The New York herald., 1873-12-15
Wendell Phillips Leader or Pub
lie Opinion.


lie Opinion.
Wendell Phillips is a man of some genius
and of more pretentiousness. He is an agi-
tator because he has not the ability, although
he has the ambition, to be something better.
1t is his hobby to appear to lead public
opinion-to be the avam courier of great
events; and SO he searches industriously
among the thoughts of others for ideas which
seem to him likely to grow into prominence,
in order that he may cast about them the
mantle Of his eloquence and pass them off as
his own. We often notice bright and frisky
terrier in the streets, running constantly ahead
Of his owner, and, although from time to time
looking anxiously around to ascertain in
what direction his masters course may be,
yet seeming to lead and direct the journey.
Occasionally, however, the man takes a sud-
den and unexpected turn, which throws the
to ascertain his bearings and reassume his
position Of affected Importance. Like the
ambitious terrier, Wendell Phillips is some
times right and frequently wrong as he frisks
about in advance OF public opinion. We
are neither disappointed to find him preluding
his new lecture, "Glances Abroad" by predic-
tions for the future, nor surprised that he
should mix up sense and folly in his prophe-
cies in most admired confusion. The main
features of his programme for the United
States may be briefly stated. They are, Com
munism, woman's rights, free-thinking as
substitute for religious faith; an unlimited
paper currency, resting only on the credit Of
the government s'with no check and balance
of commodity, wheat or gold, to disturb the
natural relation Of its volume;" social equality
without distinction Of color, and 'third
term for 'the General who now occupies the
Presidential chair" Without these it is the
opinion Of Mr.. Phillips that 'the boy is born
to-day who will write the decline and fall Of
the American Republic"
There is no originality in any of these propo-
sitions. The men who met at the Cooper In
stitute few nights since proclaim nearly the
same programme, only in less polished Ian
guage. For instance, they resolve that no
citizen shall be entitled to own more than
certain amount of capital, and some Of their
orators advocate a raid on the banks and a
general division of their contents Mr. Phil
lips simply points out representative man,
'the head of the Pennsylvania Railroad"
who 'swields four hundred and fifty million
dollars" and hints that this wealth must be
divided on Communistic principles if the
American Republic is to be preserved. For
tunately country educated in republicanism
cannot be disturbed in its intelligent onward
progress by the influences that distract the
new fedged republics founded on the ruins of
thrones but recently overturned It is true
that the American people in their carelessness
and in their over eager straining after wealth
may seem to be marching on towards those
blessings foreshadowed by Wendell Phillips,
even including the two antagonistic results of
Communism and C;esarism. But none can
tell how soon the owner of the terrier may
turn o corner and set his frisky leader scamper-
ing about to discover in what direction to take
q new departure