Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-19

aud bis twenty third year, when, in conjunction
| with Geo. ID. Prentice, he began to edit the New
England Weekly Review, published at Hartford,
| by John j. Phelps. 1t was undoubtedly time Of
| trial and uncertainty; and then, when his name.
| as poet, was beginning TO be fsvorably known,
/ he took the daring step which for many years
| thereafter seemed to shut him out from place in
| his counsry's literature. His peaceful Quaker
| garb covered soul alive with courage, and ever
ready Tor righteous battle. About the year 1882,
| he became impressed with the great wrong OF
Human Slavery, and threw aside all other aims of
L 70 life to JOIN the little band Of despised and per-
secuted Abolitionists.
whi,tier's poetry suddenly, and even stsrilngy
| changed in character. The entire force oil
his console nee, the fire of his moral indignation,
and the intensity of his feeling as man and pa
triot poured into his until 1t pierced al
most like Q cry to the very hearts of his readers
| lie became the voice for which few had been
weary waiting, yet which eyasperated anu tern
fed the whole country. To those lev, therefore,
Whittier At once became prophet; TO the many
object of utter detestsiion AT time when
the influence oil the South was predominant 10
our patiousl councils, and when the south still
possessessed some of her great men, II was the
extreme of defiance to hurl against Gov. McDut-
e, of South Carolina, such scaihing invective as
this:
king of Carolina, hail;
Last champion of Oppression battle,
Lord of rice tierce and cotton bale,
Of.ugar-box and human csltle!'
Even as late as lS4l, Poe, In his paper on "Au-
toy raphs of Authors" did not dare TO speak OF
Whittier except to sneer at hun. For four years
from 1896 % lS40-ths poet edited the Pennslyvs-
MIA freeman, in Philadelphia, aad then retired to
his home in Amesbury where he has since lived
. quiet but not secluded life. Whenever strong
woId needed to be ssid ferveut protest TO be ut
tered, or Q good cause to DO helped by an appeal
which had the force and feeling OF prayer, his
voice has never been silent, lie is the only Amer
lean poet Who has ever lsrrowy escaped personal
violence 1T the hands of q mob, and yet who has
lived to be almost embarrassed by the measure of
affection and reverence poured upon him. The
justice which time has brought hin IS source OF
Thanksgiving to all his countrymen. Had he died
twenty-five years ago, it would have associated
his memory with certain sadness and regret.
For our own sake, IS for his, we rejoice that he
still lives.
/, Is we'll, also for his literary renown, that he
has been lowed to fill the Psalmists allotment of
years. Although after the year 1850. his circle OF
readers was steadily growing and his permanent
place in literature was secure, he could not be
called popular poet until the publication OF his
Snow Bound" IN 1856. This poem, which
seemed like the work of some Bloomh ED in
higher sphere of inteec: and Imagination than
the English, opened TO him every door which had
been previously closed. Since then he is known
to ALL Is once 10 the few. The tributes spontsne-
ously offered to him by his broherauthors, in ad.
vance Of this seventeen birth day, such as no
man 10 America has ever received. And they
speak. moreover for thousands, nay millions, who
are silent. We have learned, fortunately. that the
age thus comnemorsted is not that where the
poets productiveness ceases A greater age fails
TO mar the grace of Brysnt's hand; Longfellow,
nearly year older than Whittier has written few
poems OF such vivid aud picturesque beauty a.
his last Leap Of Rousban Beg" and the same
number of the Atlantic Monthly contains a poem
by Whittier himself, which shows all the ryth-
mical sweetness and spiritual suggestiveness OF
his best years. Long may he live to enjoy the
last fortune which comes TO poet-the knowledge
that his songs are welcome TO the world.