The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
NEGRO LECTURES ar COLUMBIA.
Tho First TO Appear On an Eastern University
Platform-A Friend OF CharIes Summer.

RIO En- ar COLUMBIA
The First TO Appear On nm Eastern University
Platform-A Friend OF Charles Sumner.
George T.. Downing of Newport. r. l.. is tho
last Afro-American survivor Of prominence boz
longing to that historic group OF abolitionists Of
which william Lloyd Garrison, Gerrit Smith,
Frederick Douglass, Henry Highland Garnett.
Samuel Ringeold Ward. Wendell Phillips, Ralph
Waldo Emerson, John Greenleaf Whittier and
Charles Sumner were the most conspicuous mem
bers. These heroes of the greatest agitation of
American history were Mr.. Downing's warm
personal friends. With them he planned In per-
sonal consultation and public elaboration. and
he was with them at every pointi in the fierce fight
they made for free speech. a free press. and free
men. Almost the first OF the group to die was
Charles Sumner. No kinsman stood near to
battle his fevered brow or to smooth his dying
pillow. But friends, true friends, were there.
and among them was George 7. Downing. AS
Sumner was passing into the world beyond he
opened his eyes and, as IL to emphasize the fact
that in death he was true to the black mans
cause, he said. Don't let my Civil Rights bill
fail" and, grasping Downing's hand, died.
spent a delightful evening this week with
this veteran Of the anti-slavery agitation. who
is now far beyond his threescore years and ten.
Tall and commanding in appearance, with gray
hair and venerable countenance, he begets In
those whom he meets n feeling of respect and
reverence. He is held in high esteem and honor
in New England, where he has lived for half q
century. Recently he addressed the Rhode
Island Historical Society and the Massachu-
sets Historic Genealogical Society. tho latter
society placing a copy of his address in
it's archives. Mr.. Downing cane to this
city in answer to an invitation TO lee
tuTe before the graduate class Of polit-
friends take great pride in this fact. because 1t
Is an event without parallel in the history, Of
known to the writer OF this article. D.. Augustus
StraKer OF Detroit. formerly Circuit Court Com
Is Received With great favor BY the profession.
lectured to the law students OF the University
can Ah Ieet ArepF; app sar aHY befo nas any a sla as s.1iGn,A n met Of
our great institutions OF learning like Harvard,
Yale, or Princeton. until Mr.. Downing. on on
ology at, Columbia University. He was warmly
greeted by both professor and students. and his
which for over a half hour quiSzed The lecturer,
showing their interest in the subject discussed:
here will be blended in one Americanized type
and that ultimately both the Jew and the negro
~erations OF education and development will
make the absorption a process Of gradual as
Status Of The M neg Tes problem he said "a inc pf''oa'
,rm miThe progress made 6y tho 6So, negro % In n the ;he.
portant factor. when q comparison Is made as to
his progress with that of other Americans. 1t
should be taken into account thatin all OF his en-:
be manly. he has been BE- n diseourase d and hiadered:
to be depressed was his lot at every turn. He
SSsIsht IN he ssPsessiea fFSn tSs sapFs%ss
" .TSe 81 Black sR' n man had sS the no 'n lights snAt q
white man was bound to, respect In keeping
not allowed 10 have a home to feed aspiration.
to accumulate property. Think Of 1t! He was
stolen from his native home, made to Cross the
brDan Atlantic r0nnna1 In the hold nf n nnrhnI-
GUS bark. SO sardine- packed that death In that
hole was OF daily occurrence; man-eaters fol.
lowed in the vessels track to gorge themselves
with human flesh cast into the ocean from 1t.
The survivors and their descendants have been
favorable comparison with other Americansi
brought in comparison with hose who claim to
be the most advanced peoDle or the world.
forefathssrs se Of their Hc ma american asai S1ie oppressor M.' When hem
those forefathers were slaves. Those fore.
fathers were not In a generation Of freedom able
ment, and wealth that the colored freedman of
America can boast OF in their frst generation
black man to acquire the letter has an impor-
manhood. OF assertiveness. There will DO a
H fapions ,nq lndrsa ,ss9 te eS lGafasi% VII 20 foli S1s'' an f is.
fringement, of rights, You can readily imagine
nos i Be iG Of the se' nssur likely o{ t II sa'q Tor II aals SSais
for the dove of peace TO hover over
sn' sld is.d' o aaE''ee9Si eist,a SSgld sd S5'' Gssi4l 1t ON
I f. wi,h I tRs slfsF So, ssm Bsyis S'Fsiiiys w pSi,i
come into, being. Look, into our geographical
relationship to the world; look at the map; YOU
ands very close at hand will, probably. at no
very distant day, fall into our LAP; II az hes ood been cen
persons with negro blood in their veins on this
continent. A large portion of them are not
in sclfdefence. Itis destined that more Of the
number WIN become american citizens; that
s sSpEer w''' M 9s rSu'' ana h men 81 IKE o shas:
acter. A fnlr.minded, able. and much;hon.
9 q. P sy,GoHfS now Su sfesr'' ct the tAd Hos sup mssss
Court +" 400 e New ,Ssr York Msr say s,d 55 : l RSP1 Slaves as fo III .sc
showed a population OF 4,4so.o70 colored citi'
zens. This increase of 20 per cent. is = sum:
the black mans decay. Tho negro is also dovel-
oping the resources OF the country. In 1850 the
War having Just closed. the yield, was only l.
100000 bales; but IN s72 the voluntary labor:
ket 5000 900 bales. AS an evidence that the
%s"%Iis, let me ggsiS rem rem Ii, aSaal 4,fiHor's !,
t6irly-one counties OF Mississippi. which in 1865
had but 10 colorct schools. had In 1879 no fewer
than l4s. In 1865 only STA marriage licenses
had been issued TO the blacks. In 1872 the num-
Der had increased TO $3.50. have great hopes
To advance with the rest OF mankind Gen.
Pryor then predicted that the extreme South
ern States would become the home of the blacks,
that III ffty years they will be 10000, 900 strong,
and that they will bring to our councils that
patriotism which the memory OF their past must
inspiiTr.'"
be lost siglt of. When the Fifteenth amend
menI 10 The Constitution was ratified by tho
people. there was given 70 the colored, citizen a
commanding power to beRet general respect,
should lac wisely use 1t: BE assured that In the
future he will utilize the same much more ef-