The Twin City star., 1915-01-09
HAVE PROVED THEIR WORTH.
Part Played by coIorsd Americans In
countrys History Fully Told.
r,a nv lOHN - uyIIIs

Part Played by coIored Americans In
country's History Fully Told.
BY JOHN II. WILLS.
Through the curse and degradation
Of slavery the Negro was debased. de-
bauched and discouraged, retarded and
retrograded. "The Negro In Amer
lean History" by John w. Cromwell,
p grand effort in the right direction.
In inspires, encourages and strength
ems by It's sincere presentation Of many
powerful influences and Incidents that
have worked for the good of this un-
fortunate people. .. *.
Seventeen chapters are given to a
strong presentation and clear account
Of the part and place Of the Negro In
the making Of American history--his
influence, efforts, struggles and re-
Btrictions, his efforts to prove himself
q man and win q mans place In thin
nation by his valor In war and his In
dustry in peace, to prove to stony
hearted nation by deeds and sacrifices
his worth and right to life. liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness" that In
the face of constitution that may
well be called league with death and
a covenant with hell he believed the
spirit Of the Declaration Of Independ.
ence would prevail In this land
Mr.. Cromwell has the true historical
viewpoint He shows step by step
the philosophical development Of the
forces of darkness and of light the
forces that hindered and helped until
at the last page we see the broadening
rays Of hope and the diminishing
shadow Of despair. In discovery. col
onizati0n. slavery. the slave code.
slave Instructions. some early striv.
ings, the early convention movement.
the Negro as a soldier, the Negro
church, we have a series of historical
masterpieces, direct, concise and
forcible showing forth Of truth that
must convince the most prejudiced.
hearten and cheer the most despondent
and enlighten the most dense. besides
opening to the student and scholar end
less vistas Of speculation and research.
Had Phillis Wheatley been shipped
to Virginia instead Of to Massachu-
setts, what would have been her fatei
asked myself after reading the
charming picture Of her life and liter
ary labors in the chapter given to her.
the greatest woman poet Of her cen
tuy! 'The feeling that the Negro
was In all cases necessarily inferior
page 1907 has existed in this country,
always and still exists, and rests In
the hearts, sad to say, Of many Of our
people. We must live down. work
down. fight down, this feeling Of in
feriority in ourselves and the idea Of
1t in the minds Of others; must strive
continually to overthrow the influence
Of centuries Of degradation and ostra-
cism.
Here is book that will greatly help
us, a grand monument Of inspiration
to those doubtful ones who fear their
own powers and distrust the sincerity
and ability Of their people.
The book contains many fine bio
graphical sketches. particularly Phillis
Wheatley; SoJourner Truth, the story
Of wonderful woman faithfully told;
Paul Cuffe, the navigator; Daniel A.
Payne, who cleared the weeds Of igno-
rance from many path and made moro
straight the way to God for many
faltering feet; Henry Highland Garnet
and Alexander Crummell, two brave
men, foremost in the fight for God and
the right, and for their people; Henry
o. Tanner. the artist, who by the
purity and power Of his genius has at.
tained to the heights Of fame; Fred
erick Douglass, John M. Langston,
B. K. Bruce. Joseph q. Price, Robert
Brown Elliott, Paul Laurence Dunbar,
Booker T. Washington. These and
more are faithfully and intimately
placed before US in true, pleasing, well
balanced picture. Mr.. Cromwell had
the good fortune to know many Of the
subjects Of his sketches, and this gives
to them the added charm Of personal
ity that decidedly strengthens them.
The world admits the equality of
Lue NcSro dS soiuicr hnu dS ou
orator. Mr.. Cromwell has pictured
these two classes with absolute fdel-
ity to the merits of each. But It is
to those who labored in the gentler
arts Of peace. In the nobler fields Of
quiet endeavor that he has shown the
greater skill in presentation. The In
spring efforts Of unknown heroes, the
sacrifices Of those who toiled In the
dark, who wrought and spoke no word,
these he has shown to light in such
manner that we admire them, bless
them and hold them In loving memory.
Amusing.
Hiram Greene-What did your sister
say when you told her I was going IN