compelled, at one and the same time, and almost constantly, during the
past seven years, to contribute matter to its columns as editor, and
to raise funds for its support as lecturer. It is within bounds to say,
that he has expended twelve thousand dollars of his own hard earned
money, in publishing this paper, a larger sum than has been contributed
by any one individual for the general advancement of the colored people.
There had been many other papers published and edited by colored men,
beginning as far back as{13} 1827, when the Rev. Samuel E. Cornish and
John B. Russworm (a graduate of Bowdoin college, and afterward Governor
of Cape Palmas) published the _Freedom's Journal_, in New York City;
probably not less than one hundred newspaper enterprises have been
started in the United States, by free colored men, born free, and some
of them of liberal education and fair talents for this work; but, one
after another, they have fallen through, although, in several instances,
anti-slavery friends contributed to their support. [3] It had almost
been given up, as an impracticable thing, to maintain a colored
newspaper, when Mr. Douglass, with fewest early advantages of all his
competitors, essayed, and has proved the thing perfectly practicable,
and, moreover, of great public benefit. This paper, in addition to its
power in holding up the hands of those to whom it is especially
devoted, also affords irrefutable evidence of the justice, safety and
practicability of Immediate Emancipation; it further proves the immense
loss which slavery inflicts on the land while it dooms such energies as
his to the hereditary degradation of slavery.

It has been said in this Introduction, that Mr. Douglass had raised
himself by his own efforts to the highest position in society. As a
successful editor, in our land, he occupies this position. Our editors
rule the land, and he is one of them. As an orator and thinker, his
position is equally high, in the opinion of his countrymen. If a
stranger in the United States would seek its most distinguished men--the
movers of public opinion--he will find their names mentioned, and their
movements chronicled, under the head of "BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH," in the
daily papers. The keen caterers for the public attention, set down, in
this column, such men only as have won high mark in the public esteem.
During the past winter--1854-5--very frequent mention of Frederick
Douglass was made under this head in th