Life and times of Frederick Douglass . of myheart, I should in this controversy have followed the lead ofCharles Sumner. He was not only the most clearsighted,brave, and uncompromising friend of my race who had everstood upon the floor of the Senate, but was to me a loved,honored, and precious personal friend; a man possessing theexalted and matured intellect of a statesman, with the pureand artless heart of a child. Upon any issue, as between himand others, when the right seemed in anywise doubtful, Ishould have followed his counsel and advice. But the annex-ation of Santo Domingo, to my unde
Life and times of Frederick Douglass . of myheart, I should in this controversy have followed the lead ofCharles Sumner. He was not only the most clearsighted,brave, and uncompromising friend of my race who had everstood upon the floor of the Senate, but was to me a loved,honored, and precious personal friend; a man possessing theexalted and matured intellect of a statesman, with the pureand artless heart of a child. Upon any issue, as between himand others, when the right seemed in anywise doubtful, Ishould have followed his counsel and advice. But the annex-ation of Santo Domingo, to my understanding, did not seemto be any such question. The reasons in its favor were manyand obvious; and those against it, as I thought, were easilyanswered. To Mr. Sumner, annexation was a measure to ex-tinguish a colored nation, and to do so by dishonorable meansand for selfish motives. To me it meant the alliance of aweak and defenceless people, having few or none of the attri-butes of a nation, torn and rent by internal feuds, unable to. C~ ^Ct*4Ls^ ^Cc^ZtA^T^i DIFFERING FROM CHARLES StJMNER. 455 maintain order at home, or command respect abroad, to agovernment which would give it peace, stability, prosperity,and civilization, and make it helpful to both countries. Tofavor annexation at the time when Santo Domingo asked fora place in our union, was a very different thing from what itwas when Cuba and Central America were sought by fillibust-ering expeditions. When the slave power bore rule, and aspirit of injustice and oppression animated and controlledevery part of our government, I was for limiting our dominionto the smallest possible margin; but since liberty and equalityhave become the law of our land, I am for extending ourdominion whenever and wherever, such extension can peace-ably and honorably, and with the approval and desire 01 allthe parties concerned, be accomplished. Santo Domingowanted to come under our government upon the terms thusdescribed; and for more reasons
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectslavery, bookyear1882
