The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-25
lowing tho English custom. refused to admit

women TO membership.
During the eyentful years that interviewed
betwoon the organization Of the American Anti
Slavery Society and the formation Of the Repub-
lican party. the AboltiOnists were always u long
Distance in advance OF public opinion In the
North. Though the doctrines they proclaimed
werc nfterward echoed on hundreds OF battle
fields. they were in those earlier days. n dis
turbng, not to say uncomfortable element In
Church and State. Throughout this period
Mr.. Garrison WIS so far ahead Of the main body
OF the antagonists OF slavery that his course
often seemed to them maynard and nccdlessy
perilous, while his contemporaries generally
regarded him as merely an unreasOning
fanatic. But opponents who knew him init
matey placed a different estimate upon his
character, They admitted his sincerity. and
81 purpose to the borders of ol,stiDacy they saw
that ho possessed n large fund Of common
sense and fully understood what he was about
When the Free Soil party was formed IN lS4S ii
threw up intrcnchments behind which the ultra
Abolitonists fought with safety. After tho con-
peculiar weapons welded by this small cnss
were Of little service to n cause which, in tho
Presidential contest OF that year. commanded
At the period now under review Mr.. Garrison
was not merely an advocate Of international
peace. and hostile TO war in any form and for
every cause but he carried his principles to tho
extreme point OF personal non resistance under
all circumstances. Indeed. he was understood
To- be opposed to the uso Of force in the
hidminisi douSt,, o., governments though
subject were clearly defined in 6is own mind.
Nevertheless he by and by enlarged the motto
OF the LtbT'dtOr by adding thereto y declaration
that IN its relations TO slavery the Federal Con-
stitution was "a covenant with death and an
agreement with hell" while for several years
he advocated dissolution OF the Union so ms to
absolvc the free States ms he expressed II. from
responsibility for the guilt OF even indirectly
unfolding slavery. However. to illustrate the
supremacy OF his hostility TO slavery oVgr all
all other matters and things and theories. II Is
only necessary TO recall the fact that when the
late civil war clearly became n contest for the
overthrow Of slavery, rs well as for the preser-
Walton OF the Union. no wns for carrying on the
contest with the most effective weapons known
To military and naval science.
=. Mr. Garrison made four or five visits TO
Europe for nnti-slavery purposes. where he
was received with gratifying distinction. On
one OF these occasions the Duchess Of Suther-
land. the Mistress of the Robes-a kind OF
female primo minister-invited him 10 sit for
his portrait and subsequently placed II among
the pictures Of mobiles and statesmen that adorn
the walls Of Stafford House. While abroad IN
1867 the Duke OF Argyll, John Bright. John
Stuart Mill, Earl Russell. and other prominent
persons, gave him banquet in London. while
lhe Iorl IroN9st OF Eulhpurgh, IN oOedience 10
a vote OF tho civil authorities. conferred upon
him the freedom of the metropolis Of Scotland.
Another privilege was granted to him which.
monias OF respect from foreigners. however
eminent After the recapture OF sumter. in
the spring 81 1868 no was Invited by Secretary
Stanton to visit the fort and assist In raising
the American ensign over its ruins. on the 14th
81 April, tho anniversary OF its surrender TO
the Insurgents four years before He accepted
the invitation. participated in tho ceremonies.
aud then addressed meeting ut Charleston,
him with characteristic enthusiasm.
In 1913 Mr.. Garrison was chosen President OF
the American Anti Slavery Society. He held the
position till the anniversary Meeting in MAY.
1860. when. tho war being over and the negroes
free, he counselled the dissolution Of the society
on the ground that It's work was done insisting
that an American anti-slavery society was a
missioner after American slavery had ceased to
exist He failed 10 carry his point, and there
upon nc resigned the office OF President
In 1884 MIR. Garrison married a daughter Of
George Benson. a substantial citizen Of Brook
lyni Conn. She was modest. Intelligent.
aniable lady. The parents exhibited "A pardon
able proclivity 10 confer upon their children
the names OF attached friends Giving one son
the name Of William Lloyd, they called th others
George Thompson Wendell Phillips, Francs
Jackson, and Charles Follen. All survive ok
cept the last and are worthy citizens. aud some
ism. The daughter. Mrs. Fanny q. Willard. who
still lives, bears a striking resemblance TO her
accomplished mother. both in person and mind.
Mrs. Garrison died some years ago.
We believe Mr.. Garrison never laid M dol
lar while engaged in his anti-slavery work. but
Il Is supposed that. in consequence Of gifts and
benefactions from various sources since he
fortune.
The mind OF William Lloyd Garrison was cast
In unique mould. He was made for the times
In which he lived. An innovator rather than
reiormer. he had the faculty to tear down with
out the capacity To build w. He was better
fitted 10 overthrow negro slavery than 10 recon
struct southern society In the heat Of the
conflict. he left II To others to combat and an
swer current objections TO his cardinal doctrine
u immediate and unconditional emancipation.
When he struck down the great evil no never
thought OF the difficulties that might attend thu
erection OF hahitnble ediaco upon its ruins.
He will long stnnd recognized figure in tho
annals OF the exceptional epocn in which he
played u conspicuous part IL 10 To be hoped
that tho rumor viii prove true that he leaves
behind him, in n substantial form. valuable
emmiscences OF the men and events Of his era.
The last letter written by William Lloyd Gar
rison was to George /. Downing OF B,ston. and
was In relation 10 the negro exodus. Mr.. Down
ing also is seriously ill.