Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-02-13
OUR THREE HEROES.
Especial for Bystander.) }

| Especial Tor Bystander.
Eulogy-Abraham Lincoln, Freder-
ick Douglass and Blanche X. Bruce.
Martin Luther said: "'The prosper
ity Of country depends not upon
the abundance Of its revenues, nor on
the strength Of its fortification, nor
on the beauty Of it's public buildings,
but it consists in the number Of its
cultivated citizens, in its men Of edu-
cation, enlightenment and character.
Here are to be found it's true interest,
it's chief strength, it's real power.
This might be said of three benefac-
tors of the Negro race, whose names
will always be remembered in the
moulding of American history.
Abraham Lincoln, the martyred
president, the savior Of his country
and a great benefactor to the Negro
race. Lincoln was the sixteenth pres
ident of the United States, was born
in Hardin county, Kentucky, on the
18th day Of February, 1909, and died
in 1866, after well spent life in the
struggle of helping and caring for
suffering humanity. The signing Of
the emancipation procamation will al
ways be remembered as a deed of
great love for a wronged people that
was not his own. Hon. Frederick
Douglass was born in the village Of
Tuchahoe, Maryland, in February,
1877, OF slave parents and spent all
of his childhood days in bondage. His
early education was limited, but the
love for knowledge and a keen desire
to be of service to his race and man
and one of the men of his time in the
work Of libefating the slaves. Doug
lass was honest and Trustworthy, also
Industrious and living at the time
when the country needed such q char
acter as his. He rose and stands
Ipre- eminent Us 3 race man. In one Of
lis speeches III Taibo county, Mary
land, after his many years Of free
dom, he said this of himself: what
is possible for me is possible for you.
Don't think because you are colored
you can't accomplish anything. Strive
earnestly to add to your knowledge.
So long as you remain in ignorance
so long will you fail to command the
respect Of your fellowmen. Frederick
Douglass became president elector,
United States diplomat, United States
marshall, United States recorder and
accumulated some wealth, all from
his untiring devotion to his people and
his strength of character and firm
belief in the right. Hon. B. K. Bruce
was born in old Virginia on March 1,
1912. His lot as a slave boy was,
hard and toilsome and of course he
had few, if any, opportunities for OBJ
tanning any education: When the act
of emancipation liberated over four
million of slaves B. K. Bruce was
among the number. Young Bruce
made his way to Oberlin college and
there persued his studies diligently
which would best fit him for the
walks of life. And then he entered
public life in the state of Mississippi;
also took up the business of plant
er. He was highly respected and
SIlOWGu HC was AiO 1O1 a pOoAtAOAA Va
honor and trust. He became in his
own state sergeant-at-arms OF the
state senate, assessor of taxes, sheriff
and member of board of commission.
He was then chosen to the United
States senate in 1874 and took his
place in the highest council Of the ma
ton. Bruce served as register of the
United States treasury under Presi-
dent Garfield and was appointed by
President Harrison as recorder OF
deeds for the District of Columbia.
Such deeds of honor and love for
countrymen and strength Of character
and personal diligence in their work
should be inspiring to all young peo-
pie of today, and though there are no
bondsmen or slave traders, we have
many other like obstacles to over
come in the various walks of life.
Choose your daily reading books and
papers that teach of some noble char
acter that strives to remove some
great evil and for the better of his
country and it's people. .s
May Mary Frances Davis,
Abba, Iowa.