Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-02
FRED. DOUGLASS ON HAYri.

He Addresses Wilmington Oolored Peo-
pie at the Emancipation Proclamation.
The anniversary of the emancipation
of slaves in the United States was cels-
brated In the A. u M. p. Church on
French street above Twelfth before an
audience that filed every available inch
of space in the building.
The principal event of the evening was
an grafton by Frederick Douglass, the
colorsd,ex minister to Hayti. After intro
ducsery exercises by prominent colofed
people Washingto Hastings presented the
orator of the evening in q short. speech.
During the Grafton the exminister said:
Twenty nine years ago tonight l at
tended meeting Of about 1000 people in
fremont Temple, at Boston. / shall never
forget the contest between hope and fear
that was going on ia the breasts Of the
people Of that great audience.
President Lincoln had given notice
that under certain circumstances
he would issue proclamation OF emauci-
patton on January l, 1858. There were
certain esrcu instances in Mr.. Lincoln's
history that made it doubtful, if in the
kindness Of his heart he would not
lengthen out his mercy to the slave
holders in rebellion and allow them
The people wal ed long
Some Of the speakers said the news
of the proclamation would not come
others said it would. So they waited,
and awaylsne toward midnight, about IL
O'Clock. the news came, aud ] shall
never forget the scene than ensued. 1t
was q great night | had never seen
such time before and will never see
such q one again thought l expressed
something Of the feelings of the colored
mans soul, because | had shared their
sorrow and had felt the lash with them;
but Anna Dickinson. then little Quaker
girl of alb lnt 20 years of age, rose there
and exceeded us ali in the eloquent and
vehement outpouring Of exultatisn over
the result"
He further said when the crowned
heads of Europe were laughing at rs and
saying 'Ah, hal the great American
bubble is about to burst; when the Star
Spangled Banner was being trailed in the
dust; and when defeat stared us in the
face, President Lincoln called for us. We
came nearly 200 600 strong The white SOL
diers then talked of revolt When this
occurred and the black soldiers appeared
in the army of the West, General Grant
ordered that the colored soldier should be
treated we'll He said that there should
be no insults offered; they were to be
treated as soldiers / shall always be
thankful 60 General Grant for that
Il am glad and what American is not
glad that he lives In land free from the
black, damning curse of slavery 1t
is asked how has the colored man got
along? We have done we'll. II is not
fair to measure our progress by the same
rule that is used to measure the heights
to which the three-storied Caucasian have
attained Measure us not from the
heights, but from the dep.hs-from the
depths from which we have come"
The speaker then proceeded to tell the
audience what he knew about the col
cred people of Hayti The organization
of that country as q negro republic, he
said, was a shock to the whole world The
people there are closely connected with
the United States by similarity of expert.
ence They are al colOred people, how
ever, and like the Jews are compelled to
maintain the unity Of their race. He
paid high tribute to the country's
SC anery aud climate and / escribed its
difference from Liberia by saying that in
the latter country a mule could not live,
and the colored people Of the United
States did not care to live where mule
could not live.
together In perfect social equality; as
there are more white men 60 to Hayti than
there are of white women the marriages
are often betwesn white men and colored
women with this difference from the
same kind Of marriage in this country
they are respected. This reminds me of
what | heard in regard to my own mar
rage. One woman asked another If she
did not think Mr.. Douglass did wrong ia
marrying as he did oh no. was the
reply, the wrong was done when his
father refused TO marry his mother
Some people charge me with being
friendly to Hayd; l should be
ashamed to stand here before you
If had not been a friend to Hayti.
/ at least am part negro. 1 was a negro
before / was an American citiz n. How
could be otherwise2 | was q friend to
Hayti as President Harrison is TO Hayti.
He did not send me to Hsyti to represent
only the mean side Of the American Gov
eminent His instructions TO me was to
do all that could, consistent with my duty
to the Bnitld States to promote the in
terests Of Hayti. / was true to my duty.
WAS as true TO nay duty as the we'll
known statesman of yeur state. who was
Secretary OF the United States somstims
ago. BE was too honorable q max to allow
the naval forces Of the United States "a
be used to enforce the wrong desire OF
some AmericsDs to possess the meb OF
st. Nicholas He has done some thiHgs
which cannot approve, but / will give
him credit for this good deed.
The negro orator concluded by saying
that his honest opinion based upon Q
knowledge Of thehistory Of Hayti and the
characteristics of her people, that judg-
ing them BY rules laid down for such
judgment BY the most profound stud
ents of the processes OF governmental and
civilizing processes. we may expect this
black republic to grow into a grand
state, and that its civilization will be
flown forth in the brightest blooms and
excel the sweetest perfumes OF Christian
civilization.
No Clue to the Murderer.