The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-24
The SITUATION.
Lecture by Wendell Phillips at the
BrOOklYn Academy OF Music,

tures In Brooklyn was delivered at the Academy
OF Music in that city last evening by Wendell
Phillips. The Academy was about half full.
Mr.. Phillips commenced his speech, which
occupied nearly two hours, by a eulogy upon
the system of public lectures that had come
nto vogue in the Northern States during the
past few years as means Of educating the public
mind. At first they were regarded as a mere
literary entertainment; but during the last ten
years the Lyceum had vindioated its claim to
deal with the great problems of political life and
had done more than aught else to prepare the
North for the great struggle IL had Just passed
through. In this country thought was greater
than law; statistics were nothing when not sup
ported by public opinion. Who should direct
this public opinion which rules and is to RUE
the country9 There were only four sources of
national education-the press, the pulpit, poll
tics, and agitation. Editors could not afford to
offend their patrons; politicians could not afford
to imperil parties; the pulpit dared not enter a
crusade against popular sin or iniquity-
there was always tacit partnership between
prws aud pulpit. II was only the Lyceum
that could afford to be independent and express
its honest views. Here was taught the courage
that dared to listen to an opponent. If we, as a
nation, were to be what we pretended to be-if
repuDican1sm were no Sham-lt indlSpen.
sable that there should be a platform where
thought could be represented untrammelled.
sufiicent compliment to the Lyceum that at it
had educated the public mind up to point
where IL could go through the great national
I years ago John Browns blood was shed in the
cause of freedom in Old Virginia. Since
that time the soil of Virginia had been
trodden out in blood to the music of that old
mans name. (Applause.lI Standing under the
lnsptI alton of such platform he felt 1t his duty
topress upon his audience vigilance, patience,
perseverance, and selfdevotton in meeting the
duty of the hour. God summons us to prove
the reality of republican Institutions. Europe
ts looking towards us. confidently believing
that our masses will be like hers, that what she
believes to be the gentry OF the South will yet
balk: the North out Of its purpose; and it is
our duty to see that what 200O0000 of loyal
have detprminpd
despite all chicanery and trick. II is our duty
to plant the seeds of civilization in ten States
to plant a Government, not to build one
and to wait for the growth. Our difficulty has
been that we had two contradictory ideas in
difficulty was in 1858, before he lost his
bImns. daughter and applause.) 1t was
Without war; but we could not, and war came
The cannon burst, and now men like your elo-
Quent pastor Of Plymouth Church ask us to
load up the gun with the same powder, put the
same plug in, and hope that it won't burst
war to carry out its idea. We fought to main
tain ours. The two ideas met in conflict to
determine which should control the Govern
ment 1t was like two men bringing suit for
house, to decide which snail have the house
TO imself The South said in 1S6O-"There are
unless we can press back liberty our civiIi-
cation is gone.' They fought to maintain
to succeed. Toombs predicted that he would
call tneroll OF nls slaves on Bunker Hill. Now
war is not past ime, picnic, sport; it means
something. 1t decides something. 1t decides
that he i'd, which prevails shall have the right
10 put the oLher idea where it can do no further
harm. When The South failed in their resort to
arms they gave us the right to dominate this
sIWaHs 10 be Exercised. It depends on WhetReT
the rights are founded on justice. Whence do
we derivethe right to dominate this continent?
Simply because our civilization is best. Hav-
ing then by our victory, the right, and our
idea of liberty being the best, we have a
OF Cancellation, We are conciliatory, but mag
nanimity and conciiation have their law, and
duty has its law, and our first duty is to take
a bond and make it doubly sure that out of this
conquered idea war shall never come again:
The war has decided that the root OF all this past
bitterness shall die forever. (Applause9 have
never heard any of these advocates OF concllia-
tion offer to sacI1nce any Oh Gneir own rIgghts
Artemas Ward once said tnat he was so pa
triotic that he felt as If he was willing to offer
the altar of his country. daughter and ap-
pIauseD so it is with these men-they are
altar Of Cancellation. (Applause) Radicals
were advised to lay aside their luminosity"
No man or party or journal was entitled
to preach moderation or prudence or charity
10 inc old anti slavery men of this country. No
party has suffered as they had suffered, or been
20 forgiying as they. For twenty years they
have been prosecuted lied about abused and
yet they forgave tnelI peFSeeptoTs RS wnen tney
mlnent man in the nation to-day whose re-.
cord, If it were examined would not be found
sinful in the highest degree against his fellow
citizens who twenty years ago held the same
views which he holds now. He flung back then
any journal or pulpit orator who talked to him
about Cancellation or prudence. In ten Southern
States were 1000, 900 educated men. They had
always ruled there; they ruled now, and they
would continue to rule until other educated men
superseded them. These men believe just as
they believed in 1850 Wade Hampton and
Jeff. Davis hold the same views as they held in
1859 They believe it is not safe to trust the
masses. Battles don't change mems opinions.
You might stamp Massachusetts with hum
dred Bull Runs and she would continue to cry
equal" So you may smite South Carolina with
hundred battles and she will still cry out, Call
men are not created equal" Davis is man OF
convictions the same as l. he has given evidence
ofit One man with a conviction and God on
his side is a majority, and one man with a con-
Victien and the Devil on his side is not
to be despised. (Laughter) Now to take
that trembling jelly we call Seward and pit
him against Jefr Davis, is like pelting the
Rocky Mountains with Cologne water. (Laugh-
ter and applause,) In the South the millions
must be taken into account in any problem OF
Reconstruction as an Interchangeable quantity,
We cannot trust the South vet; there is not q
single change of idea in the leading element OF
Southern thought. God once treated this very
problem. Canaan was the territory, and God
look over God wished to bring Canaan to the
worship of one God Did He preach concilia-
tion? He said, exterminate every living being
in the land, The Bible was not given us for lit.
eral Imitation, but to furnish us with an idea
Wecan't exterminate the South we can't ban
ish them. During the one hundred days after
Mr. Iincoln's death we might indeed have sent
any OF them TO Europe and never have seen the
whites of their eyes again (applauseG but it was
too late now. sal SAID Two years ago, that con:
General Lee as candidates for President and
Vice President on the same ticket. 1 was
laughed at and rldienIed Tor the statement
candidates. What we must do Is TO PLAN
Northern ideas in Southern soil; graft the South
70 our root IL Other S IoS words n send down tn
4 cation There were, he said, three ways for IL