Evening journal., 1908-02-15
HONOR MEMORY
OF DOUGLASS
Professor Kelley Miller Draws
Lessons for COIOred Youth
From Life of Great Man

Under the auspices Of the Business
Mems League in Bethel A. NJ. e.
Church, Sixth and Walnut streets, last
night was held celebration commem-
orative of the 91st anniversary Of the
birth of Frederick Douglass. The ora
tor of the evening was Professor Kel-
ley Miller. dean Of the college depart
ment Of Howard University Of Wash
ington, d. c.
The auditorium Of the church was
well filed with an audience composed
of the best-known colored people of
the city. The Rev r. w. Ficlsland,
pastor of the church, presided, and the
music was under the direction of M. I.
Sterling.
Professor Miller made an eloquent
address, taking as his subject "The
History and Life Of Frederick Doug
lass" He spoke of the struggles that
Douglass encountered as a boy at his
home on the Eastern Shore of Mary
land and how he overcame the disad-
vantages which confronted him and
arose to a standing of respectability
among his fellow men.
This should be a lesson to the young
.colored men," said the speaker, whose
disadvantages are not one-half so
great as those he met with and over
came"
Douglass as an Example.
He urged the young colored men Of
the community to take example from
the life of Douglass and to profit by It.
Mr.. Douglass" said Professor Miller.
was man Of sterling character.
Character is most needed in the de-
velopment Of the life of my people.
The Indian has practically disappeared
because he failed to develop the ster-
ling principles of Christian character.
The negro must profit by the mistake
OF the Indian. There is no people who
develop character that can be indefi-
nitely suppressed. Frederick Douglass
was an optimist He always looked
upon the bright side of things. Pes
simism solves no problems, rights no
wrongs, and despite tlW hard circum-
stances that here and there bear heav-
lily upon the negro race, there is moro
humanity, good will and Christian helr
fulness in the world to-day than evei
before. Mr.. Douglass was a patriot
He loved the country, although he de.
lnounced bitterly the evils in its in,
stltutions"
Douglass Platform.
There are some who advise the negr,
mot to foster the spirit Of patriotism
because conditions bear harshly upor
him. The negro had better follow tn,
ladvice and example Of Frederick Doug,
lass, his greatest leader, and prov,
loyal and true TO the country and il.
cause. Any race viii be judged by
the position in life that the great mer
! IL produces take. If no great name.
arise from among the names of the
negro people this race win always hold
the lowest place in the estimation OF
the world.
"But when It produces such men as
examples as Douglass was the world
begins to respect its possibilities. II
takes men of light and learning to deai
with the tangled issues of the race
problem Mr.. Douglass was the ne
gro's greatest philosopher. He had q
clear vision of the ultimate solution OF
this difficult question He believed ir
the right and the liberties Of all mer
/ regardless Of race or color If the race
problem is ever to be solved It mus
be upon the platform on which Mr.
Douglass stood, and this platform was
The equality of all men before tho
law"