n which
has led their sisters in all ages of the world to gather at the feet
and support the hands of reformers, the gentlewomen of England [2] were
foremost to encourage and strengthen him to carve out for himself a path
fitted to his powers and energies, in the life-battle against slavery
and caste to which he was pledged. And one stirring thought, inseparable
from the British idea of the evangel of freedom, must have smote his ear
from every side--

_Hereditary bondmen! know ye not
Who would be free, themselves mast strike the blow?_

The result of this visit was, that on his return to the United States,
he established a newspaper. This proceeding was sorely against the
wishes and the advice of the leaders of the American Anti-Slavery
Society, but our author had fully grown up to the conviction of a truth
which they had once promulged, but now{12} forgotten, to wit: that in
their own elevation--self-elevation--colored men have a blow to strike
"on their own hook," against slavery and caste. Differing from his
Boston friends in this matter, diffident in his own abilities, reluctant
at their dissuadings, how beautiful is the loyalty with which he still
clung to their principles in all things else, and even in this.

Now came the trial hour. Without cordial support from any large body of
men or party on this side the Atlantic, and too far distant in space and
immediate interest to expect much more, after the much already done,
on the other side, he stood up, almost alone, to the arduous labor and
heavy expenditure of editor and lecturer. The Garrison party, to which
he still adhered, did not want a _colored_ newspaper--there was an odor
of _caste_ about it; the Liberty party could hardly be expected to give
warm support to a man who smote their principles as with a hammer;
and the wide gulf which separated the free colored people from the
Garrisonians, also separated them from their brother, Frederick
Douglass.

The arduous nature of his labors, from the date of the establishment of
his paper, may be estimated by the fact, that anti-slavery papers in the
United States, even while organs of, and when supported by, anti-slavery
parties, have, with a single exception, failed to pay expenses. Mr.
Douglass has maintained, and does maintain, his paper without the
support of any party, and even in the teeth of the opposition of those
from whom he had reason to expect counsel and encouragement. He has been