The Washington bee., 1910-12-31
Public Men AndThinpS1
(By the Sage of the Potomac.)

(By the Sage of the Potomac.)
Sixteen years ago to this very dav
wended my way over to Anacostia
and up Cedar Hill to drink in wisdom
at the feet of the Sage of Cedar Hill.
ln those days | reverenced Frederick
Douglass as one but a little removed
from the angels, and | reverence his
memory to-day. In those days | fire.
quently, at every opportunity, went
out to his home just to listen to the
words Of wisdom that fell from his
lips. | remember the visit of 10 years
/ ago to-day distinctly, for he let fall
this sentence when talking on the
race question: MARK my word, young
man, our race will make wonderful
strides IN advancement, and then will
follow for a period reign of discrim-
nation, seemingly harder to bear
than what we have already passed
through. But we will survive it and
rise. Tor no power can keep the col
ored man down"
Just now these words of the late
masterful Douglass appear prophetic.
There appears now reign of dis
elimination, and l wonder if we are
now IN that period Mr.. Douglass
prOphesied. Notwithstanding all our
achievements, in education culture
and material possessions, it appears
we encounter more prejudices TODAY
than we did a decade ago.
l can see Mr.. Douglass now as he
delivered this sentence. His great,
massive frame seated in his big chair:
his brow wrinkled with thought. He
was a great man, and I received nv
inspiration from him, and now I re-
call with great pleasure my frequent
visits to him, and the kindly advice
he was wont to give me. 1 pity those
who never had the pleasure and honor
70 visit the sage of Cedar Hill in his
own home, and catch the words of
wisdom as they dropped from his
lips.
l observe that some one, signing
himself Reader of The Bee" takes
exceptions to what | said two weeks
ago IN my comparison of the men of
the present with those of the past.
This writing down exceptions re-
minds me that people are reading
me. l am glad of it. I hope Pub
lie Men and Things" will continue to
increase IN interest and popularity.
The gentleman mentions a number
OF clerks who were IN the depart
ments at the time Douglass, Bruce,
Lynch and Langston were at their
zenith. recall them all, and Just to
let you know that l have not forgot
ten that splendid galaxy of colored
clerks, permit me to say that "A
Reader" overlooked John c. Dancv,
J, Z. Asbury, Whitfield McKinlav, |
Tom Jones and Kelly Miller, who,
too, were in the departments in those |
days, and have since garnered sue
cess, and brought in the sheaves OF |
accomplishment.
But those he mentioned, and the |
four [ added, were exceptions rather !
than the rule. In those DAYS ap-
polntments were made through po- /
-lt1cal tavOritism, while now one is |
reqmred to pass an examination, and /
the result Is, and quite natural, too, |
there are a greater number Of bright,
oralny, clever colored clerks and mes
5engers IN the departments today
than IN those days, those good old
days OF Aud Lang Sine. Today we
have more graduates of colleges All
those whom "a Reader" enumerates
were top-notchers, and they achieved
something. Just give the young men
Of today little opportunity, and they
may equal their brainy predecessors. !