The Twin City star., 1917-02-17
AMERICAN NEGRO ACADEMY
HON0RS DOUGLASS MEMORY
Noted Institution Studies Life Of Great
slavery Orator.

Centenaries afford very convenient
opportunities for historical study
whether in individual or national life
The centennial of the American repub.
lie in 1915 is still for the purpose Of the
measure of national progress the most
satisfactory milestone as yet discover
ed. From that period centennial cele.
brations of the fall of Yorktown, the
adoption Of the constitution and of the
actual Inauguration of the new repub.
lie have afforded occasions hitherto un.
known for historical investigation. In
none Of these, except in a subordinate
sense, has the American Negro been
anything. but figure in the back
ground.
This year. 1917, which witnesses the
centenary Of the most forceful char
acter in the life Of the Negro, gives
the opportunity for intensive study, up
to this point neglected. The American
Negro academy availed itself of the
privilege of leading of in its twentieth
annual meeting. held at Washington
to consider the career Of Frederick
Douglass.
1t has made study Of his life and
character under comprehensive phases
The condition of the anti-slavery move
ment prior to the advent of Frederick
Douglass was treated by Carter G.
WoOdsOn, who traced the movement
from the French revolution to America.
and only incidentally discussed the To-
cal measures, in which William Lloyd
Garrison was the pioneer.
Douglass as a reformer and agitator
was most ably treated by Archibald
H. Grinke. the president Of the acade-
my. The work Of Mr.. Douglass was
most carefully analyzed and discussed
both as respects his career in England
and In America. Douglass as editor
and newspaper contr0versialist was
the theme Of John e. Bruce Of New
York. There could have been no more
fitting selection than in this instance.
Mr.. Bruce showed familiarity with Mr..
Douglass work as editor of the North
Star, Frederick Douglass paper, and
other papers, as well as the knowledge
Of the contributions made by the great
reformer to the newspapers Of the pc
riod, as well as to the magazines, all
displaying his unusual ability for the
great career which gave him world
wide pre-eminence.
With the emancipation in 1868 Mr..
Douglass work is by many considered
done, but Professor Kelly Miller gave
a resume Of his subsequent work in
reconstruction in politics as a public
officer and as a lecturer. This work
extended up to his death in 1895 and
afforded a most excellent opportunity.
which Mr.. Miller did not fail to i'm
prove.
But It was as an orator that Frel
erick Douglass will be best remember
ed. The selection Of Judge Robert II
Terrell to illustrate as well as inter
pret this phase was most happy. H.
made an exhaustive study Of Mr.. Doug
lass work as orator. beginning with
his first appearance at Nantucket IN
1841 and ending only with the efforts
Of his latest years. He made copious
extracts from the different oratons.
and these he delivered with thrilling
and dramatic effect.
The Academy did not expect to ex-
haust the subject 1t hoped to open
the way which other organizations and
communities would follow.
The custom of the Academy is to
publish the most important Of the pa
pers read before it. especially. as IN
the centenary of Frederick Douglass.
when they have the sequence and
the comprehensivenes which illustrate
unity Of thought. research and literary
ability.