The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1917-02-22

tor; the latter was his confidential
companion. The first twenty-three
years of this young mans life were
of slavery obscurity, and degradation,
which made him determined to gain
liberty at any cost. To begin his ca
reer ne escaped from bondage, and
for some reason changed his name
from Frederic Augustus Washington
Bailey to simple Fredric Douglass.
AS he hoped, today it has become
one of the greatest names known and
holds place in the highest rank of
American statesmen.
Mr. Douglass now entered upon
that epoch of his 4areer which brought
the hitherto obscure refugee promi-
nentiy before the public, and in
which his service as an anti-slavery
orator and reformer established his
chief aim to enduring recollection.
He was consequently appointed lee
turer of the anti-slavery meetings
and was introduced as "a graduate
from slavery with his diploma writ
ten an his back"
This man, a chattel slave of a hated
and cruelty wronged race, in the teeth
of American prejudice and in the
face of every kind of hindrance and
drawback became one of the foremost
orators known, and has widely estab-
lished a reputation on both sides of
the Atlantic.
Fred Douglass rank is high and
justly so. His writings are even
more meritorious than his speaking,
For many years, as editor of news
papers, and contributor to magazines,
and his written productions compared
favorably with the most cultivated
writer's.
His visits to England not only gave
him great opportunities to influence
British public against slavery but the
material benefit to himself was ines
Unable 1t was in England that
$4,000 was raised to pay for his
freedom and $4,000 as a gift which
he brought to the United States and
established the North Star, subse-
quently renamed Fredric Douglass
paper
Fredric Douglass had a deep and
abiding interest in the education of
his people and he believed in the pos
sible schools for the masses. Hence
it was that in addressing the students
at Tuskegee on the subject Self
made Men" he laid special stress on
the necessity Of learning trades in
connection with other training and
said, The earth has no prejudice
against color, corps yield as readily
to the touch of the black mans hand
as of the white mans hand"
Douglass was not only an Ameri-
can, he was a gentleman and what is
more a Negro gentleman sharing con-
victions and aspirations of the most
progressive men of his day. His life
of seventy-eight years was a lesson
to those who had suffered in slavery
to those who had battled for liberty
brotherhood and citizenship, and tc
those who lived to enjoy the fruits
Of liberty and rejoice his career was
guided and inspired by the highest
religious and moral motives.
Ever mindful of his people and
seeking always to promote their wei
! fare, Douglass was one of those who
urged in his address the abolition of
slavery and the employment of Ne
gro troops in the Union Army. In
spite of all assertions to the contrary
he foresaw in the war the end of
slavery, for on the battlefield lies lib
erty and he who would he free must
strike the first blow Hence the fifty.
fourth and tifty-ffth regiments were
formed and the Union saved by the
aid of the black mans hand, the she'd
ding Of black mans blood and the
appealing of the black mans voice
Fredric Douglass was in SLAYER,
born
And lived his life in a world Of
Scorn
Yet he fought for slaves and for
liberty,
And reached higher destiny.
Is there another to take the place
OF this Grand Old Man of tn,
Negro Race?