New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-31

WINGED of the niquity of the practice, and
quietly gave it up, Mt great pecuniary ioSS
and sacrifice. This fact should be remem-
bered, rs not the least glory of people VINO
have striven so faithfully to keep their gar
ments stainless. In later days, to be an ADO
litionist, was, for Northern man VINO nao
nothing to lose by the emancipation OF the
slaves, not assurcdly a costly virtue. But the
Ouakcrs asked no man to go where they hau
not first led the way.
The meeting at the little Philadelphia tavern
WAS the origin of the Anti-Slavcry society
John Baldwin was the first President. Aiter
one or two meetings during the year, the
Society gave no more public evidence or us
existence for nine years; until, In 1act INC
war of the Revolution was over ana inc
country ouiescent. The Friends, it is stated,
had necessarily become obnoxious to popular
sentiment owing to their refusal to bear arms,
and dared not run counter to it on another
vital question. At tho rcsusctation OF the
Society in 1874, however, under the presidency
of Franklin, it at once became live. active
influence in the body polite, the little leaVeh
which at last quickcncd the whole heavy re-
ssting mass. The history of this Society IN
cludes that of all antiSlavery crusaders anu
the unHagging, dauntless battle, which they
waged for century. Even the most preJu-
diced Southerner must cede to the story the
tribute due to a great drama finely played to
great conclusions. On one side the wealth,
the peace the established policy of nation !;
on the other the one simple idea OF Right.
IL was the pebblestone that slew the giant, Dut
God held the arm that aimed it. Ine student
of political economy, too, may find most
curious examples in this long warfare OF how
circumstances, expediency. even bascr motives,
are brought to subscrve q good cause, and
insure il success; the student of human nature
will find in the long line OF Illus
trious names stranger records OF sacri-
flee, of heroic daring. and OF suffering
than the boastcd annals OF chlVairy
afford The roll-call Of protestant5 against
Slavery begins with Washington, Jefferson,
and Franklin, and ends with men as great OF
later day, but who coming closer to us seem
more akin to ourselves. There are the hosts
dead upon the field Of honor; the uncounted
gallant hot blooIed lads, who left home, and
| work. and love, and died, nameless and I'M
| thanked, to free the slave; there Is Lincoln,
who kept pace with his time, and Greeley,
who led it, dead side by side in the cause of
Liberty.
This quiet Society of Friends, if they tell
their story truly on their coming Centennial
day, will unfold pages of human passion, OF
change, of hopeless adventure more tragic
than any which fiction affords Their Book,
no doubt, begins With the meeting of the hall
dozen Qlallers in the little inn, and closes on
that January morning when Slavery was
abolished, and the rising sun of the new
year was greeted only by freemen. But we
would suggest that the work undertaken by
the few founders passed beyond the freedom
of the slave and included the elevation Of the
negro and his establishment on a secure basis,
physically and politically; and that work is
| but Just begun.