KOCHESTEE DEMOCRAT AND

CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1.898.

triumphing at last until his name and fame were honored in the land, Frederick Douglass was the grand disciple of an op- pressed race. And so, yesterday, in the full light of the end of the century's humanity, in the glow of a nation's victory for the cause of manhood, in. the city where he found a haven when the clouds were darkest, the name of Douglass was honored, not alone by men of his raee, who showed in their Intellectual powers tho fruits of the rights for which the great freedman strove, but also by prominent public men, who in the years past had fought the fight against prejudice, and had even taken up arms against their brothers to defend the help- less black. It was the prophecy of Wendell Phillips come true. The name of the slave was printed in the great sunlight of truth, the name of the man, who, with the match- less orator and Garrison, the sturdy news- paper man, were the first apostles of lib- erty.

Honor to Douglass. The city of Rochester again took pride in honoring the name of Frederick Doug- lass. After months of arduous work, the committee having ii: charge the matter of the erection of a monument to his mem- ory was able to report the work complet- ed, although even at the last unavoidable circumstances prevented the unveiling of the monument itself. This fact, neverthe- less, did not detract from the interest or significance of the memorial exercises which were held in Fitzhugh hall yester- day afternoon. Colored Men Eulogized the States= Among the prominent persons who were present at the exercises were Miss Susan B. Anthony; T. Thomas Fortune, of Now man of Their Race—A Great York, editor of The Age; John H. Smyth, of Washington, ex-minister to Liberia; Meeting at Rtzhugh Hall — Hon. John C. Dancy, collector of customs of the port of Wilmington, N. C.; Chris. J. Perry, editor of the Philadelphia The Douglass Monument Tribune; Miss Mary Anthony, Hon. Ar- thur E. Sutherland, Judge George E. Ben- ton, Mayor George E. Warner, Jean Formally Presented Brooks Greenleaf, Dr. E. M. Moore, Bishop Alexander Walters, D. I)., James N. Neib, editor of a prominent negro to the City. journal in Philadelphia; Mr. Dorham, ex- minister of the United States to Hayti; Colonel Carson, of Washington, and all of the surviving members of the family of Owing to circumstances with which the Frederick Douglass, including his children | public is generally familiar, namely, that and grand-children. i the contractors who were to model and Letters of regret were received from cast the bronze statue of Frederick Doug- "United States Senator Thomas O. Plait, lass failed to have the statue in the city, of New York; United States Senator "Will- the unveiling ceremonies did not take place iam E. Chandler, of Vermont, and cx- yesterday morning, but the exercises at- Postmastor-General John Wanamaker, of tending the presentation of the monument Philadelphia. to the city were held in the afternoon and evening at Fitzhugh hall, addresses being delivered by prominent orators of the Afro-! Mr. Thompson's Explanation. American race, and the monument being ' It was the intention of the committee formally accepted in behalf of the city by to have the statue of Douglass in the city Mayor Warner. The audience which al- and placed for the unveiling yesterday, but most entirely filled the hall, was composed Chairman Thompson presents the follow- of some of Rochester's foremost, citizena ing letter to explain why the ceremony the representatives of. . both races being i was postponed. about evenly divided. TJpon the platform i Westerly, R. I., Sept. 12 1SOS were seated, beside the general committee J. W. Thompson, Esq., Rochester, N. Y. and the speakers, members of the park Dear Sir: After receiving jour telegram board and common council, prominent resi- on the Oth we telegraphed to Philadelphia (or the earliest date, and received reply that they dents and representatives of the oid abo- would ship the statue on the 20th." We wrote litionist families of the city. The exercises them, asking to hurry It and ship it as much began shortly after 2 o'clock and continued I earlier than the 2<>th as they possibly could. until after 6, but the interest of all present You doubtless know tiiat we had delays in Washington, caused by our Mr. Edwarda be- was -held until the end. ing unable to obtain the assistance ho re- Born in obscurity, forced to endure the quired, which has put us behind just the num- ber of clays to complete the statue on time. tutelage of slavery within sight and sound A letter to this effect, was dictated to you on of the ceaseless service our nation offered the Oth, but by on oversight on the part of up to liberty, breaking the bonds of his the stenographer it was not written. We are slavery and mastering all the arts of civili- very sorry, both for the statue not being com- zation, of intellectual development, of high pleted, gu tusc and for. our. letter, falling to manhood, working with the energy of a Titan for the freed of his fellow serf?, and, finding time to plead for the rights of women, suffering untold indignities, flee- ing before the agents of a nation that stood for the rights of men and religions and go on the Oth, which would have explained Hut such :is Douglass was not born to wear matters to you before this time. a chain— A living witness to the all-enduring truth- Yours respectfully, At the slave's task to bend and cower and lhe living truth that makes men brave to cringe and strain death, and true— Tie Smith Granite Co. To bare liis princely back to the rude lash J. R. Randall, Secretary. whose welt The truth whose champions ever have been Asked to give "an explanation of the ex- Produced no pain that his proud soul must The truth that made the life of Douglass all have felt ! planation," Mr. Thompson said: As Mnsrs did. ho served In bondage for an sublime, "The only word I received from the hour And gave it as a theme of hope to everv : company was to the effect that they were The better to be armed to crush the mas- clime ! ' I having trouble in getting a model for the ters' power. Mr. Fortune's poem was followed by nn statue. Finally after hunting around for It has been ever thus since, the old world excellent violin solo by Joseph Douglass, « long time they hit on Charles R. Doug- was young— of Washington, a grandson of Frederick The giants of the race from the head of woe lass, a son of Frederick Douglass, as have sprung— Douglass. The older members of the audi- mode!. Out of the agony and sweat and rayless hope ence, wlio remembered tEe great freed- In which the swarming masses have been man's love for music, and his own pro- "They next found difficulty in selecting doomed to grope. a place that was light enough to do the So lifts; its head I'rom rocks and sands the ficiency in the use of the violin, recalled work. They at last found a church that lighthouse brave. many instances and greeted the young ansWered their purpose. I suppose that by To guide the fearless sailor o'er the player with enthusiasm. He played'a se- the time all this was done it was too late treacherous wave. lection from Verdi's "II. Trovatore." to get the status ready for the unveiling to- For who can sing of woe who never felt a day." pain— Who never hoped 'gainst hope to know a joy An Eulogy of the Man. Mr. Thompson added that if the marble • again ? • The orator of the afternoon, Hon. John Who ihirst for vengeain-0 on the skulking, was finished by the 26th the ceremon;,- of coward foe C. Dancy,. collector of customs of Wil- unveiling would take place the 1st of Oc- As lie whose sire or mate has fallen 'neath mington, S. C, delivered an eloquent tober or thereabouts. the, blow X eulogy of Douglass, saying in introduction that he had come from the Southland to Who feel the venom of the slave's undying join with the North in doir.g honor to the THE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. hate As he whose lot has been the slave's degrad- great aposfe of his rac». He said in part: ing fate V : "Any eulogy I may make of Frederick How Rochester Did Honor to the Name Douglass can only emphasize those al- "I'was a long way to the north star from , ready made by others who have preceded of Douglass. Tuckaho— From slavery's dark shade to freedom's elec- me. The best tribute to his memory is The memorial meeting was called to or- tric glow— tame in comparison with the actual From out the depths--" O the depths" !"—of achievements of his life, considering its der at 2:30 o'clock by Chairman .T. W. slavery's long night— Thompson, of the monument committee. To the high altitude of freedom's fadeless early environments. He was indeed the He gave a cordial invitation to all friends light ! architect of his own fortune, 'the builder of Douglass, any Grand Army men who And here lie stood In winter's storm and of the ladder by which he climbed.' His might be present, and all city officials, to summer's sun. birth, his race, his condition as a chat- occupy seats on the platform, an invita- i Majestic, brave, till the fierce war was fought tel, Mere all against him, and his first and and won. greatest obstacle was to conquer these, tion which was supplemented by Miss An- We claim him as our own, the greatest of thony, who said that every old-time aboli- the race, and minimize their influence as recognized tionist ought to be proud to take a seat on In whom the rich sun stamp of Africa you insurmountable barriers. His boyhood did trace. not prophesy one of the most remarkable the platform where exercises in honor of And we delight to place upon his massive a man who stood not only for the freedm brow careers this nation has seen, nor did any- of his race, but also for the emancipation Affection's crown of reverence, as we do now. thing in his early life indicate that he was But, in a larger sense, forsooth, did he be- born to a noble destiny. His mother was of women, were being held. A number long availed themselves of the invitation. To all the race, a prophet strong among the probably a greater woman than his father strong ! was a man, and he no doubt inherited from The exercises were opened with music her the qualities of soul which were in him by an orchestra from the Fifty-fourth For he was large In stature and In soul and head the inspiring, overmastering power which Regiment band, which played a medley of True ty.ne of New America, whose sons, 'tis moved and electrified vast audiences, and patriotic airs. Following this a forceful said, made him the wonder and admiration of and eloquent prayer was offered by Bishop The western world shall have as glorious heritage— the world. Alexander Walters, D. D. Mr. Thomp- That they shall write In history's fadeless son briefly explained the circumstances truthful page. "Mr. Douglass always insisted that we which had prevented the ceremony of un- Such deeds as ne'er before have wrought for must not. be measured by the heights to liberty veiling th3 monument and then introduced And all the arts of peace—the strongest of which we have attained, but rather by the the Rev. Alonzo Scott, pastor of Zion the free ! depth from which he have come. Those Church, who sang "His Name Shall Live depths were lower than those from which Forever," composed by himself for the oc- And every depth he braved, and every Garfield came—and he drove a canal boat; height he trod casion. He was accompanied by a chorus From earth's alluring shrines to the presence or from which Grant came—and he was a of forty voices under the direction of Mrs. of his God; tanner; or Lincoln—and he was a rail- R. Jerome Jeffreys. And he was- cheered by children's confidence splitter. Douglass came from depths far and trust, A tribute never withheld from the true and beneath any of these, for he was a slave, just; and had to go further to reach " Frederick Douglass." And woman's sympathy was his, the divine their starting point than eitV.or Of In introducing T. Thomas Fortune, of power That rules the world in calmest and stormiest them went in the entire journey of their New York, editor of the Age, one of the hour ! triumphs. Wisely and philosophically leading papers published in the interest of did he remark, immediately after the To him nil weakness and all suffering ap- the colored race, Mr. Thompson paid a pealed; war closed, at a great meeting held in Dr. fitting tribute to his abilities and his earn- 'Gainst none such was his brave heart ever Sunderland's church: 'It's a long way est efforts to secure the erection of the steeled. from the corn fields of Maryland to Dr. And pleading womanhood for honest rights monument. Mr. Fortune read an orig- denied Sunderland's church in Washington.' The inal poem, entitled, "Frederick Douglass." No champion had of sturdier worth to brave actual distance was only about twenty The poem follows: wrong's pride— miles, but it took Mr. Douglass forty years To claim for her In all the fullest measure to go the journey—like Moses, forty years We cannot measure here the dizzy heights he trod Of justice God ordained her portion as her in the wilderness. He has told me that To whom 111is glyptic shaft is lifted from the due. he walked the decks of steamers that plied Korl, between the ports of New York and Bos- Towards the matchless azure of sweet Free- He needs no monument of stone who writes dom's skies. his name ton, becausg he was denied accommodation If we forget the depths whence God bade By deeds, in diamond letters in the Book of elsewhere. And yet even this affront to him arise. his sensitive nature did not curb his am- Above the slave's log cabin and a sireless Fame— birth, Who rises from the bosom of the race to be bition, relax his efforts to uplift himself To be a prince among the children of the A champion of the slave, a spokesman of and his race, or smoulder the burning tires earth ! Who scorns the fetters of a slave's degrad- of his manhood. Obstacles which would No giant who has placed one foot upon the And takes his place among the giants of the have absolutely sapped the vitality and the land C'iirtli hopes of almost any other man, seemed to And one upon the sea, with power to them command. In heaTen s be to him an inspiration, which nerved him i ' to more superhuman effort, in order to I To bid the angry turbulence of each be still, T And have them bend obedient to his master waverir'S h°Pe> » message more transcendent triumphs. will— ° be^r Ever started lower In the social scale than Of inspiration to the living from the dead "I saw Mr. Douglass under many and he— Who dared to follow where the laws of duty' varying circumstances, but he was always i This Champion of the Slave, this Spokesman the same grand, peerless character in his ! of the Free ! Vnfh??oig~these herWS Of the weak personality. I heard him declare in a In him the deathless lesson of our common ia and |Q great convention, where weighty political race interests- were involved, and party spirit Was taught anew—the lesson you who will may trace S 8 tow8dB ran high, that 'the Republican party is From Babel's fatal tower to fateful Water- ° '"stand «» monumental column the ship and all else is the sea;' I beheld loo— 11 ShflH SWne u him with cane in hand at the Columbian From Eden's blest abode to slavery's Tucka- glSTanV" "™ ™ U Stai f h PC dlvlne tor a ur Exposition, at Chicago, at a great congress liO— vouth ' ° ° " ° tell a caustic critic of our race, in answer T'nat still "one touch of nature makes the whole world kin," to his animadversions, to desist from his The world of love and joy, the world of woe unfair attacks and go home and learn the and tin. truth, before attempting again to instruct others as to the true status of. a too long maligned and oppressed race; I heard him In a great national Republican convention, speaking of his own nice, assert that 'we may bo ninny as the waves, but we are one as the sea.' Miss Anthony'3 Rsminiscences. ''1 watched him before an audience 1 made up chiefly of foreigners, at Wash- Miss Susan B. Anthony was then intro- ington, during the great Ecumenical con- duced. She said in part: ference, as he rose to the loftiest pitch of "I am proud and happy to bear my testi- mony by presence and words to the great overpowering eloquence and made a last leave Frederick Douglass'* daughter under appeal to them on behalf of fair ;)lay for truths that Frederick Douglass did BO much to vindicate by his life and works. the heel of prejudice. all mankind. I gat with him an hour at "Women were never asked about the the executive mansion, us he talked with It is not because I have not been impor- tuned to provide a sentiment for the monu- war. But the suns hate gone and they can President Harrison, portraying the groat- fnlist whether mother says yea or not. And ness of the people of Hayti, whom he ment but because I have been busy and st) at this late hour I am going to read a testi- yet the women are taxed for the expenses loved; I have seen him make merry at, liu of this war. 1 appeal to you colored men own home at Cedar Hill, overlooking the monial from Frederick Douglass to me and I think that this one sentence should be tho to join with us, the last disenfranchised Potomac, as he and his grandsons played class, lo light for an to secure our liberty. in concert on their violins his favorite, sentiment inscribed on the pedestal at Douglass park: I have never had my feelings so stirred | 'The Suwanee River:' and to cap the cli- up as by this war. Tin.' women should max, I beheld him as the orator of the " 'The cause of woman suffrage has un- have a place in the one great criticised de- day, on the occasion of the unveiling of der it a truth as eternal as the universe of pnrtmenl, the commissary. the Lincoln monument. thought, and must triumph if this planet endures.' "When President McKinley is going to "Other great men have arisen to fame have an investigation he appoints nine men, and distinction, and others will rise; but "I must pay a tribute to the old aboli- <•••!rrr.iil to select men representing every the like of Douglass we will hardly see in tionists who have passed before. Robert class of interests in ihe country, but, he tori this generation or the next. The occasion Purvise, Parker Pillsbury and all the rest, got the women. What was McKinley may never rise for his like. No vulean. but Elizabeth Horriek, a grand noble wom- thinking of when he forg.it the women. need forge thunder bolts like those pre- an, was the influence behind it all. when Women like Mary .Tacobi, Sarah H. Stev- pared for him, as they are hardly required she made the utterance for immediate ens, Julia Holmes Smith. No one is so , to carry the same power of destruction, or emancipation. When he came to this coun- capable of kno.ving whether the army has to produce the same trepidation and dis- try William Lloyd Garrison brought with been well fed or not as a woman." may. The power of the whirlwind and him a true, noble wife and mother, and I believe that he could not have done tho awe-inspiring tremor of the earthquake Mrs. Bar.-.ett's Tribute. shock are hardly necessary now as in dark- work unless for her influence. And them er days to arouse a nation to a full sense there was the invalid wife of Wendell One of the interesting addresses of the of its duty and its danger—realizing as we Phillips, who read all anti-slavery liter- afternoon was that by Mrs. Ida 1!. Weils do that a nation's chief sin is its cninf ature and encouraged the great orator to Barnett, of Chicago, who is classed with. danger. In his own day, this sin denied go and speak for the oppressed. I think the leading female orators of the race. his manhood, humbled his pride, sapped that Mr. I'hillips's most magnificent speech She had been heard before in Rochester, his vitality and clouded his future. He win made in Rochester when he stopped having delivered .'in address a few years realized its dangerous influence and ten- with John and Mary Hallowell. I said to ago advocating the anti-lynch law. In dency, and clutching it by the throat, as- him: fact, a large part of her life has been spent sisted in choking it to death." " 'That's a great speech, Mr. Phillip!.1.' in this work. Mrs. Barnett said, among The next musical number was a solo by " 'Yes, but you must thank Ann for it.' other thing?: Mrs. Charles P. Lee. Mrs. Lee sang in, "And Ann was his faithful, living \» "I come as a pilgrim to a Mecca, a wor- an excellent contralto, "The Sun is on the who encouraged, helped, cheen '1 him in Bhipper at tho shrine of one of the greatest Hills." being accompanied by Mrs. Jeffreys great fight for abolition. men this country has produced. The Amer- on the piano. "I remember well the first time 7 ican nation owes Frederick Douglass a saw Douglass. When I came home f) debt of gratitude because he helped her to Medal for Chairman Thompson. school teaching. My father put me in the cure hercelf of, a radical evil. It is not buggy and carried me down to Alexander necessary to recount what he did for the The programme was interrupted at this streel to see Douglass and his children, United States. We have come to know point by Walter Stewart, of Elmira, who and through all the years after the friend- and love him because he espoused the cause arose on behalf of the Douglass monument ship was continued. Our happiest Sundays of those who are victims of mob law. He committee and the citizens of Rochester, were when Douglass and his family spent is not dead, his words live after him, and to present a token of their gratitude to will be an inspiration to us in the many John W. Thompson, chairman of the com- the day at our house. We felt proud (it those occasions. Douglass was a Jolly fel- problems which confront us." mittee, who had conceived and engineered The speaker referred to the work Doug- the plans for the memorial to the great low. He always brought that, violin along. "In our circle of friends we very often; lass had done in espousing the cause of leader of his race. Mr. Stewart said the anti-lynch law, of woman's suffrage briefly: had those who visited us who were preju- diced. I didn't mean to persecute them or and against the "hydra-headed monster of "It is a custom among all nations to make them unhappy, but I was mighty prejudice," and said that the. work that perpetuate the memory of their greatest glad to introduce Douglass to them. I am he did should be an inspiration for the men who in some special manner have going to detain you to tell you one experi- present generation to take up those ques- j stamped their names upon the hearts of tions with renewed energy, until perfect the people, but as far as I can determine ence. "The son of my mother's brother was a emancipation and freedom were granted to this is the lirst time that a people have *U1 races and all sexes in the country. met to perpetuate the memory of any of real good, solid Western New York Demo- my race. This idea was first promulgated crat. He had come out from the city to by a citizen of Rochester in 1894, long be- spend his vacation at our beautiful little Ex-Minister Smyth's Eulogy. fore Douglass was deceased. John W. farm. He didn't like our 'niggers.' One John H. Smyth, ex-minister to Liberii, Thompson being imbued with the spirit of time when he was there Douglass came. I and president of the Negro Reformatory his race arose in a Masonic meeting and invited him into the parlor to meet Doug- Association, of Virginia, now a prominent first started this work. But ere he iiad hiss. lawyer in the South, was to have delivered perfected his plans the grand old man had "He refused, but later consented to an an extended address, but it was late in the run his race. But at his death Mr. Thomp- introduction. He began to ply his legal afternoon when the opportunity was pre- son put forth renewed energy, and though lore on Mr. Douglass and found himself sented to him, and he confined his remarks progress was slow he was conscious that wholly unable to cope with Frederick to a few brief words of tribute to the he was right and worked on and on with- Douglass. Realizing this, he turned to Rosa great freedman. Though he spoke but a out fear of failure or hope of reward, and Douglass, bis daughter, and asked her to short time, Mr. Smyth showed that he to-day he can look back upon a successful play, and. unlike many white girls, she was easily one of the foremost orators of work. Often he had to tread the wiue-1 played without dissent. She played ano- his race. By way of preface he seconded : press alone, yet 1 believe there was an an- other selection and finally my cousin fol- heartily the suggestion of Miss Anthony seen influence assisting him so that he lowed Rosa out to the table and placed a that the negro should not be an imitator could not fail. chair for her. And before the evening wag of the white man. He paid a high tribute "To-day John W. Thompson ought not over that 'Lish, that Democratic New to the women of the land, and stated that to be without reward, so in token of our York city lawyer, actually ran down and it was doubtless through womanly influ- appreciation for his efforts I wish to pre- opened the gate for Douglass to drive ence that Douglass became what he was. I sent him with this gold medal.' through when he started home. Douglass "It was due to the negro woman," lie Mr. Thompson accepted the gift with a overcame prejudice. said, "that we had a Frederick Douglass, ' few words of gratitude, though taken en- "I tell you the greatest thing that stands or any other illustrious negro in religion, tirely by surprise. The medal was a hand- in the way of advancement is prejudic. To politics or the field of battle. some one, being a solid gold medallion, negro men I say, don't imitate white men. "The man whose active, moral and in- with an engraving of the Douglas monu The women ought to be remembered, and tellectual agency aided in the destruction ment and a personal inscription to the colored men should still stand by the and extirpation from America of a legal- women. Why the "white men propose to ized infamy and degradation is no less a do'iee. give the ballot even now to heathens and1 A pleasant and appropriate feature o£ the national benefactor than the martyr souls programme was the reading by Miss Fred- were human benefactors, who went to God ericka Douglass Sprague, a granddaughter through Rome in its zenith, and the in- of Frederick Douglass, of an ext»aet from quisition in protest against godlessnoss, the great speech of the freedman deliv- h.-.rihenism and sin in the cause of Chris- ered in Washington on April 16, 1883, the tianity and its redemptive forces. occasion being the celebration of the twen- ty-first anniversary of emancipation. in political degradation—he helped lift it 10 the heights of civil liberty and equality. He saw his countrymen shut out from every avenue of trade, the paths of polite "It is ever of interest to have narrated industry and enjoyment—he died leaving The Mayor's Acceptance. the circumstances connected With the i.irth them possessed of every opportunity of Mayor Warner, in behalf of the city of and family of any great personage. Alas! elevation and advancement. All of this Rochester, accepted the monument, as fol- for the negro in Christian lands—little that lie saw and part of which he was. In the lows : is authentic that may be relied upon, can economy at life Douglcss filled many be said of such in this respect who have places, as editor and author, diplomat and "Rochester would prove herself un- lived so long as fifty years. Chronology statesman, and in them all he acquitted worthy of having been the home of a great man if she would do nothing to perpetuate in connection with a negro slave, had im- himself well. his memory. She has,had many citizens, portance only with regard to his ability to "It repeats the story of the .soldier and able in the councils of the state and na- work. Genealogy, so far as blacks were sail..1-, whose courage in bailie never fal- tion, alert in business, and of brilliant concerned, heretofore, was a matter of in- tered or failed, but with a heroism born of difference. B'rom our emancipation and mind, but none as great as Frederick inspiration, faced rebel ball and blade, for Douglass. He was great on account of throughout all our future, chronology and the Union, liberty and law. On tented genealogy are to be factors in our life and what he did for himself—because he trans- tield and crested wave, where treason formed himself from a piece of personal history, which under God, may be signifi- trampled under foot the rights of man. and cant and important. property on the plantation of his master, grim-visaged rebellion besieged a nation's contrary to the laws of the land and the "Frederick Douglass's parentage and forts and firesides, they foughi and fell. prejudices of the people, to a sage, the antecedents are shrouded in mystery. It "It marks the majestic march of I hat adviser of the great; and great on account is not a surprising circumstance, as all public sentiment, which, when the smoke of what ho did for his people—because he must realize, the result of human slavery of battle rolled away—in a spirit of justice gave for their salvation the rarest endow- in the United States where he was born. equal to the world's sublimest hope, ments of nature and the whole wealth "Through the warp and woof of his pri- stooped and took the freedman by the of his mind accumulated through years of vate and public life, one purpose ran: Hon- hand, placed him in possession of political the severest trials. He was the true self- esty, incorruptibility and loyalty to the rights, made him equal before the law, made man, for he could look back to the interests of his race. His uncompromising surrounded him with great opportunities of time when the laws of the republic said hatred of oppression and American preju- advancement and elevation, in the exalted be was not a man. He became a man not dice distinguished him from 1838 to the duly and dignity of citizenship, bade him with the aid of its beneficient laws, but end of an eventful, useful, effective and live and labor for the grandeur of his coun- in spile of its inhuman laws. beautiful life. His name will ever be try, the glory ol his race and God. "The years he spent in our ciV' were the 'great in tongues of wisest censure.' " "This monument is a mute appeal to the ones in wnich the greatest efforts of his Afro-American of, to-day. It implores us life were put forth for his race. Here he The Presentation. to shoiw by our devotion to duty, our love edited a newspaper for the publication of Charles P. Lee, a prominent colored at- of truth, our zeal for knowledge and our his views on slavery. Between the hours torney of the citjT, then made the presenta- acquisition of wealth and prosperity, that of labor which he spent in this enterprise, tion of the monument to the city of Roc.li- j we appreciate the advantages we enjoy, be traveled over the country lecturing. He ester. Sir. Lee referred to the noble work that we are worthy of the liberty left us also held here a sort of central office for of the monument committee, which is com- as.a legacy of love. It begs us to cultivate the 'underground railway,' an institution posed of the following gentlemen: John habits of virtue, temperance, economy, in- for the humane purpose of conducting W. Thompson, chairman; H. A. Spencer, dustry and commercial activity, seeking slaves to Canada. That he was well re- secretary; R. L. Kent, assistant secretary; ever that righteousness which exalteth a ceived by our people he gives testimony iu Mrs. R. Jerome Jeffreys, Hon. George A. nation, and by the nobility of our lives, his autobiography. He notes that we did Benton, Hon. H. S. Greenleaf, Hon. the purity of our characters and the mate- not take the advice of a New York paper Charles S. Baker, Benjamin F. Cleggett, I rial grandeur of our achievements, reach and throw his printing press into the T. H. Barnes, E. R. Spanlding, Bishop ! and realize the highest privileges and pos- lake. By financial contributions and in Alexander AValters, D. D., Rev. James E. sibilities of American civilization. It other material ways he was assisted by our Mason, D. D., B. N. Simms, Thomas E. points out to us the necessity of rising to I people in the great work of his life. the duty of the hour, of realizing our part Platner, F. Cunningham, T. Thomas For- "For twenty-five years ho was a fa- and place in the progress of the age, of tune and C. J. Vincent. In his speech Mr. miliar figure on our streets and in our pub- lending our effort and energy in defense Lee said: lic life. Our citizens learned to admire of every measure and movement beneficial "The character of a country is often and reverence him, and thousands gath- to mankind, which marks the spirit of the known by the class of men it crowns. ered to hear his frequent anti-slavery times, the triumphant march of the new •Monuments dedicated to heroes and pa- speeches. That he, too, had a tender feel- republic. * triots disclose a nation's ideals and reveal ing for our city and people, appears from the growth and grandeur of its civiliza- "We know of no city more entitled to the following sentence from his 'Life and tion." Continuing he said: the honor of this monument than Roch- Times:' "This monument represents a great lead- ester. Douglass loved her with a devotion " 'I know of no place in the Union where er. God endowed Douglass with all the that was passing strange, and though sep- I could have located at the time with less qualities, of exalted leadership, high moral arated from her by ocean trips, or called resistance, or received a larger measure purpose, courage of conviction, great per- away by public duty, he still clung to her of sympathy and co-operation, and I now sonal magnetism, broad perceptive powers, as his home. For nearly a quarter of a lcok back to my life and labors there with iron will, matchless physical endurance, century he was identified with her wel- unalloyed satisfaction, and having spent restless industry, spotless integrity, com- fare, associated with her growth and a quarter of a century among its people, I manding and conspicuous figure, a leader' grandeur, and enjoyed her great gen- shall always feel more at home there than by Divine right. Believing the principles erosity. It was here that he toiled and anywhere else in the country.' he defended and the cause he espoused triumphed and firmly laid the foundation "Our city is proud for having sheltered were true and righteous, he stood by them of that fame and fortune which cheered him when other* cities would have refused with unflinching fidelity. This unwaver- and comforted his declining years. It was him shelter. At his death she honored his ing firmness made him strong in counsel, here he commanded and controlled tee- remains and gave them a resting place at steady in conflict, powerful with the peo- th rilling conflict and tragic commotion of | her door. To-day her citizens honor his ple. Douglass was a leader of fixed prin- the anti-slavery campaign. It was hero memory by erecting a beautiful monument ciples and unshaken integrity. He would he saw the light of liberty break over the inscribed with his eloquent words. not sell the people's right for a seat in the land of bondage. His life was closely in- "It is fitting that it should stand near a senate or betray their confidence for a terwoven with her own—and his mortal great portal of our city where the thou- second-class appointment. remains have found lasting repose in her sands who enter may see that she is will- loving embrace. ing to acknowledge to the world that her "During the reconstruction period, Doug- "May she welcome this monument as most illustrious citizen was not a white lass devoted his energies to the material man. advancement of the freedman and to the a worthy contribution to her Pantheon of "As mayor of the city I accept this mon- graver conditions and circumstances grow- glory, around which are clustered memo- ries, that will inspire her youth for genera- ument to a great and good man. May it ing out of emancipation. His powerful ap- stand always to remind our people of a peals for justice—equality before the law tions to come with lofty hopes and hero- and absolute civil rights for his race—con- ism, and awaken in the hearts of her citi- zens a high and holy admiration for the life which should never be forgotten, and tributed much toward the formation of as an index finger to a bright page in his- that public sentiment which gave a guar- life and labor, name and fame of this ven- tory." anteed citizenship. The trials and tri- erated apostle of liberty. In that silent city of the dead—on the banks of the his- Before the exercises were brought to a umphs of Douglass extended over all the close Miss Anthony said that no public thrilling period of our national history. toric Genesee—Douglass sleeps to-day— and the sun shines on no grander spot than gathering could be complete without a "He saw the flag of his country in dis- word from the venerable Dr. E. M. Moore, honor—he lived to see it restored in glory. where his majestic form mingles with its mother earth—and where the lovers of who occupied a seat cf honor on the plat- He saw the constitution blotted by a fugi- form. Dr. Moore spoke briefly, saying tive slave law—ha 'ived to see it redeemed liberty from every land shall some day come to weave a garland above his grave. that he was very glad to be present and by the fourteenth and fifteenth amend- thus show his admiration and respect for ments. He saw slaves sold in the public Let none of us approach that sacred shrine with feelings of resentment or come away a man who had at one time been his fel- square—he lived to see them in the senate low townsman and friend. Mrs. Jean of the United States. He saw his race to revive the flame of race animosity, but with past trials forgotten, past wrongs Brooks Greenleaf also made a few re- forgiven, gather around his tomb and re- marks in the sumo strain. The afternoon's calling the cherished memories of his exercises were then brought to a close by life and invoking the sainted shades of the singing of America by the audience his illustrious spirit, consecrate ourselves and a benediction by the Rev. Alonzo anew to the Genius of Liberty—to the Scott. grandson of free government. He lives L_ ever lives."