Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-21
IN THE HOUSE.

Few members are in the present House
of Representatives who took part in public
life in the days when Fred. Douglass was
in his prime, and few could speak of him
from personal recollection today. Living
quietly in his unpretentious cottage on the
hill across the Eastern branch of the Po-
tomac, overlooking the city, he was re-
garded as one of a generation which had
passed from active participation in events
Representative Hits RccOllectiOns.
Representative Hit of Illinois was a
member Of the commission which went to
San Domingo in 1870 to look into the re-
sources and conditions of that island with
a view to annexation. Douglass was at
tached to the commission as an honorary
secretary on account of his position as a
representative colored man. He was
strongly in favor Of the project to annex
the islands, as he considered 1t place
where the freedman would have all the
opportunities for demonstrating his ca
pacity for improvement for education and
self-government under the best conditions
Frederick Douglass was a man OF the
finest culture" said Mr.. Hit, speaking OF
the character of the great abolitionist.
His force of character, his eloquence and
his work for his race are we'll known. but
simply as a man l have rarely known one
of any color of q broader culture or a more
thorough knowledge of the world. His
romantic story, how he had ran away
from his master when slave lad, so that
he did not even know his own age, led the
people of Europe to make much of him as
a Door escaped American slave, partly from
the goodness of their hearts, partly from
their willingness to embrace opportunities
to find fault with republican institutions.
For years Douglass was admitted to the
best circles of society over there, was pet
ted and f1attered, but the lioniZing did not
turn his head.
"Those associations, however, made of
him cultured gentleman. l had oppor-
tunity to become we'll acquainted with him
during the weeks were on the steamer
and found him most interesting in CONVEX
sation. From his circumstances, he him
self said, being admitted to the best So
ciety, yet still because of his race some
what apart from others, he regarded him.
self somewhat as an onlooker in life, and
he thought that he had learned to appraise
men at their true value Certainly he was
| a keen observer. He was a most wonder
| full orator in his best days; not of the kind
| that tears passion to tatters, but with
the eloquence in what he said. Often in
the sentences he uttered in the most quiet
way he had the power that stirs an
| audience deeply. He was a marked man, a
strong man and a remarkable man, con-
Sidered not as colored man, but as
man of any race
Representative Murray.
Representative Murray of South Carolina,
the only colored member of the House, said
that he thought the death of Douglass was
caused by his unfaling ambition. Although
a very old man he retained his mental
powers and was remarkably active in every
channel of effort for the advancement of
the colored race The demands upon him
for lectures and speeches were constant,
and Mr.. Murray thought that he overtaxed
his strength in taking part in the meetir 6
of the womans council. Mr.. Murray said:
His death will be shock. not only to all
the colored people, who loved him so well,
but to the white people also. We looked up
to him almost as we do to the memory of
Abraham Lincoln. The race has suffered
an irreparable loss" Mr. Murray said that
he would be glad to have Congress take
notice in some way of the passing away of
one of the last of the great workers for
abolition if it could do so properly and in
accordance with precedents.