Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-05
DOUGLASS PLACE IN HISTORY
BY DENNIS 8. THOMPSON, BETH.
e., KANSAS. @ +. =. ... a.

BY DENNIS 8. THOMPSON, BETH.
e., KANSAS. -o ...a
In summing up the life OF Frederick
Douglass, It must be borne In mind
that he was the first colored man to
gain any considerable notoriety In the
affairs Of the American people. 1t Is
true that he came forward at time
that afforded great opportunities for
one Of his race who had more than
ordinary ability, and much that he &C.
complished was due to this fact He
was natural product OF his age and
was largely developed by the peculiar
circumstances by which he was sur
rounded. But he was, seemingly. the
right man In the right place, and he
arose to the emergency, accomplish.
ing where ordinary men would have
failed with like opportunities. because
he was made Of the right material.
From the most reliable Information
obtainable. It seems that Mr.. Douglass
was born in Tuckahooe. Md. during
February, 1917, on the 18th OF the
month, according to historians. and
the year 1912 therefore marks the
ninety-flfth anniversary Of his birth.
At the age Of ten years Mr.. Doug
lass was sent to Baltimore, where he
learned to read and write. He was
aided in his efforts for self-education
by William Lloyd Garrison. During
the summer Of 1s41 he attended an
anti-slavery convention at Nantucket.
and made a speech which was go we'll
received that he was offered the
agency Of the Massachusetts Anti
Slavery society. In this capacity he
travelled and lectured through the
New England states for four years.
Large audiences were attracted by
his graphic descriptions Of slavery
and his eloquence Of speech. At this
time he published his first book.
Narrative Of My Experience in Slav-
cry"
He went abroad in 1S45 and lee
tured on slavery to enthusiastic audi
ences In all the prominent cities Of
Europe. In 1S46 his friends in Eng.
land raised purse Of $3.50 to pur-
chase his freedom in due form Of
law.
He remained two years in Great
Britain and in 1S47 began the pub
location Of FREDERICK Douglass Pa
per-" at Rochester, N. Y, whose title
was afterward changed to the North
Star"
my Bondage and Freedom" was
published in 1855.
When the John Brown riots took
place in Virginia In 1859, he was sup
posed to be implicated in these and
Governor Wise made requisition for
his arrest upon the governor Of
Michigan, in which state he then was.
To avoid arrest Mr.. Douglass went
to England, where he remained for
eight months. He afterward re-
turned to Rochester and resumed the
publication of his paper.
, Following close upon the abolition
Of slavery, he discontinued the publ
cation of his paper and applied HIM
self to the preparation and delivery
of lyceum lectures. During the latter
part of 1870, he again engaged In
newspaper work. becoming editor OF
the National Era, in Washington OF
which the publication was later con-
tinued by his sons, Lewis and Fred
erick.
The following year Mr.. Douglass
was appointed assistant secretary to
the commission to San Domingo. and
upon his return President Grant ap-
pointed him one of the territorial
counsels for the District of Columbia.
In 1872 he was elected presidential
for the state Of New
York. and was appointed to carry the
electoral vote Of the state Of Wash
ington.
In 1875 he was \appointed United
States marshal for the District Of Co.
lumbia. After this he became re-
corder Of deeds for the district. from
which office he was removed by Presi-
dent Cleveland in 1886. In the au-
tumn of that year he revisited Eng
land to inform the friends he had
made while a fugitive slave of the
progress Of the African race in Amer
lea.
Upon his return to this country
President Harrison appointed him
minister to Hayti in 1889. He was
sent to Hayti in a United States man.
of-war, srriving at Hayti on the 9Th
of October. 1889, just as the country
was emerging from one of the worst
revolutions that country had wit
messed for years.
The government existing upon his
arrival was simply provisional, and
even after the new president took Of
flee there was some delay in the ar
rival and presentation of his creden-
tails These circumstances gave rise
In the United States to persistent ru-
mors that the Haytien government
had refused to receive Mr.. Douglass
on account Of his color. They were
denied. however, and Mr.. Douglass
was finally warmly received. The
Haytien ministry was the last posi-
tion in the gift Of the United States
held by Mr. Douglass.
The Haytien government made an
appropriation of money in 1892 for
the Columbian exposition and appoint
ed Mr.. Douglass the senior of her
two commissioners to the exposition.
After its close he held no other Of
fee, but lived quietly in Washington
,,, n tho TINA ~ hio doath