The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-29

His arguments in favor Of this startling
proposition were SO logical and unique
that the attention of the country was
arrested and It did not seem possible
that an ex-slave could have evolved SO
much political wisdom. Shortly after
the delivery of this speech MIR. Mont
gomery came to New York and had
the pleasure of several conversations
with hirn. He was an absolute reve-
latien. Quaint and oldtfashioned
in dress and appearance, he new
ertheless had control OF language
equal to any educated white poll
tician ever met, and his wisdom and
clear appreciation of the race problem
In this country absolutely astonished
me. Mr.. Montgomery is now about
ffty-one years Of age. He was born
slave and continued to live in that rela-
ton for eighteen years. He lives now
in Boliver county Miss, where he has
been for some years a successful plan
ter and manager. He is now actively
engaged in booming real estate in his
section of the country. He wears a
masonic emblem of high degree upon
Ills WEtCn CAfdlls Gill; ll1so CSIf OLS6tlOik
shows reading as well as cultivation.
OF course, if there ever was a self
made" man, he belongs to that school.
/ think he understands the race conflict
now going on in the south better tn an
any man living. He seems to be abso-
lutely free from prejudice himself, and
every view that he takes of the situa-
ton is tincturcd with wisdom and ex-
perience.
Speaking of the recent lynching of
negroes in Texas, Tennessee and Louis
lana, he said one thing which struck me
as being particularly sensible. He said:
'sWith all the machinery of justice, and
all the administration of law in their
hands, the white people in those regions
insist upon teaching to a lot Of people
who are just emerging from barbarism
the most barbarous of lessons What
respect for law can poor negro have
who sees white men hang an idiotic
negro girl for foolish crime, or shoot
ing down q lot of poor, benighted
creatures who have violated the law
under the very shadows of courthouses?
Can these people be expected to refrain
from barbaric force when they see that
lawless force is constantly used against
them?"
Mr.. Montgomery tells me that there
is very strong sentiment Of disappro-
baton growing up among the white
people of the south touching this ruff
fanism. AS yet it is not strong enough
to assert itself, but the time is not far
distant when intelligent white men will
take control. 'To-day," he says,
s'many men who bitterly disapprove of
this lawlessness on the part of the
whites are compelled to keep quiet lest
they invite hostility and social and COM
mercial ostracism.'' Mr.. Montgomery
is exceedingly hopeful and is confident
that his race Will eventually secure its
fair representation and its share of in
telligence and respectful consideration.
He is doing everything in his power to
induce people of his race to become
small land owners. He says that as
soon as negro acquires a piece of
property he becomes interested at once
in good government and is willing to
cooperate with those who have equally
vital interests in securing that great
desideratum-peace and prosperity.
A Brave Reporters End.
The death, last Monday, of poor Fred
J. Hamilton, one of the city staff Of the
Morning Advertiser, has touched me
profoundly. He was one of the most
conscientious, painstaking, earnest and
devoted men have known in news
paper work. He had sense of duty
which was absolutely beautiful to be-
hold, and conscientiousness which al
most earned for him the title of
crank" A few days after the an
nouncement that the typhus fever had
made its appearance in this city he
came to me with the request that he be
permitted to go over to the pest
hospitals on North Brother island,
study the character of the disease and
write such a report as would be of value
to the people of New York. Il objected
upon the ground that he would be ex-
posing himself unnecessarily to the dis
ease and that the situation did not call
for any such sacrifice. He insisted that
we were pretty certain to have a
scourge Of typhus here and that,
inasmuch as little was known to
the public concerning the path
ology OF the disease and it's treat
ment, no greater service could be rem
dered than to study up and write intel
ligently thereof in the newspapers.
The more objected the more he argued
in favor of the enterprise, and finally
he went away with the determination
to visit the island, saying as he went
that he would assume all personal re-
sponsibility and acquit me in the event
that any bad result followed. talked
to him of his wife and his duty to her,
but it seemed to make no impression
upon his mind. No picture of the risk or
needlessness of the trip could defect him
from his intention. He did not visit the
island, but he stayed about the health
board headquarters for some days and
gathered from doctors, nurses and
stewards from North Brother. island
great deal of valuable information upon
typhus, which he wrote and published
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