Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-24
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON...

large space IN Inc puOllc aCtonGlOn, ana ~
one time was the central figure around which
circled that brilliant coterie of earnest men
and women who successfully maintained the
anti-slavery agitation until the war came and
with it the determination of the giant evil.
Early in life Mr.. Garrison began to take an
interest in public affairs. He devoted all of
his leisure time that could be spared from
his duties in the printing Office, where he
received almost the only education he pos
sessed, writing communications on political
themes for the various newspapers, and
these articles attracting wide and favorable
mention, he was encouraged to enter the
editorial profession himself. Various ven
lures proved unsuccessful in pecuniary
sense, and he was compelled to abandon
them. Finally, having by his agitation of
the subjects of slavery and temperance, at
tracted the notice of Benjamin Lundy, he
was induced to join his fortunes with that
gentleman. By pursuing bold course in
relation to human rights they created great
excitement throughout New England, and
their paper attained large circulation. Mr..
Garrison soon came to be looked upon as q
leader in the anti slavery movement. for he
was fierce in his denunciations of the in
iquitous system, fearless of personal danger,
and apparently impervious to attack. His
conviction at Baltimore in 1880 for libel in
denouncing as domestic piracy the trans
portation of cargo of slaves from that
10
tional notoriety, and his Incarceration
in the common Jail there created a wide
sympathy for him, besides attracting attens
ton to his cause.
Soon after his release Mr.. Garrison start
ed on lecturing tour on the subject of
slavery, and addressed large audiences in
Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and other
of the principal cities of the East, awaken
ing widespread interest in the condition
of the colored men. The subsequent year
with which his name has since been closely
identified. In the conduct of that paper he
was not always temperate, and as conse-
quence awoke the bitterest luminosity
among the pro-slavery people of all sections.
This feeling was heightened when he sue
ceeded in forming the New England anti
slavery society, with auxiliaries that gave
promise of becoming formidable, besides
procuring anti-slavery orators from England
to assist in stirring up the people. In 1884
he was mobbed while delivering an address,
and narrowly escaped with his life. AS the
anti-slavery party assumed strength, how
ever, he only redoubled his efforts in the cause,
contributing to its growth both by tongue
and pen. He was not content with writing
for his own journal, but sent copious letters
to magazines and newspapers all over the
country, and published several widely circu-
lated books on his favorite theme, besides
two compilations of the sonnets and poems
he had written in the course of his career.
Up to the time of the issuance of Presi-
dent Linooln's emancipation proclamation,
Mr.. Garrison never tagged. He urged his
cause in season and out of season, with a
persistence that verged upon importantly.
He appealed to the people, to political con-
ventions, to Congress, and to State legisla-
lures for justice to the negro. When
at last the shackles were stricken from the
limbs of the slaves he considered his work
accomplished and retired to private life. For
the past ten or twelve years he has been sell
dom heard from. An occasional letter to 9
friend or to an association has suficed te
keep him in remembrance, and his deatt
will revive the recollection of the good hi
has accomplished and the terrible ordea
through which he passed. His career ha.
been an extraordinary one, and illustrates
what can be done by persistent, earnest eff
fort, even in the face of the most extraordi
nary opposition. Mr.. Garrison death vii
leave vacuum in the narrowing ranks O.
the old abolition army. Though not Away,
discreet he was often heroic in his defense O
human rights, and will pass into history al
one of tho noblest of American martyrs.
The organ of Mr.. Henri Watterson q
l T.NYvyov - L. u 4