The Washington bee., 1892-05-28

The BEE has been buzz ng vel
The ancient city of Alexandria.
Va aud NOES with pleasure to see
The historic city alive with a first
class "boom" in real estate, manu-
factories, electric street railway
and n"gro progress 1t seems the
"old town" is about to trke on
itself new life and again become
the first city in The State of
"Muther Of States and Presidents. -
In that city Magnus l.. Robin
son, editor ZiOn'S Leader, stands
cut IN bold relief IS the foremost
negro, in culture, education, en-
ter! r.se, character, and in the
State as the oldest editor in con.
thu US service. Oar subj ct is
the youngest son of Rev kobt. Ii
Robinson, of Alexandra, Va, AID
Mrs. Mary A. Warwick Robinson,
OF Richmond, Va. He WIS born
in the city of Alexandria, Novem
Der 21st, 1852. He was reared
by reful moral ard religious
training Being of a quiet and
sludIous disposition, be wss sell
dom seen in the ploy groun:;s of
"Peck's bad by" lie was given
instruction through private
schools, and in 1868 en- cred How
ard University, also the law de-
partmeht, from which be earnest
Iy eudeavored to graduate, but
was forced to give up his sudies
on account OF ill health. After
recovering his health he entered
the public schools OF Virginia as a
teacher, in which pr fesai N he
taught successfully in the counties
Of Rock ngham, Augusta, Va,
and counties OF West Virginia,
and at Harrisonburg near Staun-
ton. In all 9 years. The Afro
American Press has this to say of
Mr.. Robinson: "ue is a bright
mulatto, rather diminutive In size,
with extremely aftable manners
He married yourg and is blessed
With a devoted wife, loving child
reD. and a host of friends by whom
be is highly respected. He stands
high in society, He is true and
faithful friend, and being a shrewd
politician, is easily the leader of
the Afro-American people of
Alex .udria, who always consult
him on questions of uLlic moment
aud ge erol wclfare.' %
As a j urnahst Editor Robinson
has W, u his s. urs. He has served
such loading white journals as he
Baltimore Sun, american, and
Virginia daily papers. lie was
the fist culored m n to serve as
reporter on a daily paper IN Ball
timore, Nd, having been employ
ed by the Baltimore Daily Bee In
1876. He removed to HARRISON
burg, Va, in 1880 and with his
brother established the Virginia
Post which he ably edited for
hree years at III It place. lie las
also served the Bee al different
times as special correspondent,
business manager, agent and col
Iector, in these several cspacitleess
to the great satisfaction of the
editorial ma"ag -ment. Among
the political houors Editor Robin>
son has wen. may be mentioned
that he was the first and only COL
ored secretary of the L ckiugham
county republican Executive Com
mittee of which ex Senator John
+. Lewis was Chairman. This
honor was significant, for Z OK
inghsm is one the most noted Vire
ginia counties for republican white
leaders and in fact it con-
talrs only a corporal's guard, as it
we're of colored vo ers He was
the Corgr ssional secretary of the
convention that sent Hon. John
Paul to Congress. He bas been a
republ can candidate in his native
city for alderman and magistrate.
He was also prominent candl'
date for the Virginia Legislature
in 1890. He established the Ma
tioual Leacer at Washington, ID.
c., January II, 1888, which was
run tor enc year, taking high rank
in newspaperdom, and receiving
high Endorsement from Hon. Fred
erick Douglass. He removed the
National Leader plant O his native
home in 1890, and where now 1t Is
known as Zion's Leader, it being
the adopted fieial organ OF the
Baltimore and Philadelphia Com
cororoc. of tho A frican Methodist