Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-12
From the Liberty BeLl
BnaiSer HTiI in 1875 aad Bunker Hill IN
1851
BY REV. WIN. r. ALGER.

the dead body of Joseph Warren was lying on
the erimsoned slopes Of Bunker Hill. His
discounted but resolute couutrymen had
slowly retreated from defeat which was
victory. The smoke of smouldering Charles
town rose around. There lay the young hero
and martyr, in the splendour of his genius,
the pride OF his beauty, and the fragrance of
his fame.
England had passed certain unwarrantable
enactments, not at all affecting the personal
liberty of the American people, but subver-
sive of some of their legal rights and pecuni-
airy interests. Warren, keenly alive to the
moral and poetic sentiment of patriotism, I'M
able to tolerate anything that looked like
oppression, spurning the thought of fear, was
among the very first to protest aud to rouse
MS fellow citizens to resistance. And when
the crisis came, and power resolved to enforce
wrong, he flew to the post of peril to make
his bold words good by holder deeds. Lin
gering, lion like, in the rear of the withdraw
ing troops, nurderous ball pierced him.
And here now he lay in death, the costlest
offering the land could place.upon the altar of
Freedom. While the tragic tdings went
forth, as nightfall drew on, the sympathetic
genius OF his country wept over him with the
descending dew.
On the 18th of June, 1857 as the sun was
tagging. towards the west, great multitude
were inaugurating marble statue of Joseph
Warren, on Bunker Hill Profound as the
contrast between the spectacle of this hour
and that presented eighty-two years before
was the change in the spirit and purpose Of the
people. The advance of national prosperity
had not been more marked than the inver-
sion of principle and the degradation Of sem
timent had been surprising. A desperate
struggle for independence was then inaugur-
ated in fire and blood. The statue of a cele.
brated patriot was now to be inaugurated
with much pomp and servility. The actors
in that seventeenth of June, on Bunker Hill,
were ready to suffer martyrdom rather than
submit to an arbitrary tax. The actors in this
seventeenth Of June, on Bunker Hill, were
willing to fawn, and creep softly, and omit
the most vital part of their quotations so as
not to use the word "slaves," and suppress
both the Golden rule and the principles of the
Declaration of Independence, rather than
disturb, in the least, the pampered sensibili-
ties of the lords of Slavedom. Upon the
righteous cause of the fathers God had smil-
cd, and when it was crowned with success,
they had solmnly declared that their dearest
purpose was to establish government under
which all men should be free and equal. But
since that time the Southern institution of
negro bondage had become so rooted, extern
sive,and profitable, had nourished in its arts
tocracy such an overweening conceit and
haughtiness, had so pervadingly got possession
OF the general government and patronage,
had diffused such an inhuman contempt for
the African race, had generated such a habit
of trucking and concession in the submissive
and half demoralized Northern States that the
ruling majority of the people the spurious
Democracy, the Roman Catholic Irish, and
the tanaticul Saveholders-a three-fold cord
not easily broken-Ead declared that the
Constitution shields slavery wherever it
reaches, and that the star-spangled banner
carries slavery wherever it goes
But Massachusetts, had remained COMPARE
lively true to the pure vows of that earlier
time. And now, amid the honors to be paid
to the first great martyr of the Revolution,
surely was fitting opportunity for her elo-
quent sons to proclaim afresh her allegiance,
and to swear for her an ever growing devo-
ton to the cause Of universal Liberty. Would
1t not be done Would not heroic voices be
lifted up, and the spirit of the apotheosised
patriot rise to prompt the words? Alas, that
the ancient tale must ever be acted over that
those who garnish the tombs of the dead
prophets will, while doing it, desecrate the
cause for which they laid down their lives,
and turn and stone their living descendantsI
There were especial reasons for an uncom-
promising utteranee of the mind of Massa-
chusetts, on Bunker Hill, that day. The
brave and scholarly senator, who had served
her in the national councils with such signal
fidelity, taken by surprise by deoauched
and drunken coward, abetted by armed and
confederate DULLES, had been bludgeoned
nearly To death hn floor Of tbo
This brutal atrocity the whole South had en-.
Enthusiastically endorsed, scarcely an individual
daring to peep or mutter against it, while the
thunders OF applause rolled in unbroken sue
-cession from the Blue Ridge to Texas. At
tins very hour he was uncertainty seeking, in
foreign land, recovery from those fearful
wounds. But during such ceremony as
this his heart was sure to be on Bunker Hill;
and it was natural that he should wish to be
kindly remembered by his friends and con.
stituents. He had a right to expect 81 much,
Would any other State in the Union. under
such circumstances, have utterly forgotten, or
purposely omitted throughout the whole dav,
the slightest recognition of the existence of
such son, nearly murdered for his noble eff
forts in her service The scene lay within
sight OF his native city, and represented the
entire Commonwealth, whose chosen senator
0'N cSAoNOu bhllQ lC WAS Ills associates IN
her Congressional delegation were present. as
also were other friends of his, members of
Congress from free States. Not one of them
was allowed to speak word. But an AFRO
CANT Shareholder, odiously identified with the
Fugitive Slave bill, a studious insulter of
Massachusetts, bitter enemy of Mr. sum.
ner, an obtrusiye and disgusting approver of
brookss hendish outrage, instead of being
treated as his peers were, was singled out for
particular compliment He spoke-the i'm.
periousness of the Shareholders dietation WISH
bic in each naughty gesture. the swing and
cut of the Shareholders lash audible in each
domineering tone. But no man known as an
earnest friend of the slave, spoke there Not
one timely hearty word in behalf of true free
dom was uttered that day. MI. Mason was
the only person who so much as recognized
the existence of American slavery. l should
have thought that, when they unveiled the
cold efhgy Of Warren the stony lips would
have parted, and supernatural utterahce
have carried, through terror-stricken souls.
the old strain with which he thrilled The Bos.
ton OF l775: zine voice of your fathers
blood cries to you from the gIound my sons,
scorn 10 be slaves l.
In the opinion of large portion of the
people of Massachusetts,, that glorious oppor-
tunity, on Bunker Hill, was not merely
wasted, but profaned, and parts of the service
were an objectionable insult to every true
son of the State, A generous indignation
was widely kindled by sympathy with the
slave, by loyalty to moral principle, and by
loathing for hearless recreancy. In many
quarters expression was given to merited
rebuhes, Nhich awoke deep response in the
bosoms Of thousands in spite of the deprecat.
ing ebulitions of meanness and hate that
fDllovnd