The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-03
Was Douglass a Negro


has just appeared. IL is written by q
Mr. Chestnut, who naturally. we eup.
pose. points TO this remarkable mau as
40 evidence of what the negro nav
become intellectually. We have long
known that Douglass was an oc,oroon,
but Mrs Dale. who is represented "a "a
great champion OF the negro race' and
an intimate friend of Douglass. express.
es regret that she did cot kuow Mr..
Chestnut was writing this life, as
she could have given him a historical
fact of much importance. Mrs. Dale
says:
IA short time before Mr.. Douglass
died went out to bis house 10 Uoion-
town to meet party Of old friend from
the north. Mrs Douglass and the
ladies bad gone out into the grounds.
and l was left alone 10 the modest
parlor With her husband. Opposite us,
90 the wall. hung rude portrait 10 oil.
which | bad not observed before.
who does that represent p I asked.
ut is not we'll painted, but it is
certainly likeuess of somebody" "Is
was meant for me when l was 80 years
DID," answered my friend. "Wbyw
| exclaimed, lit is the portrait of an
Omaha!" Naturally enough" be
replied. "Whst do you mean. Freder.
lck r | went on. Il have often
wanted to ask you about your parents.
know you we're the cor of white
msster. Was there 10 the white blood
be gave you anything to account for
your own power. especially for your
marvellous command of language
No." be said calmly; "wbeu | went
back to the plantation in 1873, I
looked into the matter thoroughly.
There was nothing creditable on that
side"
ITO what, then, do you attribute
twas it direct gift from heaveu-
or from whom did you inherit p
"Fror my Indian grandmother.
She was full blooded Potomac Indian
of unusual powers and greatly respect
ed on the plantation She had one
child by her white master, aud that
child was my mother After that she
married free negro aud had several
children, but | never knew one of
them. She had nice little cottage of
her owp aud bad the care of all the
pickaninnies
And your mother? What became
OF her? Your father was a white mao.
she was white and Indian half breed:
where does the negro blood come 10?
$50 far as I know" he said, Il
have not drop in my veins, bat of
course my children have"
Here is Douglass own confession, as
it were cn bis deathbed. that he did
not have drop of negro blood 10 bis
veins This will astooish those people
who have been for years, admiripe him
as an iIlutrious member of the Etbi.
opiau race and who have ably
erected a monument to him chiefly 10
that character. These people are evil
dently the victims OF misplaced conf.
deuce The peculiar talents of Doug
lass, therefore, came from white and In.
dian blood, if Mrs Dale is to be be-
lieved, and the negro is .'uot in it,"
The chiidreo be bad by a woman of
negro blood. bis 6rst wife, return TO
obscurity. His second wife, u white
woman. was cbildless Il is strange
that DoughIass never made this reveia.
tion while be vas 10 active life end
waited until be was about to die to
make a clean breast Of it Perhaps.
bad be told the fact, az Mrs Dale now
does, he would have lost caste with the
negroes sDd been at discount politi-
caiiy with white abolitionists. But the
truth OF history has been viudicated
again aud We are curious to see bow the
old abolitionists aud the colored breth-
rem vii! take it. Will they assail Mrs
Dsle's veracity or will they complain of
being buncoed !? % the Douglass
monument new inscription might be
carved 1: FREDERICK Dou glass had
been slave aud champiooed abolition,
but be did not have a drop of negro
blood 10 his veins" As Douglass
attributed his mental gifts 10 bis
mother, half.bred Iodiap. il would
seem that the aboriginal red man aud
not the black is entitled to all the
honors of bis production, as The white
ancestors would probably surrender
their claims and give poor "Lo" the
right OF way.-Auepsta Chro0ioe