166

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 318

found that I had been placed there with the hope that by "some drugs, some
charms, some conjuration, or some mighty magic," I would bring it back.

When I became connected with the bank I had a tolerably fair name for
honest dealing; I had expended in the publication of my paper in Rochester
thousands of dollars annually, and had often to depend upon my credit to
bridge over immediate wants, but no man there or elsewhere can say I ever
wronged him out of a cent; and I could, to-day, with the confidence of the
converted publican, offer "to restore fourfold to any from whom I have
unjustly taken aught." I say this, not for the benefit of those who know me,
but for the thousands of my own race who hear of me mostly through the
malicious and envious assaults of unscrupulous aspirants who vainly fancy
that they lift themselves into consideration by wanton attacks upon the char-
acters of men who receive a larger share of respect and esteem than
themselves.

CHAPTER XV
"WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE."

The Santo Domingo controversy — Decoration Day at Arlington, 1871 — Speech delivered there —
National colored convention at New Orleans, 1872 — Elector at large for the State of New
York — Death of Hon. Henry Wilson

The most of my story is now before the reader. Whatever of good or ill the
future may have in store for me, the past at least is secure. As I review the
last decade up to the present writing, I am impressed with a sense of com-
pleteness; a sort of rounding up of the arch to the point where the keystone
may be inserted, the scaffolding removed, and the work, with all its perfec-
tions or faults, left to speak for itself. This decade, from 1871 to 1881, has
been crowded, if time is capable of being thus described, with incidents and
events which may well enough be accounted remarkable. To me they cer-
tainly appear strange, if not wonderful. My early life not only gave no visible
promise, but no hint of such experience. On the contrary, that life seemed to
render it, in part at least, impossible. In addition to what is narrated in the
foregoing chapter, I have, as belonging to this decade, to speak of my mis-
sion to Santo Domingo, my appointment as a member of the council for the
government of the District of Columbia; my election as elector at large for
the State of New York; my invitation to speak at the monument of the
unknown loyal dead, at Arlington, on Decoration day; my address on the
unveiling of Lincoln monument, at Lincoln Park, Washington; my appoint-