The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-04-15
papers, and he never denied it at the

/ had precisely the same grounds for
belief that the public had II 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 refer is "The
Life and Times ofFrederick Douglass. f"
The author was Douglass himself. In
this book Douglass glorities 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 its 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 Cleye.
land.
What won the heart of the neprc
was the fact that at cri-tS.., Clht
when both whites andc oiacks were
co1demning Dougiass u, I Ills iialliage
with white womar,, M1. Cieveano
was brave enough 10 ueiy puplie
opinion and to extend soclal recognl-
tion to the negro and his white wife.
Some EXTRACTS from the Douglass
bool, were n,-pliShed last Saturday In
the Atlun4d News, but as Mr.. Cleve-
lands Latter was written month ago,
II borc5meS necessary for me to 20 over
no same ground Il second time.
Douglass says that his false friends
both colors were loading him with
reprOacheS because he had recently
married white woman.
Popular prejudice" among the
blacks as well as the whites had been
aroused by this act Of miscegcnation.
But Fred says that Mr.. Cleveland
in spite OF all the clamor about the
white wife, singled him, out for
special attentions.
What these attentions were he, pro-
coe1S to state.
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" bearing mot
less cordial and courteous than that
extended to the other ladies and
gentlemen present."
Douglass call this conduct of Mr.
Cleveland manly defiance by Il
Democratic president Of the malignant
and timchonOred prejudice
What was the malignant prejudice
which Mr. Cleveland WAS defying in
50 manly a manner?
Obviously, undeniably, Douglass
meant To give Hlr. Cleveland praise
for defying popular prejudice or the
subject OF social equality. What else
was Clcycand'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 he was
Surrounded by distinguished men
aud 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, IL there ever was anything
clear in book it is clear that in this
book Fred Douglass meant to give
Mr.. Cleveland credit and praise for
defying malignant prejudice on the
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 oi
malignant prejudice" the more exqui-
sitely gratifying to the negro wuS
that it was done under the gaze OF
the late slave-owncrs." in other
words, Fred says, in effect, that
Southern ladies and gentlemen were
present and were compelled to witness
in silence the social triumph Of him
self and Mrs. Douglass" F."
Oh. how full the cup of F'red's joy
must have been! And what a sly
CLEAN of victorious insolcnce there
must have been in the negro's eyes as
he looked at he late slave owners" to
whom Mr.. Cleveland was giving his
| manly Defiance"
That spirit is shown in his book,
and ! have no doubt it was shown on
his countenancc in those Dissful
hours when he and Mrs. Douglass
were being treated just as the other
gentlemen and ladies" were treated in