Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-06-11
The Meeting at LODgwOod--Discussi
between ebert Purxts and w an. atOyd
snrrison-The Prospect ms viewed from
different uOfntH.

The Meeting at Longw ood-Dis cussions
sarrison-Tne PrSspect as Viewed r. On
different points.
Communicated for The Tribune.
The yearly meeting of Progressive Friends held
at L"ngwood on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
OF last week, was, us usual attended not only by
those distinctly connected with it. but by many
Of other denominations and other neighborhoods,
including numerous visitors from our own city.
II was our good fortune TO attend the sessions
Of Fridays meeting, which were devoted TO
consideration of the condition of the freedmen,
and OF the present paramount Importance OF their
education, even as compared to their need OF the
power OF the ballot. In the discussion of this
question we Witnessed something nearer to a re-
hcwal of the old-tashoned auti-slavery conyen-
tons Of other days than we had ever hoped or ex-
pceted To see again.
"lhere shene again the old familiar faces; /"
placid sensible countenances, under Quakerly
head-coyer!ngs, which had often beamed like
thosc Of guardian angels on the eyes OF trembling
iurlllyes not yet pronounced ''contraband OF
wars Oliver Juhnsons pale intelligent front !;
Miller McKim's flexible, genial face Samuel j.
Mays strong German-like features suitened to
brtevocncc and peace; Robert Purvis's delicate
aud ttincd contours bearing the stamp of such
Keen constituencies, such passionate pride as might
be due to a Castan descent rather that to his
Scoltish and French lineage, or to the few drops
ol African blood whose possession has cntaieu
on HIM n curse--or so he Enthusiastically enough
Ia turn all his good gifts to ashes and bit
tcrncss between his lips and among these, best
known OF all, the simple transformations figure of
tic man whose name will go down to p0sterlty
inked with IL great cause, with struggle begun
III olsfurity conducted through persecution, cul-
iilnnng III glorious fruitiOn William Lloyd
Garrison.
1t ! great thing to have seen these men to
nave lived through this crisis. We can afford to
piiy the next generation for missing it,
But bright and hupefu us the present is. with
rs splendid future before 1t, it has its TIL eatenng
clouds. To the eyes OF some there seems moth
ing bnt clouds aud darkness. And here the
hopeful and forcboding of tho workers in the
Anti Slavery cause take issue with each other,
and, pursuing their aim in different ways, criti-
we each others course with u bitterness one Is
sorry to sec.
There was much of this manifested at Long.
wood on Friday, especially in the passages be
tween Mr. Garrison and Mr.. Purvis; much tC
cause regret; and yet to awaken sympathy witt
each from his different stand point.
There is something at once grand and touching
~ hhrrsuns rejoicing over the GROWING fulfill
,lleit OF his life's work which his own eyes have
peeil spared to rec. Mr.. Purvis had spoken viii
great bitterness of what the AfricO-Aner can rae,
nave suffered do suffer, and must still endure
state Of feeling intensified by the recent rejection
o. the unqualified ballot by many of the fire.,
states, Including his own. He declared passion
alcly That he 'despaired of the country hi
country, and yet not hs-that he and bis hat
gained nothing" Garrisons answer was II
some respects the best speech we ever heard from
IiS ups. As he painted the past and compare
with the present, his usual simplicity and di
rccthess of diction rose into elouuence that wa
almost poetry. He described the day when th
slave stood free man, ''landless, homeless
irrndess, but man, and free Had he gaine
nothing then Ask him Twas something lik
le change from death to life, when the sol
nu,sls lis cerements of clay and stands rejoicin
Me light of Heaven"
ohch were not, perhaps, the precise words, bu
.ne feeling and even the rythm OF the words b
spoke, and as he uttered them his face shone an
Flowed with joy higher and more unsefsh.
s,,cihed, than that he described True, TOO; bl
nus, not the whole truth There was TRUTH ais,
u, we burning words that answered from the III
VI ,'r robert Purvis, the gentleman, the man of ii
wheel, refinement and wealth, who stands to-da,
10 ne has done all his life, DISTINGUISHED, allie
WIN no social status no fruit of tardy reparatiG
r.. ripe Tor his lips With fierce passionate pr
10y nc threw out his arms, declaring himself Il
t,eprescnlatiye of those who had never yet TASTE
m a,e who longed and painted for it still,
,,aih IN vain whose souls were sick with Il
long agony OF hope deferred.
,f lct any one try to realize his position and 81
= s"ch words are too strong for IT, Yet Mr. Pu
u,, ,ght take comfort, II not for himself, for |
n, i aren' The future of that young DR.. Pury
II oeSplalned with such intelligence and amin
- ns recent share In the politics of Washn
cry will certainly be different from his fal
spist And If the father, like Noses attai
II 10 the sight of the Promised Land, he hi
Moses, despaired of his people, and smltt
81 rock In wrath rather than in faith.