The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-23
FROM FRED DOUGLASS
A Letter Which Was RaC3iY,d by E ?.
PaSSmOra.
ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO
The Famous Orator and Statesman
Was Not Elated over the Condi-
ton of This Country When He
Wrote to HIS Old Friend.

QUITE, req. "A lew days ago EtllS
Pussy Passmore of this city received an
autograph letter from Frederick Douglass,
written only two days before the death of
the great colored statesman and orator
Mr.. Passmore was, in his early days, a
prominent abolitionist and a personal
and intimate friend of Douglass, and for
many years they have kept up a cores
pondencc between them. The letter re-
ceived n few days ago Is probably the last
ever written by Douglass and is an inter
esting and significant document, as II is
a rather severe arraignment of the repub-
| lican party, of which political organiza-
tion he had always been an earnest MEM
Der. The letter was written at his resi-
dence, Cedar Hill, at Anacostia, a suburb
of Washington, and is, in full, as follows:
CEDAR HILL, ANAcosTIA. ID. c,
Feb. Il, 1895.
My DEAR SIR: / cannot say | am much
elaied by the victory OF the republican party.
though am glad has the democratic party has
met with defeat. / have my fears that the vic
tory OF the republicans may make them even
little more Indifferent about protecting human
rights under the constitution than they were
when they were i'm power before Ii is to the
shame OF the republican part that 1t could pro-
tect the rights OF American citizens everywhere
but at home. lt made no earnest effort To see
that the constitution was obeyed IN the south
ern states and the ballot box pro .ected. The
l4th amendment declares that when any state
shall deprive any of its citizens OF the elective
franchise representation shall be reduced, etc.
No attempt has been made to enforce This pro-
vision by the republican party or by any other,
yet all swear TO support the constitution.
/ have not declared for any particular can
didate for the republican nomination in '9j, nor
do see any need OF such declaration ut TINS
distance OF time. The man likely to I IL will
be from a state which the republicans may
think It difficult but important TO carry Old
Man Availability will. as usual. decide the queS-
ton as To who the man shat! be. still we nave
chance of getting "A better man from the re-
publicans than from the democrats or the popu-
lists. Very truly yours,
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
Mr.. Passmore. TO whom the letter was
written, was intimately associated with
Douglass and other prominent anti
slavery people and was eminent among
those famous makers OF history. He was
born in Chester county, Pennsylvania,
Aug. 8, 1923, of Quaker parents. His
father was a whlg, but as soon as Ellis
could read he became interested in the
slavery question and was n constant
reader of the Pennsylvania Freeman, for
years the leading exponent of anti-slavery
ideas in that state. He soon became an
active member of the Anti-Slavery So
ciety and came in contact with the lead
ing champions of the cause of liberty, i'm
Guiding such men as Garrison, Phillips,
William Wells, Brown, Fred Douglass
and others, and such women as Lucretia
Mott, Abby Kelly and others. In 1856
Mr.. Passmore was residing in Cecil
county, Maryland, and cast one of the
four votes cast for John c. Fremont for
president that year at the polls at Ris-
ing Sun. Since that time he has
always been republican of tho
voting kind, believing it wise to always
vote even If the party did not come to his
ideas of progress.
The friendships formed in the trying DAYS
of the anti-slavery movement have lived
n q LONG the in6iVinnala 4 liftIa inai-
dent which occurred a few years ago goes
to show that, SO far as Mr.. Passmore is
concerned at least, this friendship was of
a character to be relied upon.
A popular lecture course had been ar
ranged for the little town of Rising Sun,
Md, where Mr.. Passmore resided. and
Frederick Douglass was one of the lect-
urers. The hotel there was not of such a
character that the noted lecturer could be
entertained comfortably, so Mr.. Pass
more invited him 10 his house and the
two old veterans of the cause of freedom
were once more brought under the same
roof in social intercourse, and the event
was enjoyed highly by both. Mr.. Pass
more has often remarked that he consid-
cred it a great honor to entertain so noted
n man, and yet, strange to say, many
reputable neighbors thought it something
of a scandal that he should entertain a
guest with black skin.
About a year and half ago Mr.. Pass
more lost his wife, and this breaking up
his home, he finally came to Butte about
a year ago to live with his sons, who are
in business here. He is also related to
Isaac Pussy Gray, United States minister
TO Mexico. who died a few days ago.
Mr.. Passmore is a striking figure on the
streets of Butte, as he wears long, snow
white hair and beard. a strong contrast
with the young and vigorous men that
make up the mass of the city's population.
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