Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-30
NO. 154
Miscellanfous.
LESSONS OF THE REVOLUTION.

These are the concluding sentences of the re-
markabe speech made by Wendell Phillips at the
old South June 18Th. All who have heard Phil
lps in his happiest moments of inspiration, can
Imagine The effect of this brilliant preoration as
| uttered by hin
In all these anniversaries, our faces
should be set forward and not backward;
| we should contemplate, not the glories of
the fathers, but the duties of the children
We should free truth from its embarrass-
ment, hated truth from its burdens, VIC
should lift it into the serenest atmosphere
OF general recognition. Timid men
| limit it, priestly men have to consult their
interests by hiding it, interested men serve
| The seItishness OF their gain by graphing
ii, but The honest servant of truth steps
forward as Henry Vane did to tell the
world all God has trusted him with. and
believes that the Great Teacher may be
trusted with the consequences
can remember the day-even although
it is one of the foundations of a religious
liberty-l can remember the day, and
am not very old, when the Selectman OF
d Berkshire town up among the hills, ex-
amining the votes cast for the Presiden-
tial candidates. found one in that Federal
town that was cast for a democratic Pres
ldent, lifted it up-''whot threw that vote ?"
No man answered. Flinging it out of the
window, he said: IL thought it was
mistake" That was The political toler-
ance of Massachusetts in its western coun-
ties not fifty years ago.
The most IIiusliious living historian,
the Nestor of record, left the streets of
this very city because, crowned with all
the laurels of literature, he was sent to
Coventry by society tor the opinions which
he professed. That was Boston thirty
years ago. Now friends, sitting here in
the seats of the Puritans, standing here
in the atmosphere of Bunker Hill, the
lesson we are TO take to heart is to be
willing to own every duty, to accept every
command, follow truth no matter how
chips fly in our faces. This day was the
day of the people. Nathaniel Greene is
the best type of Bunker Hill The news
of Lexington came travelling down to
Rhode Island. The four companies of
Providence asked the Governors permis-
sion to leave the State That is organiz-
alton.
The news travelled ten miles further to
Coventry. 1t reached Nat. Green with
his company. He started without waiting
for the Governor or an order. Without
banner, without any authority, 100 men
marched through Providence, men not
citizens, men members of no civil organ
ization. They reached Pawtucket near
the borders of the State. Governor Wan
| ton sent them an order from Rhode Is
land to return ninety-tour men turned
their backs. Nat Greene, two OF his
brothers and one other man pressed for
ward TO Lexington. That is what has
made Bunker Hill Not colonies. nor
captains. nor governors, but Nat. Green.
THE MAN IL was a pretty sight. Sam
Acanls, the Puritan, clasped hands with
Tom Paine, the Deist, and Charles Carroll,
the Catholic. held up the hands OF Nat.
Greene. the Quaker. 1t was vast tribe.
They little knew how much events were
teaching them, and when they came out
OF the struggle, they could hardly count
the shackles that had been broken.
SO have | seen an eagle struggling with
meaner birds who settled On his wings
and tried to weigh him down from being
lifted TO his natural atmosphere and the
brave bird struggled upward, tossing one
and another from his pinions, but they set
tied down again and crippled his path
At last, shaking his broad pinons freely.
The royal bird circed into The upper air,
and as he shook the baser comrades from
his wings they fell down, down hundreds
of feet, the thin AIR giving no support to
their narrow pinions, and The gallant bird
scared and poised himself in the serene
atmosphere of his native land. So is truth.
Now it holds on its wings an Increase
Mather, and now Governor Wanton of
Rhode Island. and now and then it shakes
itself free and leaps itself into the ether,
where neither doubt nor fear can live, and
where sefishness falls like lead to the
earth, and the royal truth poises ITSELF
forever.
The lesson Of the American Revolution
Trust God that whatever he teaches you
of truth, the world is ready to listen to
you from your lips.