Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-06-16
THE PASSING OF TIMOTHY
THOMAS FORTUNE
(By Kelly Miller)

Thomas Fortune is dead. His
active life covered the most dynamic
half century in human history
More rapid and radical changes took
place in his day than this old
planet of ours had witnessed from
creations dawn up to the time of
his arrival. These world sweeping
movements made little or no con-
scious impressions upon him. He
lived in limited racial world. The
onward sweep of cosmic forces made
lite impression upon his Jealous
soul. Amid the cosmic sweep of
science, discovery, invention, the
world Transforming changes in
literature, art, religion and practi-
cal life, he stood aloof and indif-
ferent like the Hebrew prophets,
declaring with clarion voice, that
righteousness and righteousness
alone is the salvation of the nation.
Like unto a voice crying in the
wilderness, the world listened for
but a moment, then stopped its
ears to the impotent wailings of
the conscience.
Fortune was born in the year
of the bred Scott Decision. His
infancy covered the stirring years
of the Civil War. AS soon as his
boyish imagination began to stir
his spirit, he was caught up in
the whirl of Reconstruction. Never
did youthful spirit feed on more
nourishing and stimulating pabulum.
His soul made instant response to
that stimulus. The diverse strains
of Negro, Indian and Caucasian
blood kept his nature in unstable
equilibrium. He was motivated by
the dynamics of unbalanced pres
sure. The waters of liberty were
stirred, and his Jealous youth was
baptized therein. These were the
days that tried mems souls. In
such an environment as this young
Fortune found his soul. Contrast
that day with this day. The rally
ing cry of the Civil War was the
purchase of liberty; the watchword
of the World War was the purchase
of liberty bonds. The youth of that
day was obsessed with a love of
liberty that would not let him go:
the youth of our day is obsessed
with the. craze for luxury and ease,
as with a Economical possession. A
reverent and devout friend of mine
declares that he is glad that he
get religion fifty years ago, for
it would be impossible for him to
get it now. The same timely dis
advantage applies to indoctrination
into the principles of liberty and
the rights Of man.
Young Fortune, at once launched
upon the political tide, then at
high food. At twelve years of age
he was page in the Florida legis-
lature. He soon found himself in
Howard University as did many a
high spirited youth Of that day.
But he found the tedium of peda-
gogy too restrictive for his rest
less soul. Indeed the school has
nothing to impart to a great mind
or a great spirit except dead formu-
las under which it chafes as a
spirited horse under restraint Of the
bit. Who could teach Jesus religion,
Darwin biology, Emerson philosophy,
Henry Ford business, or Theodore
Roosevelt politics? And so Young
Thomas passed through Howard
University without the slightest i'm.
pressment upon his impatient and
impetuous spirit
He at once plunged into jour
nalism which is the swiftest and
surest institution yet devised by
man to bring into life and power
whatever is within US. After all
has been said and done Timothy
Thomas Fortune represents the
best developed journalist that the
Negro race has produced in the
Western world. His pen knew but
one theme-the right of man. His
editorials were accepted throughout
the journalistic world, as the voice
of the Negro. For a season, bridg-
ing the decline of Douglass and the
rise of Booker T. Washington, he
was the most influential Negro in
the nation. A record of his life
would be an adequate history OF
the Negro race for the past fifty
years. He knew intimately and in
fluentially every outstanding Negro
who participated in the dramatic
episodes of Reconstruction. He was
not merely an onlooker, but par
ticipant,