Not only was New York the garden-spot for journalistic fruit, but Pennsylvania also occupies a place on that record. In 1843, when the interest of every man at the North had been stirred up on the slave question, the Afro-Americans of Pittsburgh, not unlike their friends in New York, desired and sought to publish letters in their behalf, but could find no means of expression. Their pleas to the white publishers of papers were not heeded. This prompted Major Martin R. Delaney to publish a weekly sheet in the early part of the year, under the title of The Mystery, which was devoted solely to the interest of his race.
As we have seen in preceding chapters, and as is generally thought at this writing, Afro-American papers were always lacking support. The most pretentious newspapers, run strictly on business principles, would be hardly able to live upon the support the race offers.
While Mr. Delaney put ability, money and business spirit into his paper, yet it survived as personal property only nine months, when it was transferred to a joint-stock company of six gentlemen, he being retained as editor.
Mr. Delaney was an editor of attractive power. His friends who now live are loud in their praises of his editorial ability. A writer says—"The editorials of his journal elicited praises from even his enemies, and were frequently transferred to their columns."
To his editorial influence is due the originating of the Avery fund. He was the only editor from 1827 to '70, to our knowledge, who was ever arrested for what his enemies would term libel; certainly he was the first. A verdict of guilty was rendered in the suit for libel, and he was fined. Mr. Delaney stood well with his newspaper friends. They were loud in praises of him and his editorial work; and upon the occasion of the suit for libel, this was fully exemplified; for as soon as they found out the court had fined him, they
