The New York herald., 1869-05-29
The Hub I'm q WhirI.

Hub has hardly ever been in q greater
whirl of excitement than during the present
week. The Labor Reform League of New
England assembled in Boston on Tuesday, and
plunged at once into fiery struggle in behalf
of free trade, free money, free public markets,
free travel, free transportation and free land.
On Thursday the American Tract Society
closed an animated session which it had held
In the Tri-Mountain City. The chief bone OF
contention was proposed change in its man
agement. Heretofore the executive committee
OF the Tract Society has been composed of
Congregationalists, Baptists and Episcopalians.
But as it seems that the Episcopalians have given
but one-fiftieth part of the money contributed
to support the society, and the Baptists but
one fifty-sixth part, while the Congregational
lists have given twelve -thirteenths of the whole
amount, the latter claimed and obtained the
control. The Treasurer's report on the finan-
cial condition of the society gives balance of
$l6O,936 in its favor. On Thursday also the
New England Anti-Slavery Society met in
Boston. Wendell Phillips, of course, was
present, and read the stereotyped series of
resolutions which virtually ignore the
potent fact that the war abolished
slavery, and insist that the emergency yet
requires the active and watchful efforts of the
abolitionists. Othello Phillips cannot realize
that his occupation 8 gone." He is like the
poor fellow who swore that his corns still tor
mented him, although both of his legs had
been cut off. 1t is, however, an encouraging
sign of the times that the attendance at this
meeting Of the Anti Slavery Society was not
large. Almost everybody except Mr.. Phillips
is beginning to see that ''MOre Last Words"
on the topic of American negro slavery are as
superfuous as those which Baxter's publisher
was tempted to issue after the entire edition Of
his 'Last Words" had been sold. Phillips
''More Last Words found fewer listeners
than the speech as delivered on Wednesday
evening at the meeting of the New England
WOman's Suffrage Convention. There large
crowd gathered to hear Mrs. Howe, Lucy
Stone, Mrs. Livermore, and-borrowing old
Father Graftons expression-"O other hens try
to crow" in emulation of William Lloyd
Garrison, the chief rooster of the occasion.
The Free Religious Association met in Ire
mont Temple yesterday. There was q
large assemblage. Rev. O. B. rockingham
opened the proceedings by stating that the
''society had no creed to propagate, members
differing very much in their belief but
all seeking after the truth" Mr.. Frothing-
ham foamed up to the spiritual, as imported
from Germany, and was eloquently supported
in his plan for the attainment of ''an era Of
the absolute supremacy of human reason" ="
After this q gentleman of the Jewish per-
suasion from New York made an appeal for
truth and one God" Ralph Waldo Emer-
son followed in a strain of misty politico-
theology. Lucretia Mott was absent, from
indisposition. The Shakers were also in
convention yesterday, with both sexes we'll
represented, according, as they claim, to
the ''Order of ADAM Intense love
was expressed for the sisters, and
faith with quakes and shakes advocated.
But all this hubbub will soon be drowned in
the Great Noise. Land reform leaguers,
tract distributors, abolitionists, religious re-
formers, and even Growing hens must be
silenced when the big Drum shall beat, the
big Organ shall swell and innumerable voices
shall thunder forth to the universe the glory
of the whirling Hub. It is to be expected
that after the Great Noise, Bostonians, for
many generations to come, may be deaf il
not dumb.