Henry O. Wagoner to Frederick Douglass, February 28, 1874

HENRY O. WAGONER TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Denver, [Colo.] 28 Feb[ruar]y 1874.

DEAR DOUGLASS:

I received, last evening, at the dusk of my 58th birth-day,^{1Wagoner was born on 27 February 1816 in Hagerstown, Maryland. Junger, “Thinking Men and Women,” 142–43.} your happy and genial letter of the 21st inst; and I am, as always, glad to get a letter from you.

The “thought,” which you have put in the form of a question, has, indeed, often “struck me”; and I have been pained at the “want of the feeling,” you have referred to, “in our people.” Ay, the want of a proper pride in their posterity.

I have, for many, many years believed that we could beget a better race of men and women, by a judicious combination of the sexes, by the union of the two as man and wife, in the true sense of these generic terms: a congeniality of natures and dispositions, having a decent and proper affinity for each other. Such are the Conditions Essential to the production of a better progeny, a higher standard of intellectual and moral attainment, and an improved physical development. In confirmation of this theory, the improved stock of to-day, as exhibited in our County and State pairs—the beautiful symetry of form, is in altertation of the great law of Evolution, and of conforming the harmonious conditions. At this moment I am called away and must abruptly close—

I will add, however, that I wish my matters should so come around as to allow me to accompany you to Europe^{2Undoubtedly, the older Wagoner was interested in visiting Henry Jr. at the U.S. embassy in Paris, but he and Douglass never made such a journey. Junger, “Thinking Men and Women,” 161.}—What a pleasure that would be to me.

Regards to all and best wishes for yourself

As ever and Always

H. O. WAGONER

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 2, frames 724–25, FD Papers, DLC.