The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-20
Wendell Phillips.


citizens over the then recent murder of Eliiaf
P. Loveioy, while defending the freedom o
the press in distant Western city, there
arose, at a critical point in its proceedings
when conservatism, under the lead of high
State official, seemed about to defeat the
object OF the assemblage, young lawyer in
the flush of early manhood, who, In burst of
spontaneous and indignant eloquence, rebuked
the halthearted official, and carried tri-
umphantly through the meeting series of
resolutions fttingly expressive of the senti-
ments of the people of Boston concerning the
tragedy which had called them together. 1t
was the first great speech of Wendell Phillips,
then in the twenty-sixth year of his age.
The young orator, whose earliest efforts
were thus directed against that giant system
of iniquity which then held almost undsputed
sway in Church and State. which murdered
without punishment, and was cruel without
remOrse, which abolished the right OF petition
in Congress, and trampled free press and
free speech under the feet of infuriated mobs
In all our great ciies-North as we'll as South
has lived to behold the slave-power PROSTATE
In the dust, its perpetual death warrant in
scribed in the Constitution itself, and the last
lingering remnants of its preiudices and its
crimes tast fading before the growing intelli-
gence and quickening moral sense of the
American people, in this brighter and better
era Of their history!
Mr.. Phillips has held, and still holds,
unique position. Without official position
the constant advocate of measures far in
advance Of public sentiment, and oftentimes
OF theories utterly obnoxious to the majority
OF his hearers-a stern iconoclast, not sparing
the most revered objects of popular adora-
ti0n-the defender of downcast and despised
race, he still, by the brillancy of his genius,
the spell of his eloquence, and the force of
his arguments, manages to hold the ear of
the people as no other man has ever done in
this country. Men denounce him, and then
go to hear him. They call him fanatic, aud
yet eagerly read his speeches. They say he
is an extremist, and yet from time to time
adopt bis measures.
There are several reasons for these appa-
reutly conflicting phenomena. In the first
place, Mr.. Phillips is a man of rare genius
AS an orator he occupies the very front rank,
and yet not so much by the power and charm
Of his delivery as by the brlliancy and attrac-
tiveness ofhis ideas and his style. His speeches
will endure what those OF many eloquent
speakers will not endure, viz, to be read.
Hence, the circle of his influence is vastly
enlarged over that of those orators whose
great strength lies in their delivery. The
dwellers beside some mountain canyon in
distant Colorado or Nevada will read one of
MIR. Phillips addresses, and be moved by it
almost as much as though listening to it from
his own matchless lips. He combines the
power of the pen and the tongue in most
eminent and unusual degree.
In the next place. one secret of Mr.. Phil
lips influence lies in his hold upon popular
confidence. In all his labors, there is the
entire absence of any personal end or aim.
Though gifted and rich, and of the highest
social position, lie has devoted his life to what
has been in the main an unpopular work.
The highest Offices and honors of the State
were within his easy grasp, had he but been
willing to fall in with the prevailing current.
Even now, when the people OF his own dis
trct would gladly honor him with official
position, he steadily refuses. Now the spec
tacle OF such man voluntarily abnegating
official distinction and all personal preferment,
country where such things are 80 eagerly
sought after, is not without its eject upon
the minds OF the people. Hence, while they
do not adopt Mr.. Phillips measures, or
indorse many OF his notions, yet they do have
a confidence in his integrity which goes far
to confirm his hold upon them.
Finally, MIR. Phillips influence springs in a
great degree from the cause which he advo-
Gates. He has seized the fundamental idea
of American polity and of American society,
and he presses irresistibly forward towards
its perfect realization. He is called danger
Gus man by some; but if he could, AZ q word,
realize his entire theory OF society, what
would it be but universal educa ion, perfect
equality before the law, aud the highest type
of Christian morality? BappY country
whose most dangerous" man aims at
nothing worse than the complete triumph
of Justice in her institutions aud laws
Hence it is that Mr.. Phillips fights with all
the great moral forces of society rather thar
AGAINST them. The only difference between
him and the great mass OF liberal-mindeG
men is that he constantly fights on the
sESy7nish line. The great host moves steadily
ON. but Phillips keeps ever in the advance.
Mr.. Phillips faults as a public man are
-.s,..oIlx1 dovalOn ont of hi