Collection: African American Newspapers
Publication: FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER
Date: August 13, 1852
F. Douglass
Title: LETTER FROM WILLIAM C. ALLEN
Location: Rochester, New York
LETTER FROM WILLIAM C. ALLEN.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ: DEAR SIR: - Communipaw says (August 6) "Professor Allen overwhelms me." Well, I am glad he has owned
up. He asks, further, "If the Jews of old were a mixed race, as he says, (July 30,) how are the modern Jews a "single race,"
as cited by him in the same paper? That is, how can you mix wine, gin, and water, and after a thousand years, the resultant
be pure water?" Now this sounds very astute and cunning, but it is pure sophism, and nothing more. Communipaw does not deny
that the ancient Jews were a mixed race; my answer to his query, therefore, is this simply: the modern Jews are
not
a mixed race; my answer to his query, therefore, is this simply: the modern Jews are
not
a mixed race, because they do not inter-marry with other races, nor in any way mingle its blood with the blood of other races.
Communipaw asks further, "What does the Professor mean by a "
single race?"
My reply to this query is this simply: by a "
single race,
" I mean a race which does not intermarry with other races, nor in any way mingle its blood with the blood of other races.
Communipaw further asks, if I can make out that there is "a single race of mankind in contradistinction to any other, or all
other races of mankind?" My reply at this point, is this simply: I can make out no such thing; and, further, have never, at
any time, written any article which implies any intention or desire, on my part, to make out any such thing, as no one better
knows than Communipaw. "Of
one
blood are
all
the nations of earth created." Here is a plain statement of the
oneness
of race of all mankind; and yet no one better knows than Communipaw, that, on entering the field of ethnography, we are compelled,
for scientific purposes, to speak of "this race," and "that race" of "mixed races," and so on down to the end of the chapter.
Communipaw further states that the "Chinese are a mixed race." So, I would reply, are the Anglo-Saxons a mixed race also;
and yet if a nation of Anglo-Saxons were to shut themselves up for hundreds and hundreds of years, refusing to receive foreigners
among them, and to intermarry with them, the common sense of mankind would decide, that for all the purposes of an ethnographical
discussion, they, (the Anglo-Saxons,) under the circumstances, might properly be called a "
single race.
" Indeed, if this view of the subject be not adopted, we talk nonsense when we talk of the "African," the "Celtic," the "Mongolian,"
or the "Saxon" race, or any race whatever, save the HUMAN race. But I will prolong this discussion on my part. It cannot amount
to no more on either side than a war of words, since, as to the theory mooted, Communipaw and myself hold precisely the same
opinion. I say this in full confidence; for I know who Communipaw is and have read his opinions when he was not trying his
skill at raising a point.
Now to another subject. A few words about Hayti. Several merchants of Boston have signed and sent a petition to Congress,
(which petition has been presented,) praying for the recognition, by this government, of the independence of Hayti. No one,
I presume, supposes that such a petition will, for a moment, be seriously entertained by Congress. Receive a black or colored
ambassador at Washington, to be "conversing, and .... with the wives and daughters of white Secretaries, Senators, and Representatives!"
Certainly not - not if said black or colored ambassador were in talents, character, and personal appearance, superior to all
the dignitaries in Christendom. This would be to strike a blow by far too terrible at the spirit of caste, and to undo the
foundations of American Slavery. Besides, colored men of respectability and character can 'converse, and dance, and
waltz
and
polk
," at the most brilliant courts of Europe, 'mid lords and dukes, and such like; but Americans have too much greatness of heart,
and depth of soul, to allow them to be guilty of distinguishing between character and color - man and his skin. Besides, further,
slaveholders rule this country, and though they may miss the figure occasionally, they will, by no means, be likely to make
so magnificent a mistake a to grant the prayer of the petitioners. No! no! The devilish spirit of compromise, with indignity
and death, has run mad with American character; and Hayti will have to trudge along, as hitherto, unrecognized by this mighty
republic. But more of Hayti, anon.
Yours,
WM. G. ALLEN.
McGRAWVILLE, NEW YORK,
August 9th, 1852.