important and current topics of the day, which were highly acceptable to such papers as The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore American, and The Lynchburg Daily News.
The subject-matter of these productions was always highly appreciated by the reading public. He did such good work in the journalistic line, as to give him a considerable reputation among the professionals, and he was the first Afro-American to be regularly employed on a white journal in Baltimore, Md., having been assigned to duty as reporter on The Baltimore Daily Bee, which was re-established in 1876. He subsequently removed to Harrisonburg, Va., and with his brother, Robert B. Robinson, he established The Virginia Post, which he ably edited for three years at that place.
During this time, he was steadily growing into popular favor, and was chosen to fill many political offices, which he graced with signal ability, Among his honors may be mentioned the fact that he was the first Afro-American to hold the office of secretary of the Republican Committee of Rockingham County, Va., to which he was chosen in 1880. He was also elected secretary of the Charlottesville, Va., Congressional Convention, which nominated Hon. John Paul for Congress in 1880. In 1881, he represented Rockingham County, in the Colored State Convention, held at Petersburg; and in the same year, having removed to his native home at Alexandria, he was nominated for magistrate in that city, and received a very flattering vote. Afterward, his time was devoted to teaching, and holding other positions of trust and honor in his state.
On January 12, 1888, he established The National Leader at Washington, D. C., and hoisted the name of James G. Blaine for president, in his first publication. His was the first negro journal to raise the Harrison and Morton ensign at the National Capital. His paper met with phenomenal success, and did great service for the Republican party in
