Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/86

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THE AFRO-AMERICAN PRESS.

helped on the fight for a just principle, which was afterwards maintained.

Its name indicated a long-looked-for desire. It joined in the fight with a vim, and went to rest, doubtless, with the feeling that it had accomplished something.

After the suspension of The Herald of Freedom, in Ohio, Mr. Clark was associated with Mr. Douglass in the publication of The North Star. Upon the editorial staff of this paper he labored zealously.

The Star had already been actively battling for Abolition for some years, and with Mr. Clark's vigorous and pricking pen, its aims and purposes for triumph were greatly strengthened.

Respecting his contributions to The Star, a writer to the author quotes William Welles Brown as expressing his sentiment: "His articles were fresh, vigorous and telling."

Mr. Clark is one of the bright Afro-American minds, and the world has been made brighter and more attractive for his having lived in it.

Up to this time there had been no part taken by the Afro-American churches in the interest of Abolition, save, here and there, a few individual attempts. There seems to have been no organized effort among the churches; and nothing of a tangible nature was done to battle against the wrong.

This the members saw; and the A. M. E. Church, having had some years of existence, now made a very interesting and permanent stand in the North. The principles of the church, as taught by Richard Allen, were laid down with much power and strength.

The Press, an indispensable factor, was seen to be necessary here; and it was about this time (1856) that The Christian Recorder was established in Philadelphia, with Rev. Jabez Campbell, now Bishop Campbell, as editor.

It is hardly necessary for us to comment here upon the