The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-02-24
DOUGLASS AS JOURNALIST.
What James McCune Smith Said Of
Our Militant Hero In 1855.

What James Mccune Smith Said Of
Our Militant Hero In 1855.
In an article written in 1855 James
McCune-Smith, the great advocate Of
human rights and freedom Of the
slaves, said of Frederick Douglass in
part:
but his sojourn in England was
more than a joy to Mr.. Douglass. 1t
awakened him to the consciousness Of
new powers that lay in him. From the
pupilage Of Garrisonism he rose to the
dignity of teacher and thinker;
his opinions on the broader aspects Of
the great American question were ear
nestly and necessarily sought from va
rious points of view, and he must, per-
force, bestir himself to give suitable
answer.
with that prompt and truthful per-
ception which has led their sisters In
all ages Of the world to gather at the
feet and support the hands of reform
ers, the gentlewOmen of England were
foremost to encourage and strengthen
him to carve out for himself a path
fitted to his powers and energies In the
life battle against slavery and caste
to which he was pledged. And one STIR
ring thought, inseparable from the
British idea of the evangel of freedom,
must have smitten his ear from every
side:
Hereditary bondmen, know We, not
Who would be free. themselves must strike
the blow?
'The result of this visit was that on
his return to the United States he es-
tablished newspaper. This proceed
ing was sorely against the wishes and
the advice Of the leaders of the Amer
lean Antislavery society, but our au-
thor had fully grown up to the cOnvic-
ton Of truth which they had once pro-
mulgated, but now forgotten-to wit,
that In this own elevation, self eleva-
ton, colored men have blow to strike
on their own hook against slavery
and caste. Differing from his Boston
friends in this matter, diffident in his
own abilities, reluctant at their dis
suadings, how beautiful is the loyalty
with which he still chung to their prin-
ciples In all things else and even in
this!
THE arduous nature Of his labOrs
from the date Of the establishment of
his paper may be estimated by the
fact that anti-slavery papers in the
United States, even while the organs
Of and when supported by anti-slavery
parties, have, with a single exception,
failed to pay expenses. Mr.. Douglass
has maintained and does maintain his
paper without the support of any party
and even in the teeth Of opposition of
those from whom he had reason to ex-
pect counsel and encouragement.
He has been compelled at one and
the same time and almost constantly
during the past seven years to con-
tribute matter to its columns as edi-
tor and to raise funds for its support
40 lecturer. 1t Is within bounds to
say that he has expended $4,000 of
his own hard earned money In pub
fishing this paper, larger sum than
has been contributed by any one in
dividual for the general advancement
OF the colored people.
There had been many other papers
published and edited by colored men,
beginning as far back as 1927, when
the Rev. Samuel r. Cornish and John
4 B. Russworm, graduate Of Bowdoin
college and afterward governor of
Cape Palmas, published the Freedmen's
Journal In New York city. Probably
not less than 100 newspaper enter.
prises have been started In the United
states by free colored men, born free.
and some Of them Of liberal education
and fair talents for this work.
"But one after another they have
fallen through, although In several In
stances anti-slavery friends contributed
to their SUPPORT It had almost been