The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-04-13

J. Pierponu Morgan, and by this
private deal made it possible for the
varacious Wall street fnancierS to
pocket about ten million dollars OF
the money of the Taxpayers of this
republic?
was not there; yet I know it hap
pened, because the newspapers made
such a row about it that Cleveland
was afraid to sell any more bonds that
way.
In like manner, believed he signed
the bill for mixed schools in New York
because it was so charged in the news
papers, and he never denied it at the
time.
AS to the White House reception.
I had precisely the same grounds for
belief that the public had in the case
of Booker Washington. 1t was so
charged; and no denial was made.
1t has not only been charged in
newspapers, but appeared in book
form.
The book to which I refer Is THE.
Life and Times ofFrederick Douglass. "
The author was Douglass himself. In
this book Douglass glorifes Mr.
Cleveland for the reason that Cleve-
land treated him and Mrs. Douglass"
as social equals.
This book was published in 1895
near where Mr.. Cleveland lives. and
nobody has challenged it's statements
so far as know.
Douglass was an ardent admirer of
Mr.. Cleveland. The Democratic presi-
dent had, for considerable time, al
lowed the Republican negro to con-
tinue to hold one of the fattest offices
in Washington City. But it was not
for this that Douglass loved Cleve-
land.
What won the heart Of the negro
was the fact that at a critical time
when both whites an6 blacks were
condemning Douglass for his marriage
with white woman, Mr. Cleveland
was brave enough to defy public
opinion and to extend social recogni-
tion. to the negro and his white wife.
Some extracts from the Douglass
book were published last Saturday in
the Atlanta News, but as Mr.. Cleve-
lands letter was written month ago,
it becomes necessary for me to 90 over
he same ground a second time.
Douglass says that his false friends"
both colors were loading him with
proaches because he had recently
arried white woman.
Popular prejudice" among the
blacks as well as the whites had been
aroused by this act Of miscegenation.
But Fred says that MIR. Cleveland,
in spite of all the clamorr about the
white wife, singled him, out for
special attentions.
What these attentions were he, pro-
ceeds to state, 3
He says that Mr.. Cleveland never
failed to invite him and his wife to all
of the grand receptions; and Douglass
says that myself and my wife never
failed to attend them"
At these receptions Douglass states
that Mr.. Cleveland showed to himself
and Mrs. Douglass" a bearing not
less cordial and courteous than that
extended to the other ladies and
gentlemen present."
Douglass call this conduct Of Mr..
Cleveland a manly defiance by a
Democratic president of the malignant
and time:houored prejudice"
What was the malignant prejudice
which Mr.. Cleveland was defying in
so manly manner?
Obviously, undeniably, Douglass
meant to give Mr.. Cleveland praise
for defying popular prejudice or the
subject of social equality. What else
was Cleveland's manly defiance"
aimed at?
Again, to show more clearly how
Douglass understood the true meaning
of Mr.. Cleveland's conduct, the negro
goes on to say that the cordial and
courteous treatment accorded him and
Mrs. Douglass" by Mr.. and Mrs.
Cleveland was extended while be was
surrounded by distinguished men
and women from all parts Of the coun-
try, and by diplomatic representatives
from all parts of the world, and under
the gaze Of the late Shareholders"
Now, if there ever was anything
clear in a book it is clear that in this
book Fred Douglass meant to give
Mr.. Cleveland credit and praise for
defying malignant prejudice on thc
social equality question, and for
treating himself and Mrs. Doug
lass" as social equals in the presence
Of the representatives of the white
race throughout the world.
What made this manly defiance Of
malignant prejudice" the more exqui-
sitely gratifying to the negro WAS
that it was done under the gaze OF
the late slave-owners. In other
words, Fred says, in effect, that
Southern ladies and gentlemen we're
present and were compelled to witness
in silence the social triumph OF him.
self and Mrs. Douglass"
Oh, how full the cup Of Fred's JOY
must have been. And what a sly
CLEAN of victorious insolence there
must have been in the negro's eyes as
be looked at the late 'slave-owners" to
whom Mr.. Cleveland was giving his
"raanly defiance"
That spirit is shown in his book,
and have no doubt it was shown or
l,;, oo,,atopopoo in iboco h1iccfl11