and they say that We cannot control our appe-
tite or govern ourselves. There is some apology
for that, for there was a time when we could
not indulge ourselves. But if we make good
progress we must be industrious and intelligent.
One hundred dollars is a hundred days ahead.
One Of the curses Of our, race is poverty.
Money is not exactly the root Of all evil. We
must acquire property, and we must leave
something. Every dollar laid up is one day
ahead. Baltimore is a beautiful city, butI re-
member when the highest house on Fell's
Point was three stories high Now in some
parts of Baltimore they are running them UP
to ten stories high.
Everything has some way Of acquiring
property. Why, that tree out there is putting
out Its roots to get the fertility of the soil and
use it. It stretches its limbs to catch the sun
light on its foliage and thus develops and
grows. Even pig will teach lesson. 1 have
seen boys with elbows out and hat crowns in
running after brass band, while pig hunted
along the street and found a cabbage leaf. The
pig got more than the boys did. The birds
teach q lesson. They make nest and get mar
ried. We should also make nests and get mar
ried, and stay married. We should learn how
to think. If there Is no thought there is no in
vention. Ii there is no invention there will be
no progress You can't make an empty bag
stand when it contains nothing but wind
Wind must give place to steam. knew a min
lister who used to borrow $40 every Saturday
night and pay it back Monday morning. When
asked why he did that he replied, 4 can preach
better when have SO in my pocket
"A boy in New York once wanted to go over
to Brooklyn on the ferry boat He asked gen.
tleman please to give him few cents. Haven't
you any money! asked the gentleman. No,
SIR said the boy, not red cent Well. won't
give you any money, was the reply, for if you
haven't any, you might as well stay here 60
over there One without money is of but
small account anywhere. Poverty may excite
pity at first, but when it is established poverty
cannot win respect.
''The best way to keep man out of the mud
is to have his boots BACKED. l once visited
England, France, Italy and Egypt and |
found that whatever q mans complexion is the
same conditions of sobriety, industry, fidelity
and knowledge that will improve one people
will improve another. We are vet on trial
Some say that we have not the capability of
self-sovernment, but the progress of the negro
must not be measured by the progress Of
the Anglo-Saxons. We must be measured not
from the heights, but from the depths Two
hundred and forty years OF absolute
bondage and long life of barbarlsm be-
hind that! There is where we came FROM
Then, too, when we were emancipated We
were set free under the most unfavorab cir
cumstances. We were not emancipated by will
Of our owners or even by a settled sentiment in
the country. We tere emancipated by military
means for punitive purposes not to punish US,
but to punish somebody else. When tine Israel
ties were emancipated they were told to borrow
jewelry from their masters, and they have been
In the jewelry business ever since. When the
Russian slaves were emancipated they were
given three acres Of land each and tools to
hoe or a Ratchet. We were told that as the
Yankees had freed us the Yankees might feed
US.
Senator Butler talks about sending US away
but they need US right here to do the rough
work that tender, tapering fingers cannot do
Fifty-three years ago Massachusetts was as
clearly pro-slavery as Maryland and when We
went from one place to another we had to go in
the jim Crow car. At church during COM
munlon we had to stay in the gallery or wait at
the door until the preacher said come and take
this communion to your comfort, for God is no
respecter of persons. would rather bea slave
and have my leg fettered than be the master
and have the other end Of the chain ON my con-
science.
''We must be truthful. No truth. no trust
lie has lost its power when it has lost its
ability to deceive. l am anxious to see our
people make progress. Go on in the good work
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