The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-11
PHILLIPS.


The session of the Pennsylvania Antl.Slavery
society was resumed yesterday afternoon. After
Mr.. Powell of the An0:Sduery Standard,
Wendell Phillips was called on for few
remarks, and he spoke subs autially as follows:
There ~ was one thing which had espe-
and that Was It's simple, SPECIFIC cha,
racter. We have been simply a society tor
the abolition of negro slavery. We have dog.
gedly hinged all our movements on one simple
idea. Now we are just nearing the port; the
harbor is in sight; it has not been a poor
oyage, nor was the labor light. Ours was the
Christian test OF the age. Fifty years hence our
history will be made of the quarrel between the
races, and our romance will consist of the pic
tu1esque element OF that quarrel. If this society
had been spread into general Christianity, we
would be now where we werei in '33. The instinct
of the opposition saw exactly the strength of
anti-slavery-its one idea. We shall never
entirely get rid in our day of social prejudice,
but we can clean the organic law. A I alton can
make step that cannot be recovered. The
speakers criticism OF Andrew johnson was, not
that he has lost the country four years, but that
we shall never stand again where we did IN
1895. The journals now give us all the depth of
water we requlre-persistent effort will 40 the
WORK. And yet the miracle OF a nations regene
ration may be taken from Us. We have been
cheated IN so many things Impeachment for in
stance-that it is impossible TO say. But he had
faith.faith held for many weary years and not
respectable Cabinet merely il is possible that
the country may drift back into the spirit OF
the times before the Rebellion. We must not
expect any prompt humanity from Grant;
he is simply a soldier, though he may be an
honest one. What we mleht have got was a
man who would have been to the whole country
what Butler was to New Orleans. Wade was
that man, but Senators knew what he would do
If elected, and were afraid of him. Tue Presi
dent, when he bought Ross, wasted his money.
The speaker continued his criticism of General
Grant and other public men at some length, and
with great severity. The question in the war
was, which shall own this belt of continent
Calhoun or Massachusetts? 100000 graves have
answered. We have fought the battle, though
only half awake. The trouble now is that Grant
is not an aboltionist. Our anti-slavery lite
must last till that time when the Law OF the
country is cleaned. The retcence of Grant as a
soldier was proper, as a Presidential candidate
it was disloyal. God has given us the hour and
the teXt one more effort and we shall be- able TO
redeem the original pledge of the Anti-Slavery
Society, TO make black man aud white man
equal before the law.
The Treasurer's report was then read. by
which IL appeared the amount in the treasury
was Spots, and that dor a ions received during
the year amounted 10 $500. The report was
accepted
After accepting the resolutions aud declining
to entert ain Mr.. Moriarty's Fenisn resolve, the
convention adjourned.
A festival OF the Friends of Freedom was held
last evening in Concert Hall There was
large attendance. Several speeches were m ade,
end general good time was had by those
present.