The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-25
WM LLOYD GARRISON.
The Mas who Led the Vanguard in the War
AEmInst A naerlenn alaxerY.

hHhahAt - ncFtehh slavery
William Lloyd Garrison, tho early, de-
voted. and persistent lender of the American
aboltlonists who died at l0A o'clock last even
ing. was born in Newburyport. Mass. on
the 10th OF December. 1906 His father, a
sea captain. who was engaged In tho West India
trade died so early that the training and sup
port OF the bright boy devovcd upon his mother.
n woman Of rare gifts. but in straitoned cir
cumstances. A Jealous member Of the Baptist
Church. she was eloquent in prayer and OK
hortation. and imbued the mind Of hor son with
that tenacious adherence TO moral principles
and conscientious convictions for which he
subsequently became distinguished. Extreme
~ poor. Mrs. Garrison was compelled 10 place
her children where they could earn their bread.
When only years old. William went upon the
bench OF n Quaker shoemaker ut Lynn. Small
OF his age he could hardly sustain the lapstone
on his little knees. much less bear up under the
blows that were necessary to hammer the
leather into proper shape. So William soon
threw away the last and returned TO Newbury-
port. where for some time he studied in one OF
the common schools. making wonderful prog
ress In the rudimcnts OF learning. and paying
for humble board by saving wood from door to
door. Ho thereafter followed sundry avoca-
tions in various places for two or three years.
eagerly gathering information. but ever turn
ing q longing eye toward the trade Of printer.
In the fall Of 1918. Just rs no was completing
his thirteenth year. the long sought door
opened and William Lloyd Garrison was in
dentured TO Ephraim w. Allen proprietor OF
the Newburyport Herald to learn the art Of
printing. In this new calling his career was
similar 10 that Of his famous compeers. Thur
low Weed and Horace Greeley. He soon be-
came something more than a typesetter. He
q. a..
ing tho authorship. He set up his own pro-
ductions. which were 50 acceptable to Mr.. Allen
that he addressed a letter to the unknown au-
thor. begging him to continue his contributions
After the termination Of his apprenticeship at
Newburyport. Mr.. Garrison was connected with
several newspapers in the capacity Of editor
notably the journal of he Times. at Bennington
VT. in 1928 when he advocated the reelection Of
John Quincy Adams to tho Presidency. sup
ported Mr.. Cay's American System. and took
advanced ground on the questions OF inter-
national peace total abstinence from intoxi-
eating drinks. and the ultimate abolition OF
negro slavery. His views on the last named
subject led TO his association with benjamin
Lundy, the Quaker philanthropst in conduct
ing the Genius 0f Unirersdl Emancipation at
Baltimore. Mr. Lundy had participated In the
memorable struggle OF 1921 against the ad-
mission Of Missouri TO the Union as a slave
holding State. Tho fire then kindled in his
bosom had never gone out. He had started the
paper above mentioned seven wears pfovions
| TO his knowledge OF Garrison. He favored the
gradual emancipation Of the colored race and
was moderate advocate OF their colonization
| In Africa Garrison was for immediate aboli-
ton. and against colonization. He became
Joint editor of the Genius with Lundy in the
| fall " 1929. His vigorous attacks upon the svs-
TEN Of slavery and the Colonization Society
aroused n storm in Baltimore. The crisis
soon came. A vessel owned 10y one Todd OF
| Newburyport entered the harbor OF Baltimore.
| took on board cargo OF slaves. and sailed for
| New Orleans Carr ison was fired with indig
nation at the spectacle Of a citizen Of his native
| town engaging in the traffic in human beings
| The columns Of the Genius blazed with denun-
Citations OF Todd. In the City Court OF Baltimore.
| in May. 1880, Garrison was indicted for n
| gross and malicious libel upon Todd. Though
ably defended he WAS convicted. fined. and
| sent TO prison. An influential portion OF the
| Northern press. irrespective OF party. con
demned the course OF the prosecutors After
| Tappan, a highly respectable merchant Of New
| York. paid the fine and tho costs. and Garrison
was Snt free IL soon after Appeared that by this
ike generous purpose on the part OF Henry
Clay.
| lerturing tour. with the ultimate object how
ever. OF establishing an abolition journal Of the
| most radical typo. He delivered addresses IN
| support Of immediate emancipation and against
| African colonization in many places before
| large audiences; and in pursuance OF his plan
| on New Years Day. 1881 he issued In B6sion
| tho FIRST number OF the Ltbe'df1r. He took for
| the motto Of his newspaper those words which
| IN after yeurs. became SO familiar 10 thousands
| Of eyes all over the land. ." My country is the
| world my countrymen arc all mankind In
70 which he adhered without ninc6ing
| through q long and stormy epoch In the
VIII no, ' e9u HoGn VIII pd a e eTduse
! viii not retreat a single inch. AND WILL BIZ
HEARD ms unique journal was ia no proper
sense OF the term newspaper II was To nm
! extent Unprecedented in this country the per
sonal organ OF its founder and manager. It's
only aim was TO strike hard blows directly at
negro slavery. and all the supports. adiuncts,
| and apologists Of the system. Though its cir
culation was always small. II was wide IL
reached a peculiar class OF minds and during
| certain periods In the thtriy-nve turbulent
years OF It's existence. It excited more attention
| and aroused moro wrath than any other jour
nal in the United States. 1t had been issued
| only few months when the Legislature Of
| Georgia enacted law Offering q reward OF
| soooO 10 any person VINO would arrest ana
| prosecute 10 conviction under the laws 81 that
state. IL editor aud publisher. For years Gar
| rison occasionally received letters threatening
| 10 kidnap and assassinate him. while now and
| then some swaggering fool would propose
| through the medium OF "A newspaper advertise
| ment 70 pay a liberal price FOR his head.
Doubtless some OF this was mere buster, but
| much OF It was Of n more substantial quality. rs
events proved. No faithful sketch Of Mr.. Gar
| Iison can be written without referring 10 a pain
fully humiliatng chapter IN American history.
England Anti slavery society. The next spring
he developed the grounds Of his hostility to tho
colonization plan IN a large pamphlet entitled:
Thoughts On African Colonizaton.' He then
sailed for England. The kingdom was in
a glow OF excitement over the strug-
gle for tho abolition o; West In
dia slavery. Garrison obtained and sent
home protest against the Colonization
Society. signed 10y William Wilherforce and
other eminent British aholitonists. He listened
% the speeches OF George Thompson. the IA
nous Rnti-slaverY agitltor. and engaged him
Tor tour in this country tho following year.
Garrison returned homo in time 20 participate
IN the Convention which formed the American
Anti-Slavery Society al Philadelphia. in Decem-
Der. 1888. whereof John G.. Whittier. Lewis
Tappan. ana Samuel j. May were officers. The
enthusiastic address OF the Convention was
from the pen Of Mr. Garrison.
The machinery for agitation was now put In
motion all through the Northern States
Thompson arrived in the United states in lsS4
vehement oraory, Of this foreign emssary
stirred the bila Of the opposition 10 the very
dregs. Riots broke out In all directions POr-
tons Of 1884. and all Of 1885. were reign Of
terror. sober. sensible men lost their heads
AbOitiOnists. however respectable IN Church
and State. talked they ever so mildly for the
negro were hunted from city 10 city. Tap
pans house was Quilted. Unofendng colored
men were shot Anti-savery presses
were thrown into the streets. Anti
slavery assemblies, gentle and orderly
were broken up. The halls wherein they met